Back on Terra Firma and into the Lap of Luxury

We disembarked from the Aegean Odyssey in the port of Pireaus on September 30th.  This was bittersweet.  We had been on the penultimate trip with Voyages to Antiquity.  The ship has been leased for three years to another organization and, without a ship, VTA is shutting down as of October 31st.  I did two cruises with this company and would certainly have considered another.  Aside from the intriguing itineraries, the ship has only 350 passengers which makes it a lot more intimate than some of the monster ships that now ply their way on the seas.  It is so much easier to connect with people on a smaller ship.  Now, I will be researching other options although I doubt I will do more cruises unless the itinerary is something I wouldn't be able to do independently.

We had the option of two excursions on arrival in Athens:  the Acropolis and its associated Museum or Byzantine Athens.  As I had been to the Acropolis and museum two years ago on my first VTA cruise, I opted for the second.  Also, because the weather in Athens was hot (32+ degrees), I was pretty sure I didn't want to walk up the hill to the Parthenon.  Instead, our guide took us to a monastery up in the hills outside of Athens.  The Kaisariani Monastery is Eastern Orthodox and built on the north side of Mount Hymettus not far from the centre of Athens.  It is thought it was established in Byzantine times around 1100.  We visited the basilica there.

From there, we were taken to the Byzantine Museum in the city.  I have to say our guide was not very good.  She bullied the people who didn't want to walk up the hill (many of them were elderly with canes) by saying "what is your problem: hips, knees, ankles?"  In addition, she seemed to relish in telling grim stories about fires, deaths, negative politics including the civil war, and anything else she could come up with.  

When we finally got to the Byzantine Museum, I asked her what time I could meet her outside the museum rather than do the tour.  She told me I had to stay with her so she could tell me about the religious icons.  I think a Trip Advisor comment is warranted!  

Then, we arrived at our Athens hotel, the Grand Bretagne.  I had stayed there two years ago as part of the cruise package and was very much looking forward to staying there again.  I have told people the hotel is like the Empress Hotel in Victoria, only on steroids!  It is so beautiful.

I was extremely pleased to find out I had been given a very luxurious suite!  I am not sure if it was because I had stayed there before or what but it was sumptuous!  

Later, I met my friends from the cruise on the rooftop bar and restaurant for drinks and dinner.  It was a perfect way for my final evening with them.

The following day, I spent some time exploring Athens with two Canadian gals I had connected with on the ship.  We met for breakfast at the rooftop restaurant with its amazing view of the Acropolis.  After that, we wandered by Parliament square and were lucky to arrive just as the ceremony for changing the guards was taking place.  Then, we walked through the lovely nearby gardens before heading to the Plaka to do some last minute shopping.  It was so hot, however, we went back to the hotel to have a drink at the pool bar before saying our good byes.

Later that afternoon, I flew to Frankfurt where I stayed at a nearby Mercure Hotel.  The following day, I met my sister who was flying in from Canada.

Next up:  a road trip with Kathleen in Germany, northern France and Belgium.