Hello Greece

Tuesday 16th February, 1982                   fine and cold

Up early - dressed in our very best.  We parked the van on a hill near Steve the chief minder and with our three handbags and many plastic bags filled with our one on and one off clothes, we set off on foot to the airport via the bus, metro and airline bus to Leonardo da Vinci airport.  Half way along the camp street I thought these new boots are hurting me, cost a lot of money etc.  In my mind I suddenly looked down and saw I had them on the wrong feet - no wonder they hurt.  Change them over, picked up my step and caught up.  Funny sight, five in a row with their trundles from bus train to bus - collected a few stares.  

At the airport police were in evidence with their guns.  Had a while to wait so had coffee and a bun, went aboard ready to take off at 2 p.m. on the Olympic Airlines 737.  Had a good trip, smooth - served a nice lunch salad, tea, cheese, biscuits and torte.  Then time to come down, had to put watches on one hour.  No trouble through customs except John's video - had to be entered in passport.  Out into Athens Street - a taxi into town to find hotel as it was quite late.  We settled for a Pensione - clean but no hot water for showers. So up next day and up the road to Aphrodite - a lovely hotel - 300 drachma a night (one dollar = 65 drachma) similar to England - settled in our two rooms.  

Rae, Sean and I in 205 and Sandra and John next door.  We breakfasted there, as Pensione didn't supply it - continental style tea, bread roll, jam and cake ugh!  I had taken bran so brought yoghurt so that started the day well.

The night before after settling in room we went to look for dinner and see the town.  Found a Greek cafe at the Plaka - had a nice meal, vine leaves, a steak and a Greek salad and eggplant and potato fritters.

Wednesday 17th February, 1981 

Went to familiarise ourselves with a new country and city.  Walked the lovely clean streets of Athens.  Our only sunny time, the afternoon came in cold and wet.  We brought rolls and meat and had it back in the room.  I went to bed as the flu had begun to take hold. John and Sandra went for a walk to buy a barbecue chicken for tea, so we had it and salad on the end of the bed, very nice - Bill and Bob's chicken house did well by us.  The kids discovered TV has a lot of English shows.  We all went and watched the Sullivans to our delight.  The Greeks love it, especially about Crete and the fighting.

Thursday 18th February, 1982 

Shopped in the morning and brought some cheap tapestries and then home to bed - to try to cure this cold - can't talk with laryngitis so everyone is having a break from me.  Sean has explored all streets and sites, John all the tavernas and business houses - we love the flea market when novelties are sold.  Sean has made a friend there "come on Aussies" he says and of course buy.  The owners all stand out in the street with their worry beads swinging encouraging you in to buy – all out doing each other.  We have found so many Greeks from Australia who have returned to live here again.

Friday 19th February, 1982          

Up and off to the Acropolis - a cold, windy day but being Tony's birthday I must try and ring but as the day progresses my voice completely vanishes - we walked and walked through windy narrow streets of old Athens, finally reached the steps up to the Acropolis - two of the clan had retreated back to our warm ensuite rooms. 

Acropolis, Athens

Sandra's chest isn't too good.  John carried his video all the way only to be told he was not allowed to take the video in.  I think they mean only commercial cameras but nothing John could say would let him in - we saw so many more movie cameras but they were all small - reluctantly leaving it at the office we walked around, past the Parthenon - here Greeks fought, guarded city and worshipped

The temple of Zeus is the largest ancient temple of Greece can be seen from the walls of the Acropolis.  The Parthenon was dedicated to the virgin goddess Athena.

Our hotel rooms could be seen from the mask stand.  Home again to warm bed - oh! Luxury of it plus a hot shower in the suite and the light above bed to read.  Off on visit to the islands in the a.m.

