![\"Acropolis](\"https:\/\/www.itisallgreek2me.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Athens-Was-Good-To-Us-047-150x150.jpg\")
<\/a>Acropolis Museum<\/p><\/div>\n
Monday 3 December 2012 dawned sunny on the island of Spetses\u00a0… following breakfast at Filippos, Costas\u00a0and I departed on the Flying Dolphin at the slightly later time of 1150 hours.\u00a0 First stop Hydra, then Poros\u00a0… so far, so good.\u00a0 Then, somewhere between Poros\u00a0and Piraeus the weather changed completely … forced to travel at a snail’s pace, the large swells going right over us.\u00a0 Quite terrifying, actually – I was pleased to reach dry land.\u00a0 We walked to the Metro Station and caught the train to Monasteraki\u00a0… from there it was only a short walk to Carolina Hotel in Kolokotroni Street – very central.<\/p>\n
After checking in, we decided to take the tram from Syntagma\u00a0to Glyfada,\u00a0where Costas\u00a0hoped to leave his watch for servicing at the Rolex shop.\u00a0 Monday evening, of course, and the shops were closed so he left his card under the door and we went for a couple of beers at Riva Bar before catching the tram back to Syntagma\u00a0Square.\u00a0 Then it was time to check out a bar Costas\u00a0had heard about … Galaxy Bar, in an arcade off Stadiou\u00a0Street – what a wee gem!\u00a0 An extremely pleasant young man behind the bar,\u00a0also named Costas, said he had worked there for four years.\u00a0 The clientele appeared bohemian in the main … artists, writers and intellectual Athenians I would say.<\/p>\n
Needing to eat, we walked back towards Monasteraki\u00a0to Bairaktaris\u00a0Restaurant … established in 1879, I understand Costas\u00a0has been eating there for years.\u00a0 We shared plates of Briam, Dolmathakia\u00a0and Soutzoukakia, the latter being on the house, with a half litre of white wine.\u00a0 The food and atmosphere were superb, however, I thought the large collection of photographs on the walls featuring the owner was a little over the top and the live music, playing “Never on a Sunday” and such like … well, no\u00a0thank you, I am not a tourist.\u00a0 Next stop, Throubi\u00a0Bar, the owner of which used to have a bar on Spetses.\u00a0 Great music but way too loud so back to Galaxy and this time, an older barman – Yani, in my opinion, short on integrity.\u00a0 Costas’ Grand Marnier’s\u00a0were served in a stemmed glass – half measures and expensive, however, I still feel that this bar was a great little find.\u00a0 Eventually retiring to our hotel, I have to say that both\u00a0the pillows and bed were very good by Greek standards – I hate the hard continental beds.<\/p>\n
The following day, Tuesday, Costas\u00a0was out and about earlier than I, seeing to this and that.\u00a0 When we ventured out together to walk to the Acropolis Museum, with a stop for coffee on the way, it was all blue sky and sunshine, although the air was cool … but remember, this is the beginning of winter in Greece.\u00a0 The Museum, well what can I say … mind-blowing, definitely worth visiting, it has to now be one of the best in the world.\u00a0 Unfortunately, you are only allowed to take photographs on Level 3 and so many of the exhibits there have chunks missing which are in other museums around the world, mainly the British Museum …\u00a0I think that sucks!\u00a0 Anyway, we had a rather nice lunch at the Museum Cafe and after we had seen all we\u00a0wanted to see, walked back to our hotel for a siesta, via the Eleftheroudakis bookshop.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Evening number 2 and it was dinner at Hermion, another restaurant Costas\u00a0has been familiar with for years.\u00a0 Started our meal with a shared Roka and Tomato Salad and Dolmades in a Lemon and Egg Sauce.\u00a0 For my main I chose the Lamb of the Day, served with rice, sweet peppers and mushrooms – delicious!\u00a0 A lovely bottle of white wine and finishing our meal with a complimentary piece of\u00a0Orange Cake which was to die for!\u00a0 Then, guess what?\u00a0 Back to Galaxy Bar, however, only for a short time and we were in the hotel before 2200 hours … the following day I would begin my long journey back to New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Wednesday morning, partly cloudy weather, similar to my mood … Costas\u00a0bought Koulourakia, those yummy\u00a0chewy bread rings covered in sesame seeds which are sold by street vendors all over Athens.\u00a0 We walked to Syntagma\u00a0Square\u00a0to catch the X95\u00a0bus to Athens Airport, arriving around 1230 hours.\u00a0 First a coffee, then time to check in, before a beer for Costas\u00a0and a wine for me … the time had arrived to once again say our sad farewells – it does not become any easier.\u00a0 Did my duty-free\u00a0shopping then while I was waiting to board, I noticed that the rain had arrived.\u00a0 Once airborne, as always, the reality hits – I am leaving Greece and I do not like it.