Sabbatical Day 18

July 7, 2004--Day 18
It is becoming more and more difficult to keep track of the days, remember the order of places we’ve been, etc. This morning I got a slow start. I tried the pool-side breakfast buffet. It was pretty good—-more American than the Stanley or the buffets we’ve been to. Our excursion left at 7:30 a.m. We went from the town of Rhodes to Lindos. We visited the acropolis there. It was quite a climb. From the top, we could see a small bay named St. Paul’s Bay, because the apostle was supposedly there. We then returned to the town of Rhodes and had a short tour there… I am officially tired of excursions, though tomorrow morning’s excursion to Crete should be good. The bus dropped us off at the ship. I ate the buffet lunch—there was hardly anyone there. I had chicken and roast beef sandwiches, fruit and cheese, and desserts. Then I went back to the “Old Town.” I went to the archaeological museum, which is housed in an old palace or fortress. There were some interesting pieces. Then I walked to the beach, about a 20-minute walk. I didn’t swim, because I didn’t feel comfortable leaving my stuff on the beach—my plan was to take a dip at a smaller, less crowded beach near the ship on the way back. I returned to the ship through the Old Town. I bought three postcards. I passed a toy store, which caught my attention. Out front, they had a set of Justice League Mission Vision action figures, including Wonder Woman and Darkseid, whom I’ve never seen in the U.S. I would have bought them, except:
1) They had been out in the sun and the cards (packaging) were faded,
2) I’m running out of room in my luggage and,
3) they were €15 each!

The store had a bunch of “bootleg” type toys as well, like a junky looking Superman figure in a Captain Marvel (Shazam!) costume, sans cape.

I then went to the little beach, and this time I noticed the “No Swimming Allowed Sign,” so I didn’t go in. Not that I was afraid of getting in trouble, as plenty of people were swimming, but I figure there must be a good reason for the rule, if they put up the sign. The little beach was fairly close to the cruise ships—perhaps there are pollutants.

Walking in the Footsteps of St. Paul—50,716 steps

Sabbatical Day 17

July 6, 2004--Day 17
Yesterday we began our cruise, and the day was quite busy, which explains the brevity of my previous entry. Yesterday morning I ate breakfast at the Stanley. I tried some corn flakes with milk—they tasted a bit off. I also had an egg and toast. We were taken by cab to Pireaus—we being Steve, Connie and me. We stopped at the post (office) twice so Steve could ship a rug home to Idaho. We got to the dock and waited a very long time to get on the ship. We met up with the other Steve and Judy. Steve asked me to take his and Connie’s picture as they ascended the gangway—I did and got fussed at by the official photographer of the ship, who was taking photos that would be available later for €7. My cabin is located right around the corner from the main reception desk. It is a small inside cabin with poor lighting, and two short beds. Right after we departed, we were required to do a long life boat drill. I sat on the deck for awhile a little bit later and got a little sunburn. I had forgotten to put sunscreen on my arms, which I’ve been really faithful about. After eating buffet lunch (mostly cheese and fruit), I went back to my cabin for a nap.
The ship rocks much more than I thought it would, especially when we’re sailing. I haven’t gotten sea-sick, though. After my nap, I prepared for our excursion to Mykonos, the most affordable (€6) of the excursions. While on Mykonos, I put my feet in the waters of the Aegean Sea, but not for too long, as there were all kinds of things floating in it, and there was a dead pigeon on the beach. We went from the ship and returned to the ship via “tenders” or smaller boats.

I returned to the Triton in enough time to shower, shave and change for dinner, the second sitting at 9:15 p.m. There is an evening dress code on the ship, but it doesn’t seem to be enforced. Dinner was very good. The two Steves, and Connie and Judy are at my table, as well as a family from Virginia—Jill, Teddy and Veronica. I had a popcorn shrimp appetizer, a steak with cauliflower and cheese sauce and good French fries, bread, iced tea, and apple pie a la mode. After dinner I read a bit (Paul) then went to sleep about 11:30 p.m.

When I woke up this morning, we had arrived in Kusadasi, Turkey, my third country and second continent of the trip, not counting the U.S. and North America. I ate breakfast in the dining room, which has open seating for breakfast and lunch. I did not realize, however, that they fill up tables. So I was seated with three teenagers, rather than by myself. They were nice enough, but I felt a bit awkward. The boys shook my hand after we finished eating, which I thought was very polite. Our excursion to Ephesus (Efes in Turkish) began at 7 a.m., which seemed a tad early. Our tour guide was a Muslim woman from Turkey. We saw quite a few things in Ancient Ephesus—the well-preserved library, the brothel, the toilets, a fountain, etc. Most biblical was the theater, which they said Paul spoke at. Following Ephesus, we returned to the port city, where we went to a carpet shop to learn about hand-woven rugs. It was interesting, but I wasn’t in the market for a rug. I bought some postcards and some stamps, and attempted to mail a post card from the post office.

