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Athens, Greece
The flight from Florence to Athens
took about three hours. We flew down the back side of the
boot with a great view of the Aegean Sea. Across to the port
side we could see Albania and then Greece. To the starboard
was the heel of the boot and then the islands. The runway
at the new airport in Athens is over 13,000 feet long. Since
our King Air 200 only needs about 3,500 feet, Tom had no difficulty
in stopping before we reached the end of the runway. The new
airport is part of the preparation for the 2004 Olympics.
Athenians are very excited and proud that the games are returning
home for the first time since 1896.
As usual, three people escorted
us from the airplane to our waiting limousine. The company
that we retained to take care of the handling of the airplane
and our airport transfers has thus far done an excellent job.
The drive from the airport to the Hotel Andromeda took over
an hour. The traffic in Athens is only surpassed by the smog.
Our hotel was located just one
block from the American Embassy. The American Ambassador's
residence was just across the street and there were soldiers
with submachine guns everywhere. We weren't sure whether this
should make us feel safer or more afraid. We decided on safe.
The view out our apartment window at night was the Stars and
Stripes lighted for the world to see over the Embassy. God
bless America.
Our two-bedroom apartment was
adequate but the bathroom situation was less than desirable.
Why don't Europeans put shower curtains on their showers?
There is no way to take a shower without water covering everything.
The second bath measured 30" by 50". The door opened against
the lavatory so that you had to stand on the toilet to get
the door closed. Understand that this bathroom included a
toilet, lavatory, and a shower. Needless to say, there was
no shower curtain in this one either.
Tuesday morning Faye, our guide,
arrived to take us on a tour of the Acropolis and the Parthenon.
Her name isn't Faye but I can't spell her real name and, even
if I could, my keyboard doesn't have the right letters on
it.
What a feeling to walk where
Plato walked almost 3,000 years ago and view the temples that
were built by the ancient Greeks for their gods. If only we
had a time machine. Imagine being there when the great philosophers
were developing the beginnings of Western culture. Democracy
was born here. Again, our guide was a terrific historian and
we learned a great deal.
Wednesday we were supposed to
tour Delphi but since it was a three hour drive, we decided
to visit the Temple of Poseidon located on a cliff overlooking
the Aegean Sea. It was about an hour drive, most of it along
the water. We had lunch at a rustic seaside café that dated
back to 1887. I had a Greek salad and Ashley had fresh fish
that she selected in the kitchen. We decided to forego the
usual bottle of wine and instead I had a beer.
The sight of the Temple of Poseidon
was spectacular. We walked to the edge of the cliff and looked
straight down to the ocean. I told Ashley that she was Kim
Novak and I was Jimmy Stewart in the movie Vertigo. Well,
maybe we're a little older but it was a thought. I remembered
that great epic poem, 'Ode to Poseidon' written by my friend
Bob Kenny.
We had dinner for the third night
in a row at the hotel dining room and, for the third night
in a row, we were the only guests. Surprisingly, the food
was very good, as was the wine. We became close friends with
the staff and Ashley fell in love with the 28-year-old bartender.
As I reflect on our time in Greece,
the question arises as to what was the highlight of the visit.
Was it the Parthenon, the Acropolis, the Temple to Poseidon,
or was it the sexy young women with their tight blue jeans
and high heels?
Chow (no that was Italy),
Pat
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