Saturday 20th February, 1982 

Up and off to catch the train to Piraeus - we left most of our gear at the hotel and plastic bags again - we trundled.  We were off to Hydra but on arriving at the wharf there was no boat till a.m. tomorrow so we caught the ferry “Mykhamia " to Aegina an island in the Saronic Bay.  Arrived about 5 p.m. and found the nicest guest house run by Greek lady who had lived in Darwin for 10 years.  It was clean and homely.  We settled in and went for a walk along the lovely narrow streets - motorbikes abound here - we bought pitas and a cake.  Pita pastries are like a small pizza with a slice of meat, onion and tomato mustard and cayenne pepper wrapped inside greaseproof paper- delicious!

Explored a little more then back for a cuppa and the little TV.  Benny Hill was on so John watched a while.

Aegina Harbour, Greece

Sunday 21st February, 1982

Awoken to the sounds of bells from the lovely church next door - had cuppa and off to catch ferry to Hydra - a 3 1/2-hour trip - brought some pistachio nuts grown in profusion here at Aegina.  We raised some eyebrows when I spread out food and started to feed the mob - rolls and salami, fruit and mineral water.  We called in at Poros where all the town gathered to see the ferry in and out.  It is a pastime on these islands to watch the ferries in and out.  On then through crystal clear green seas - not a whisper of a breeze - to Hydra.  We called in at Methana first, another sleepy village - arrived about 12:30 p.m. found a D class hotel "Ntina" but the only one offered.  

Hydra, Greece

Sandra in "street" Hydra

  

Went for a long walk around to Kameni, a little fishing village about 2 km away, along a cobbled donkey road by the seashore to where we hoped to have lunch but George's family taverna was closed for lunch, so back to rooms and cheese and biscuits.  We showered, rested then explored the little village which is set into the mountain with cobbled narrow winding roads leading everywhere - no cars are allowed, only garbage truck - so no pollution and you can wander along streets without fear of being knocked over.  Donkeys are the only transport and the city is so clean - as the donkeys do their jobs, the owner sweeps up the manure and put it in a tiny swing on Panna.  We saw them carry bales of hay, furniture and wood - such peaceful animals - no wonder one was chosen to carry Mary to the stable.

We walked back to Georges for tea and what nice people and food - home-cooked chops and veggies, Greek salad and apple with cinnamon.  It was delicious.  We tried Ouzo - and a Greek coffee - liked it - reminded me of the Azzopardi’s - cost 1500 drachma.  One of the young boys serving - it was a family business - said "Australia, do you know my friend Sasha?"

The family had been in Canada for eight years.  They came home because of the cold.  We walked home in the dark along the dark cobbled street, but it was fun. 

Monday 22nd February, 1982           

The room was so cold and when we awoke.  It was raining, so we trundled around the village cold and wet and disappointed.  The rain just poured down the cobbled streets and lanes -nowhere else to go so we were saturated in no time - no good for my throat and Sandra's cold so decided to catch afternoon ferry home to Athens.

We waited in a port side Taverna with other passengers, drinking coffee and brandy trying to keep warm and watching the Grecian world go by.  On to ferry at 2:15 p.m. - Sandra, Rae and John had a Vomex A - tablet to keep the seasickness to a minimum - as it was rough.  Then off in driving rain towards a warm bed and room.  Sandra slept most of the way, Rae and John were okay and Sean enjoyed it, running out at each port of call to inspect the action and I just sat still in fear.

Called in at Poros, Messina and Aegina then to Piraeus and still rain - we dragged our sodden bodies to railway and home to Aphrodite where a warm room and hot shower awaited us.  Had hamburgers for tea then bed.

Tuesday 23rd February, 1982

Stayed in bed next day to try and shake cold, Sean was sniffy too, so he had morning with me.  Looked brighter after salad served a la bedroom, so took a walk up to Syntagma Square by myself to post mail, was browsing a bookstore and was approached by a fellow who at first just passed the time about books.  Then I moved off and another man bumped me and started to talk, then suddenly light dawned and I saw man number one just along a bit and next thing this horror said "like to take a walk" and I took off - just as I managed 2 blocks in two seconds number one grabbed my arm, I shook him off and once again entered the Olympic sprint.  Was both upset and wild when I arrived back at hotel - later John went up to same bookshops and came home furious he had been approached three times "do you want a girl" - he was less polite than me.  Leaves a nasty taste in the mouth.  Sandra brought a Reader's Digest in Greek for Harry - I found one in English which we are devouring.