I returned to the ship and wrote in my journal and waited for the lunch buffet to open. Even though I was toward the front of the line, it still seemed to move at a snail’s pace. I had fried fish and fries, salad and cheese and salami. After lunch I took a nap.

Our excursion to Patmos met a half hour ealier than published. We went first to the Monastery of the Apocalypse, where John is to have written Revelation. The second part of the excursion was the Monastery of St. John, which I wasn’t tremendously interested in, which was followed by more time for shopping. I found two comic books in Greek—an Asterix comic and a copy of Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man #5.

Tonight’s dinner is a Greek meal, and to be honest, I’m tired of Greek food. We’re supposed to wear blue and white, the colors of the Greek flag. The name of the country in Greek is ΕΛΛΑΣ, which is where we get the word “Hellenic,” or “Hellenistic.”

I am enjoying the cruise, but my schedule is busier than I’d expected, and the ship is smaller than I’d envisioned. My perception of cruise ships comes from the classic television series, “The Love Boat.” (I haven’t fallen in love yet either.)

Sabbatical Day 16

July 5, 2004--Day 16
In the Footsteps of St. Paul--43288 steps

Sabbatical Day 15

July 4, 2004--Day 15
Yesterday we arrived at Delphi, then went to one of the archaeological sites, then shopping and wandering in the nearby town of Arachova. We returned to Delphi for dinner and to check in to our hotels. The dinner was one of the best I’ve had on this part of the trip—stuffed grapeleaves and meatballs. After dinner I got on the Internet (€5/hour) and updated my website, typing several journal entries in. I also checked my e-mail briefly. As far as hotel rooms go, this one was the worst so far. I’m not at the Amalia per my itinerary, but rather at the Hotel Vouzas. The view from the restaurant makes up a little for the room. I’m waiting outside for the bus. Inside, Greek church is on the television, reminding me that it is Sunday. I went to the kiosk across the street, to see if there is such thing as the “Sunday newspaper,” but it seems most papers have a combined Saturday/Sunday edition. If I haven’t mentioned it already, the kiosks are the cheapest place to buy water (€.50-€1) and Coke Light. We’re supposed to get back to Athens this evening, but I’m not sure there will be much to do there, because it’s Sunday. From what I understand, the final game of the EuroCup is tonight. The plan is to visit the Delphi museum this morning (though much of it is apparently under renovation), then visit the main archaeological site. One of the neat things about the sites throughout Greece are the matching ticket stubs are brochures at each site. There have been a few sites that I didn’t receive a brochure, and one of the stubs is a bit wrinkled, but they will make a nice addition to my scrapbook, or whatever I put everything in. I bought a bag yesterday to put souvenirs in. I’ve bought a lot of postcards, and two books. I am down to €5, but I can get more at the hotel when we get back to Athens.
1:45 p.m. Delphi was good. We started at the museum, which was under renovation as previously mentioned, so only one room was open—the famous Charioteer of Delphi, and a few other artifacts. Then we went to the main archaeological site. There was much to see—the Temple of Apollo, a theater, and the belly-button of the ancient world. I climbed all the way up to the top where the stadium, home of the Pythian Games, is. Lunch was at a restaurant… I didn’t get the name. I had a salad with feta cheese and an appetizer sampler plate, which included fried cheese, spinach pie, grape leaves, zucchini, etc. It was a very enjoyable lunch. Then we headed back to Athens, stopping midway for a “pee pee” stop, as our tour guide says. We made quite a few hotel stops. Ours was the second to last. I am on the fifth floor this time, but my room is very similar. I decided to return to the Acropolis, as it is one of the few things open on Sunday. I took the Metro (subway) this time, rather than walking. I found the Metro to be easy to navigate, inexpensive, and quick. I bought an Acropolis ticket for €12… I think my remaining tickets from last time had expired, and I forgot to bring them anyway. I bumped into Jacinta and Morick at the Acropolis… I headed toward the Ancient Agora. My self-guided tour was relaxing and enjoyable. It took me awhile to find the Metro station (a different one than I got off) but I eventually did, and I returned to the hotel in just a few minutes! Much nicer than walking!

In the Footsteps of St. Paul: 40068

Sabbatical Day 14

July 3, 2004--Day 14
Today is my 30th birthday. I opened a card my brother gave me before I left. It contained 30 Euros. It took me about a half hour to figure out the significance. We’re on our way to Delphi. The bus and all the passengers went across the Gulf of Corinth on a ferry, crossing from the Peloponnese to Central Greece. They are constructing the world’s longest (?) suspension bridge, which would presumably take the place of the ferry service. Before we crossed over, we stopped for morning refreshments in Patras. Steve bought me a chocolate donut to serve as my birthday cake. Across the street was the church of St. Andrew (hAgios Andreas), the largest Orthodox cathedral in Greece. We are driving along the Gulf of Corinth, with its beautiful blue water and fish farms. We stopped for lunch at a restaurant wide a wide selection of seafood, including “octapus.” I had pork chops… what I would really like is a turkey sandwich. I am also disappointed that none of the restaurants I’ve been to serve hummus. I thought it was a Greek dish because they serve it at the Greek restaurant back home.

