Patras Palace Hotel

... It wasn't a shoulder after all, but a simple strategy for making the 2 lane road into 4 for passing!<br><br>Roads adorned with olive trees almost as far as the eye can see. Interspersed with a few orange frees so ripe with fruit you can smell it from the road. Grapes grown more for their shade benefits over arbors than for their fruit. Flowering plants I&#8217;ve only seen in botanical gardens are run-of-the ...

... was taking me through lovely greek villages and wonderful senery.<br><br>Arrived at Patras, the third ferry brings me overnightly to Brindisi, Italy, to arrive there at next morning. As usual: A night in my sleeping bag somwhere at deck on the floor to sleep.<br>

... br>No Dino didn't want to stay in Greece he wanted to leave then and there. We asked about Italy. <br>"Sure no problem, there is one at 6 tonight going to Bari."<br>"Ah, but is it available?"<br>Click, click, click "Yes."<br>"OK we will take it." (&#8364;53 each to Bari, one way on deck)<br><br>Our Greek adventure although short had already come to an end. Dino hated Greece the first time around and it wasn't any better this time. He is glad to ...

... service restaurant - excellent value food here once again - and whiled away the morning. It was announced that we would be two hours late into Patras because of the late start from Ancona and Paul - who was feeling a bit tired and woozy - took advantage of this to have a shower, aftre which he felt a lot better. Thanks to the delay, there was also time to lunch on board as well!<br><br>As we turned east and drew towards the Gulf of Corinth, we could just make out the hump of ...

... br><br><br><br><br> PATRAS<br><br><br><br><br><br>We set off at 10am for Patras. <br><br><br>All people gathered even before the time set because they were excited. There is a smile on every face.<br><br><br><br><br><br>I am also looking forward for this trip and I am anxiously waiting to get on board the cruise ship and sail to Bari ...

... Participation is very high, in many sectors it exceeds 90% of the work force." There was no confirmation of that estimate from the government, and with journalists also on strike, reliable news was sparse. Two marches wound their way through Athens, displaying opposition to the 2009 draft budget, due to go before parliament this week. Many of the protesters called for increased government ...

... along the way either with locals or in parishes. He has found nothing but welcoming, warm people, he said, especially in Italy. "It is easy to meet people when you are going by foot, he said, might be a little more difficult on a bike." Funny, that was my exact feeling about biking as apposed to other modes of transportation, but I guess going by foot is really the ultimate "slow" and human friendly traveling mode. "How do you find the Greeks?" he ...

... of life in Europe. We did not realize the physical size of Greece, the difficulties faced in getting around, the few and far between ancient sites that were in poor shape, the number of mountains, the lushness vs the dryness. It is a country of contrasts. But what Greece is known for is their island retreats and that definitely did not disappoint. Adio!!

From Delphi we headed to our hotel but drove a few hours, we stayed in Patmos on the Ionian Sea. The views during the drive were fantastic I couldn't stop taking photos the entire time. There were many people reading, or playing games, or sleeping, but I feel like if I hadn't of been paying attention to the views ...

... cities of older friends who think progressively and enjoy life. Had I stayed in Patra, some could've had a friend from America like no friend they'd ever have. Young Greeks often have no one to emulate but their parents, who may be money-obsessed and xenophobic and unhappy. Let this come as a lesson for all nature-seekers; it was for me. I finally got out of my tent this Monday. (Thank the heavens!) A tiny Romanian architecture student named Simona rescued me and said ...