Greece Trip Update

Sunday - Monday

So, Day 1 started on Sunday for our purposes.  We were to leave Dallas at 5:45PM to go to London.  Then we were supposed to hit a connecting flight to Athens at 11:35 AM London time on Tuesday.  Due to volcanic ash from the volcano in Iceland, our flight was delayed for three hours.  What does this mean, you might ask?

Well, because our first flight was delayed, we missed our connecting flight.  Our plane landed in London on Monday morning at 11:45.  We just missed the flight.  Little did we know that beside the volcanic ash problem, British Airways was planning to go on strike the next day.

Up to this point, we were all smiles.  Above you see Jared and Jake.  We have landed in London and are happy to have arrived.  We had hoped to continue on into Athens sometime on Tuesday, but BOY were we mistaken.

We were sent from one line to another.  We did not know that EVERY FLIGHT to or from London had been canceled or delayed.  So, long story short, we were at the airport in Heathrow (London) for over 10 hours, most of it STANDING IN ONE LINE.

 We finally saw enough people that we had some plan figured out...But, we had no bags, only our carry on items, and only the clothes on our backs (or a few assorted items in our carry on bags). The plan was to try to head out to Athens on Tuesday.  The airline booked us at a hotel, and we FINALLY left at sometime around 10:30 or 11:00 PM London time.  We were very excited to go.  Although we had to stand in ANOTHER LINE for a taxi to the hotel, I think Dr. Johnson was really glad to get out of Heathrow.

We arrived at the hotel and were ready to wind down. The hotel was far from the airport, but we got there.  Upon arrival, the hotel was PACKED (= more lines).  This hotel was some sort of Hilton, although the sign did NOT say that.

When we FINALLY got inside, it was around midnight.  We ate dinner there at the hotel, and went off to bed.

Tuesday

So, alright, lets get out of London right?  We eat a good English breakfast and get ready to head out.  Right before we left the hotel we learned that that the soonest flight to Athens wasn't until Wednesday morning.  This really threw a wrench into our plans.  Here's what we decided to do.  We would go to the airport and get a hotel to stay in Tuesday night.  We would take our stuff there straight from the airport and ate lunch.


Going to Greece?! from Jeff Stapleton on Vimeo.


I had a very British meal, "fish and chips."  I'm not really a seafood guy, but it was pretty darn good.  A nice slab of halibut and some french...err...freedom...fries really hit the spot.   We then spent the rest of our new-found free day visiting some sites in London.


Greece - Double Decker from Jeff Stapleton on Vimeo.


We got to ride both double-decker busses and underground (or "the tube") all over London.  We saw lots of stuff...Abbey Road, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben...lots of stuff.  It was really fun, but really exhausting.  We walked MANY MANY miles. 

A double decker bus

 Yours truly in front of Buckingham Palace

 Jared actually pretended to kiss this palace guard, and he smiled and cracked a small chuckle, especially when Jared showed him the picture that was just taken of the event.  It was epic.

Some old building

And then I saw this car that was wrapped to look like an x-ray car.  I thought it was picture-worthy.

The tube was really fun.  Its crazy to see people get on and off all the time.  The guys also embraced a new phrase as we traveled, "Mind the Gap."  That means, be careful of the gap between the tube (subway car) and the concrete, dont fall into the small gap, mind it....Mind the Gap.



Mind the Gap from Jeff Stapleton on Vimeo.


We got back to the hotel, ate a decent dinner (not great, but passable) and went to bed.  We got some rest, but we had to catch our bus the next morning at 5:15.

Wednesday

So, we woke up EARLY on Wednesday to catch our flight.  Dr. Johnson woke us up at some time...I really think it was 4:40 am, but I'm not sure.  It was all kind of a blur...  We didn't get a breakfast at the hotel, as no breakfast is served at that time


Untitled from Jeff Stapleton on Vimeo.

And, here are some of my pre-flight antics.  We were really happy to be going to Athens.

05_Gord Woman from Jeff Stapleton on Vimeo.
For Sarah


06_Survivors from Jeff Stapleton on Vimeo.
For everybody else :)

We got breakfast on the plane, but due to the time change, it was 11:30 when we got there.   A tour agent was waiting for us to walk us through different stuff. We had to wait a few minutes to change money and go to the bathroom.  The best part, though, is that we were able to get OUR LUGGAGE.  I wore the same clothes from Sunday to Wednesday...thats 4 days people.  We were digusting, but we were all disgusting together :)


07_Luggage from Jeff Stapleton on Vimeo.


We walked out to a NICE big tour bus.  It was like the 'deluxe' edition.  Very classy.  Very different than our fend-for-yourself experience with London public transportation 



08_In Athens from Jeff Stapleton on Vimeo.