I attempted to do laundry last night. I should have waited until the cruise, as my clothes did not dry overnight. I had a bit of a scare this morning when I couldn’t find my money belt and passport—they were buried in my suitcase. Repacking every morning is getting old… it should be nice to be on the cruise ship several nights.

The couple in the seats in front of me are Stephen and Judy from Los Angeles. The Joneses are from Idaho. They sit up front behind the driver. The Italian family also sits up front, behind Marilena, the tour guide. Both of the girls have some difficulty walking, but their spirit has brightened the tour bus. They serve as translators for their parents, who speak little English. Jacinta and Morick (?) sit to the right of me. They are teachers from Australia. In the back are two young women from Sydney. There is another family toward the back. The dad is from Greece, and the mom is apparently from Argentina. I believe they live in Philly. That leaves Bill and Loretta, a couple from NYC. Our tour guide is Marilena and the bus driver is Demetrius.

Walking in the Footsteps of St. Paul: 25490 steps

Sabbatical Day 13

July 2, 2004--Day 13
The breakfast at the hotel was okay and free. (There was a controversy last night at dinner regarding whether beverages were gratis). We went to the other hotel to pick up the Australian women around 8:15 a.m. The rest of the morning was spent driving through the mountains to Olympia. The ride was not pleasant. The road is narrow with many hair pin turns. Along the side of the road are many tiny chapel markers dedicated to people who died in (or who were saved from) auto accidents. We eventually made it to Olympia and toured the museum after a much-needed trip to the W.C. I was slightly embarrassed when I was the last one to return to the meeting spot. The museum was good, but again rushed. We saw the pediment from the Temple of Zeus (?) featuring the battle between the Lapiths and the Centaurs and the Hermes by Praxiteles, which is so famous and important that it gets its own room in the museum. Lunch (and another trip to the W.C.) was at the nearby Ambrosia restaurant. Rather than having chicken again, I opted for the American sounding hamburger. It was two small patties, fries, and zucchini. The zucchini was the best part of the meal. I’ve learned that fries cooked in olive oil are nasty. After lunch, we went to the Ancient Olympia archaeological site. We saw the place where the Olympic flame is lit, and the stadium where the ancient games were held. We also saw the remains of Zeus’ temple, where Phideas’ colossal gold and ivory statue was. Our guide liked to remind us that it was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. (Only one of the Wonders exists today—the Great Pyramid at Giza). We are staying at a Best Western tonight. It is about dinner time. Tonight we’re going out… I think I’d rather sleep, but the whole group is going. One reason I’d rather not go is that everybody smokes, especially the locals. There is even one guy smoking in the pool.
Walking in the Footsteps of St. Paul—20346

Sabbatical Day 12

July 01, 2004--Day 12
We’re off on our 4-day tour of Greece. Actually, we’re parked outside a hotel. We’re on bus #2 of the day. Mr. and Mrs. Steve Jones have the same Gate One itinerary as me—they were also on yesterday’s tour. The rest of the people on the bus are from different hotels, though they may be Gate One people too. The bus is nice, but apparently the water closet, or toilet, doesn’t work, which makes me a bit nervous.
We traveled through Athens leaving the busy city, heading to quieter country. Our first stop was the Corinth Canal, which connects the Aegean and Ionian Seas. We had a few minutes to shop as well, and the tour guide suggested we try the raisins, so I bought a €4 bag of raisins and a Coke Light. I didn’t buy any souvenirs. I am starting to see some interesting trends in souvenirs.

Next we drove to Ancient Corinth, which wasn’t on our schedule. We weren’t allowed to get out, but I could see the Acrocorinth and ancient agora, both of which were mentioned in the book I was reading last night—Paul, by Walt Wangerin.

The next stop was the citadel of Mycenae, where the so-called Mask of Agammemnon was found. The Mycenaen period/culture predated the Greek periods. We also saw the famous Lion Gate and the Treasury of Atreus. Then we stopped for lunch. I had fried cheese (I don’t remember the Greek name) and souvlaki (aka chicken shish kebab). Then we went to the Theater of Epidauros and the archaeological museum. The acoustics in the theater are so good that a person high up in the top row can allegedly hear a person on stage cough without amplification. The bugs were loud and the wind or breeze also hindered the effect somewhat, but it was still cool. We did see the museum there, but didn’t have much time to see the archaeological site.

We continued on to Nafplion, where we would be spending the night. It is a picturesque town and we were given some time to wander through the Epcot-like streets. I found an Olympics shot glass for cousin Kelly and a birthday present for my brother. Dinner was with the group at the hotel. I opted for spaghetti rather than stuffed tomato, pepper and zucchini. The main course was chicken and fries and baby carrots and Brussels sprouts. I went to bed by 9:30, my first day/night of normal sleep since I’d left New York.

In the Footsteps of St. Paul--17047 steps