Piraeus Dream

Destination 397<br><br>[Ferry]<br><br>Taking another ferry at Chios Island I was traveling a overnight journey to Piraeus just next to Athens. It was absolutley mindblowing to see, how things were proceeded straightforward, easy and thanks to an organization very quickly!! What took many hours or even several days to get done ...

... to "the big hill". Just as we were leaving he offered us a lift so we didn't hesitate to take him up on his offer. He dropped us where the ferry was to leave but we had plenty of time so wandered around a bit further, found some shade, and then while Malcolm looked after the luggage, Van and I went to buy our Gyros (pita wrap with chicken, salad, chips and yoghurt sauce) for lunch. Not a lot of information back at the ...

... social shunning you can get away with in more smoke-free countries. I know it's wrong, but having inhaled a huge amount of tar in the last 24 hours I really don't care so much about their civil liberties to poison me. I want to be able to glare icily and portray with a single look just how much the cancer-stick sucking moron is, in fact, a total and utter moron who KILLS LUNGS. And now I have to go and catch a ferry and pray I don't somehow end up in Turkey.

We docked in the port city of Piraeus, Greece today for a fun and amazing day. I finished up with work and headed into the city. I debated whether or not to head into the main attraction city -Athens - but the train fare was only 80 cents Euro and it would only be a 20 minute ride. So, I bought the ticket and headed out to Athens. I didn't have much time before all aboard, but wanted to take a few photos of the area. If I'd had a bit more time I would have ...

... we went as quickly as possible because we'd heard great things about the roof-top bar of the Attalos--especially that it had an amazing view of the Acropolis--and it does! First we watched the sun go down, turning the Acropolis gold, and then we watched the floodlights come on, and then the almost full moon came up over it. And of course, we got to meet Efstathios, who graduated in accountancy but is interested in going back to university to study ...

... these amazing facilities weren't being used. After only 3 and a half years many of the buildings were rusting with broken windows. The pool and basketball courts were in use and the stadium was used as a soccer field. The vast majority of the area was completely desolate. We thought it was pretty sad. The people we have met so far in the hostels have been great. There is a good mix of Aussi's, Americans, Canadians, Europeans and a few from South America. A few funny things we have ...

... had to leave just when things got happening. tryed to make up for it at 11pm went to town for a few drinks. the pubs not like home. i prefer home pubs these are small and confined and i get a little costrophobic. but they did have the best strawberry dacquarie thought i am sure it was full of pure strawberry could easily get drunk but this was our only night here and had to catch another ferry got my frame of mind right not to get sick - so far so good.

... the public transportation which is much improved over our visit to Athens 9 years ago. Thanks to the Olympics in 2004 many improvements are occuring throughout the city. Our May Day dinner prepared by my aunt and uncle was fabulous. We had lamb on the grill, ratatouille, cheese pie, lentil salad, greek salad and fruit for dessert including blood oranges which are in season for ...

... admit she did a great job and even gave a smile as I left. I met the group, a coincidence that that were mostly Australian (a kiwi tourguide, another kiwi and a couple of american girls in a group of 16) and all living in London, in a similar age bracket, me being the youngest. We got along like a house on fire from the beginning, chatting like old mates at a swish greek restaurant over the other side of town. The tour that afternoon had started in Omonia Square and then up to the ...