Our tour agent gave us a mini tour as we drove into Athens from the airport.  Our hotel is a new 4-star hotel called "Novus Hotel."  Its a trendy urban hotel.  The top has a lounge area, a bar, a pool, and an incredible view of the Acropolis.  Me and buddy Jared Jaggers are sharing ONE bed.  Our bathroom also has a window from the shower to the bedroom...interesting.

We saw lots of places around Athens.  I'll try to update more later, but heres a few quick pictures...its 11:00 PM, and we have a 6:30 wake up call.

Tomorrow, we'll be visiting Delphi and some other cool places.

I'll leave you with a view from the top of our hotel.

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The Schedule for the Greece Trip

Day 1, SUN, MAY 16                  USA/ATHENS

Depart U.S.A. for Athens.

Day 2, MON, MAY 17                ATHENS

Arrive in Athens and transfer to the Hotel Athens Acropol with the remainder of the day at leisure.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Day 3, TUE, MAY 18                ATHENS

Today we visit the Acropolis with the Parthenon shimmering in its ageless grace and unmatched design and the unique Erechtheion (the only double temple).  Nearby we climb the Areopagus (Mars Hill), where the apostle Paul addressed the philosophic court.  Our full day of touring also features a visit to the Acropolis Museum and a walking tour of the Plaka and old town area of Athens, as well as a panoramic tour including Embassy Row, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the National Palace, the House of Parliament, and the University.

Day 4, WED, MAY 19        ELEUSIS/ISTHMIA/

                     CORINTH/ATHENS

Today we drive to Eleusis, birthplace of Aeschylus and also well-known for having been the site of the Eleusin- ian Mysteries, one of the major cults of ancient Greece.  We visit Isthmia, where the remains of the ancient sanctuary of Poseidon are located, and then continue to Corinth, the capital of the Roman province of Achaia and the city of Paul's extensive personal ministry and challenging letter writing.  Dominated by the Acro-corinth rising 1700 feet above the ruins, the Market Place is still laid out as it was in Paul's day with its stone Bema (judgment dais) where Gallio refused to condemn Paul

(Acts 18).  Nearby in a prominent place is the Temple of Apollo with its Doric columns. A superb collection of Corinthian artifacts greets the visitor in the museum.  We return to Athens for dinner and overnight.     

Day 5, THU, MAY 20        ATHENS

Our touring this morning features a visit to the ancient Agora, a marketplace that contained temples, courts, administrative and commercial centre of the city was transferred from the Ancient Agora to the Roman Agora, which we will also see this morning.  The afternoon is at leisure for you to explore Athens on your own, with dinner and overnight at our hotel.       

Day 6, FRI, MAY 21          PIRAEUS/MYKONOS

This morning we board our cruise ship in the Port of Piraeus (Athens).  We arrive in the afternoon at the world famous Greek island of Mykonos.  Mykonos combines the dazzling white beauty of a typical Cycladic island with a sophisticated jet-set atmosphere.  Stroll at leisure through the white-washed, flower-decked alleyways to the church of Paraportiani, and along the waterfront to the famous windmills.      

Day 7, SAT, MAY 22     RHODES

The Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, once dominated the strategic harbor entrance.  Later it served as a crucial outpost for the Crusaders in many of their ill fated journeys to Israel during their conflicts with the Muslim conquerors.  Take an optional tour ($80) to discover more about its fascinating history.  Wandering through the old city you can see its fortifications, the Street of the Knights with medieval stone mansions, the Palace of the Grand Master and the Hospital of the Knights (now a museum).  There are also art shops as well as many lovely beaches.    

Day 8, SUN, MAY 23         PATMOS/EPHESUS

We arrive at the former Roman prison island of Patmos where John received his "Revelation," visiting the Grotto named for his book and the Monastery of St. John which houses ancient manuscripts including one of the Gospel.  From here we continue to the busy resort town of Kusadasi, Turkey, where we journey inland to Ephesus and walk through history in a city founded as early as the 10th century B.C. Wander among the magnificent excavations and see streets lined with wonderful public buildings such as the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, the Basilica of St. John and the great Theatre.      

         

Day 9, MON, MAY 24            DELPHI/ATHENS

After an early morning arrival of our cruise ship at the port of Piraeus, we drive to Delphi.  Site of the famed Oracle, Delphi's prestige extended far beyond the boundaries of the Hellenic world.  On the slopes of Mount Parnassus, in a landscape of unparalleled beauty and majesty lie the ruins of the Sanctuary of Apollos Pythios.  We visit the treasury of the Athenians, the Temple of Apollo and the museum containing such masterpieces of ancient Greek sculpture as the bronze charioteer and the famous Athlete Aghias.  We return to Athens for dinner and overnight.         

Day 10, TUE, MAY 25                   ATHENS/USA

We transfer to the airport this morning for our flight to the USA

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