Italy and Greece Day 16
Italy and Greece
Day 16 - Sunday, September 23, 2001
We got up at 6:15 as the bus to the airport would pick us up at 8 AM. We got our luggage out by the door at 7 AM and went down for the continental breakfast even though we were still full from last night. We had some coffee, juice, few rolls.
With our group, we boarded the bus at 8 and left the hotel. The ride on Sunday morning was very easy with very little traffic.
The Eleftherios Venizelos Airport is brand new and much more pleasant than the old one, they tell us. But the international area has already a worn look - dirty.
When we checked in they had us go through security as when we fly out of Brasil. One individual who asks all the questions, and approves the bags.
We then waited some more and got to the check-in desk. We were told that because the flight was 3 hours delayed we would only fly out at 3PM and arrive at JFK and we had no flights from there.
Delta will send us to Atlanta, put us up for the night, and fly out at 6:30 to arrive in Denver at 7:30 AM. Oh well, at least we are in the terminal and we have the time to accept these changes.
Some people in our group have jobs tomorrow morning. Delta just certified this airport yesterday so we are glad to get out. This is the only certified airport for Delta in southern Europe. We are very lucky, I think.
We were 3:30 hours late leaving Athens. They had a full plane but the flight attendants were nice. The number of noisy Greeks was unbelievable. Had a guy behind me who wanted to whistle most of the flight. I got into a little argument with him.
There was a mother of a 4 year old who allowed her son to scream and irritate Sue and Dave. There was no discipline from the mother. Across the isle was a mother with two kids and she let them run around the plane - nothing. Guy next to me would yawn loudly. What a trip.
We had pasta for dinner - glad as the chicken had run out by the time they got to us at the back of the plane. They were showing SHREK and CASABLANCA - I had seen Shrek on the way to Europe so no movie - I did think Shrek was one of the best movies I have seen this year. I did read a whole book on the trip - flying during daylight is tougher.
When we got to JFK the landing was very rough - the plane went sideways. Immigration was fine as was custom.
We got on the flight to Atlanta. The flight was OK but packed. Lot of people from Athens on this flight also. We got to Atlanta at 10:45 and I got off the plane and went to customer service as they were to put us up at a hotel.
I got the pother members of our group with me and they gave us a voucher for the Radisson and $8 for meals. Gennie and I decided, as we had to be back at the airport by 4:30, we would just sleep on the floor. Others went to the Radisson - OK. They got back in time this morning.
The flight from Atlanta to Denver was empty - only 1/3 of the seats were filled so I had a whole row and slept for 2 hours.
We got to Denver (very few people in the terminal), got our luggage, said goodbye to everyone. We and the Cropseys went to the outlying parking lot to get the car. 80 dollars. We drove them home and said goodbye.
THIS WAS A NICE TRIP AND WE GOT TO SEE MANY PLACES WE WOULD NOT ON OUR OWN.
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