Italy and Greece Day 15
Italy and Greece
Day 15 - Saturday, September 22, 2001
It is our last day and we were up at 6:15 and ready to go to the Three Island Trip. We had our traditional continental breakfast, they do have eggs and canned fruit but I just like the rolls and croissant.
I really like their strong coffee but many people complain about it. Gennie got us a couple of kiwis so we have fresh fruit also.
We were taken by bus to the docks where we got on a ship. VERY OVERCROWDED!!! We could not find a place to sit. We finally scrounged up a few plastic chairs and enjoyed the trip to the first island. Aegina.
We had the opportunity to get off the HERMES and enjoy the little city. We walked through town, seeing the fish and fresh fruit market, people riding their little scooters, and making do with life. I took pictures of people and the market. After one and half hours we got back on the boat.
On the way to the second island we had lunch in an inside cabin. Wine again, bread and butter, salad, chicken in a sauce, rice, and some vegetables. One had to pay for everything else, even water.
Gennie and I got to Poros and decided to stay on the boat as my foot had swollen. It was a one hour layover so not too bad. We saved the seats, by the front starboard side, for the rest of our group.
We then sailed for Hydra and when we got there I stayed on board while the other 4 went to the island.
What was so interesting was that as the boat came to the dock, all these cats began to appear. One or two to begin with and then over 13 were there. All waiting right by the edge where the boat would dock. The second person out was a woman who had two plastic bags and as she stepped on the dock the cats went to her and followed her to where she put out the food for them. The lone dog waited until the cats had theirs and then got its food.
Gennie returned and had a coke for me. I had a chance to read the Athens newspaper and my book. Not too bad a wait as everyone got back in an hour and a half.
No vehicles were allowed on this island. So everything has to be moved by animal. They had donkeys by the dock to carry the large pots of plants, luggage of people staying there, etc. It is an island for the very rich and was somewhat like the posters of Greece.
We then had the long trip back to Athens, almost three hours long, and we got back at 7:30 and to our hotel at 8:00.
We saw the rest of the Denver group and they had reservations for dinner. We hurried upstairs, took a quick shower, put on a clean shirt, used pair of pants and got to the lobby.
We went to dinner near the hotel, on a street opposite Hadrians Arch by the Temple of Zeus, at 8:45 and sat outside at this Greek Taberna that Michael had suggested.
They seated all of us together (14) and we were able to chat. Dinner were all these courses. They brought everyone usso (alcoholic) to drink. Bread on the table, then wine, spreads for the bread. Olive leaf roll with a light sauce.
Then a dish of these: spinach pie, cheese pie, fried squash, Greek olives, butter beans, cucumbers, and small pieces of sausage.
It was followed with a Greek salad with lots of fresh tomatoes, some lettuce, feta cheese, cucumbers all in olive oil.
Then the main dish. I had the hero plate and it was pieces of pita bread, sliced roasted lamb, yogurt cucumber spread, french fries and other things. Gennie had the swordfish with lots of rice. Sue, a friend from Denver, had large shrimp spaghetti (shrimp were six inches long!).
Through all of this food the waiter, George was nice. He saw my soccer jersey and spoke to me first and got my name. Always took care of us.
We figured our bill was going to be astronomical because we left it up to him and he just kept bringing out the food. Then we had champagne when we went inside to see the musicians. Ended up being only $35 per person for all of this.
At 11:30 we were done and walked home.
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