John came back with a telegram from Marie and Lee; they want to come over for the last six weeks, so things are progressing that way after they rang that night.

Had another Bill and Bob specialty and then bed.

Wednesday 24th February, 1982

We walked through Roman market where everyone is selling something from plastic bags to furniture - they all call you into shops let you taste the food - wheelbarrows lined streets filled with all types of ware.  The streets of Athens are narrow winding and clean - lovely little shops - some streets specialise in one particular theme - like wool or tapestries or linen etc.  Sandra enjoyed trying on fur coats - one she liked, they said it was special French lamb at 17,000 drachma.  Later on when John went to look it was 25,000 and the owner said no special rabbit fur - no coat.  Walking through market vendors says "Australian, the Sullivans ".  They like the Australians - so many have affiliation with our country - at a coffee shop woman said she had lived in Sydney - where Sandra brought her jeans the young girl had spent all her life there -was born there and bought back at 16 1/2.

Had Bob and Bills again??  no we didn't - I had salad, kids hamburger in the room whilst John took Sandra out to dinner, we had just finished watching Love boat when they arrived home.

Thursday 25th February 1982

Up early, showered into best clothes, had our last continental breakfast of which I liked the hot pot of tea best.  Then off to airport.  First by public transport, we were there early for our take off at 12:15 p.m. - we were to fly back by Airbus as we had 150 Grecian's and Japanese beside the normal passengers.  Flight OA235 "Nestor"- we boarded with the other 300 passengers and waited for take off - I was thinking we had all become blasé re plane - one tablet no hysterics - when the engines started and we heard a clunk.  I thought it was the food lift and we took off not as smoothly as the 747.  We levelled out then clunk - shake clunk shake - dreadful noises and the whole area shook.  After about what seemed an eon we all realised something was wrong - our air hostess took off, came back and told us it was a water valve - it still clunked and shook. Then passengers started to react - 2 needed oxygen, some were ill and we were praying - holding hands.  

It was evident the crew were worried but they were good.  After another eternity the captain came on and said he didn't know what it was - would wait and see if we would return to Athens - about another eternity we heard it was the engine but still wait again, after a while we were told we were going on to Rome.  The noise had subsided but we were alert to every little noise and the trembling under us.  The hostess then started to hurry up meals - vegetarian to the hundred odd pilgrims who ate theirs and then served other passengers.  Most of passengers looked at it and sent it back.  We all ate just a little to avoid being ill.  Rae and Sean were terrific - no panic - only the stark fear we all felt that we were going to meet our maker.  A hurried cleanup and we were coming in for landing - ice had formed on most windows so we couldn't see much, but still felt the bumping underneath us.  It landed with its great nose up and on the brakes then taxied slowly in for miles - with a dry mouth and wet eyes we all left the plane.  The hostesses were crying and everyone shaking the pilot’s hand.  We may not have been in any real danger of crashing but that pilot had 300 by a thousand prayers to get him in.

Beside me sat the head of the guru pilgrims - as we started to come down he started to talk to us to reassure us I think.  He had the guru’s food with him so he was sure it would be delivered.

My thoughts were mixed.  I prayed - I read - I crocheted, held Sandra's hand - rebuked myself for not ringing Tony on his birthday (laryngitis didn't seem a good enough excuse then) -thought, "glad I put a clean singlet on" -well many planes landed during the war with one engine - never see Karen, Tony, Kevin, Billy and littlies again.

Next day we were still uptight and reacted in different ways.  Thanks God for another day -Sean has given up flying for Lent.