\u00a0 Listened to The Vinyl Years, watched the sunset, by 1700 hours Greek time we were over Cyprus and I knew Costas\u00a0should be departing Piraeus to return to Spetses without me.\u00a0 Tried to think about not where I had been, nor where I was going to … rather savour the moment as an International traveller on a complimentary journey from Athens to Auckland.\u00a0 2145 hours local time and 25 degrees C, touch down in Dubai … passport control, luggage collection, then a free shuttle bus to the Holiday Inn Express Airport Hotel.\u00a0 Nice room, Internet, tea\/coffee-making facilities, however, no wake up calls … not the best night’s sleep, a lot of TV viewing, up again at 0510 hours, passed on the complimentary breakfast and back at the airport by 0655 hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scheduled to depart Dubai at 1010 hours, we sat on the tarmac for the best part of an hour and a half … informed by the Captain that a sick young boy and his parents had been off loaded and we had missed our place in the queue.\u00a0 There is something\u00a0like 30 aeroplanes taking off every hour from Dubai to all parts of the world and I would guess, a similar number of arrivals.\u00a0 I was in my favourite seat 50A, front cabin, back row, window, with a Russian guy I think next to me who did not speak at all and an Aussie bloke who has lived many years in the UK in the aisle seat … he and I shared a wine and a conversation when we could.\u00a0 During the long haul, I watched a couple of good movies … “A Few Best Men” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” with Judi Dench.<\/p>\n
Delayed departure from Dubai meant a delayed arrival and departure also from Melbourne and late arrival in Auckland at 1412 hours … I knew I could be in trouble trying to make my connection to Wanganui in time.\u00a0 I was first of the economy passengers off the A380-800\u00a0…\u00a0a fast walk to Passport Control, lengthy queues, nothing I could do.\u00a0 Eventually to luggage carousel where I\u00a0asked a lady wearing a T-shirt\u00a0stating “Airport Assistance” to help me … I had my trolley case, however, I was still waiting for my small bag.\u00a0 Told there was nothing I could do, it was too late now … I eventually cleared Customs and raced to the Air New Zealand desk – no joy there.\u00a0 Hopped on the free bus to the domestic terminal with Louise, a delightful young Irish lass who had come to visit her boyfriend Curtis – he is working on the Rena and Louise had also missed her flight to Tauranga.\u00a0 Arriving at the Air New Zealand ticketing desk, Louise was okay as she had paid heavily for her original ticket and was able to transfer to a later flight at no cost.\u00a0 Mine was a $99 Grabaseat – non transferable – advised there was one seat available on the 1830 hours flight to Wanganui – cost?\u00a0 $434 – gulp!\u00a0 So, so tired and frustrated by now I said to myself, it is only money and took it.<\/p>\n
1920 hours touchdown in Wanganui\u00a0and met by my son Dave and his girlfriend Kayla who took me to mum’s where my sister Janet was also waiting.\u00a0 A nice cup of tea, I distributed their gifts, then Dave took me home – exhausted.\u00a0 Now I have spent my first week back at the coal face and it has been a very busy time.\u00a0 So many wonderful memories and once more the countdown begins until next I return to my other home in Greece and of course, to Costas … I miss him\u00a0so much.<\/p>\n
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Monday 3 December 2012 dawned sunny on the island of Spetses\u00a0… following breakfast at Filippos, Costas\u00a0and I departed on the Flying Dolphin at the slightly later time of 1150 hours.\u00a0 First stop Hydra, then Poros\u00a0… so far, so good.\u00a0 Then, somewhere between Poros\u00a0and Piraeus the weather changed completely … forced to travel at a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3775","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itisallgreek2me.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3775","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itisallgreek2me.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itisallgreek2me.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itisallgreek2me.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itisallgreek2me.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3775"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.itisallgreek2me.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3775\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4014,"href":"https:\/\/www.itisallgreek2me.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3775\/revisions\/4014"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.itisallgreek2me.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itisallgreek2me.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.itisallgreek2me.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}