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| May 15, 2008 |
This time last year... day 2. |
Tuesday 15 May 2007
Arrived on time at 0100. At Singapore airport we freshened up in the toilets at the end of the concourse where not many people go to. A very quiet terminal at this time of the night. Just enough time to stretch our legs and it was then another security check to get back on the aircraft, departing 0210. Another 7 hour flight to Dubai, much the same as the previous sector... cry, howl and squawk.
Arriving in Dubai at 0510, the airport was rather busy for that time of the day. It's the major terminal hub for Emirates Airlines, and very smoky - considering there are special smoking alcoves but that doesn't stop cigarette smoke wafting through the entire terminal. Our next flight to Athens was delayed 3 hours until 1230. That would leave only 90 minutes for us to make our Mykonos connection. We had plenty of time to look around Dubai airport and sought out an ATM so we could use the local currency to buy iced coffee and a donut. Then found the 'quiet area' to sit back and relax for an hour or two.
The Athens flight had several more delays, 1230, 1300, then 1330 eventually taking off at 1350. We discovered it's all due to an Air Traffic controllers strike at Athens airport. The inflight entertainment on this flight was the superior ICE (Information, Communication and Entertainment) system and a lot more user friendly than the one on the two previous flights. We enjoyed viewing the onboard cameras that looked down as we travelled over the middle-east and eastern Mediterranean, especially the approach to Athens over the Greek islands.
Arrived at Athens airport 1700. We rushed through the terminal and spotted a departure monitor. Our Mykonos flight had been cancelled.
Oh f%#@k! What do we do now?
We got through passport control and then collected our packs. We made our way to the Olympic Airlines flight check-in to see if there was another flight and were directed to the ticketing counter nearby. As we waited in line, a frustrated Greek man had an all out argument with the girl behind the counter, attracting the attention of the airport police. Anyway, we eventually got to the front of the queue, tolerating several push-in's. The next available flight to Mykonos was two days away. This would not do, so we were directed to the airport information counter and then redirected to a travel agent downstairs. The Pacific Travel agency were tremendous in the way they assisted us. They booked overnight accommodation for us at Loutsa and booked high-speed ferry tickets for tomorrow morning - business class seats for the price of economy - wow, a bargain in a time of personal turmoil. Tony ran back to the Olympic ticketing counter to have our flight tickets cancelled - why they couldn't do it when we were there earlier, I'll never know.
The man from the hotel complex met us and told us to wait for his wife to pick us up, as well as a couple of Americans from Texas. Our overnight accommodation, was a new-ish looking apartment/villa/hotel complex. We showered and changed and went looking for the bus stop we would need to get to tomorrow. Hunger was catching up with us so we walked 2 to 3 km further and found a taverna by the shoreline. I had beef steak and beer. Tony had some kind of fish dish. It was a bit scary walking back to the hotel in the dark. The road didn't have a footpath and there were lots of crazy drivers whizzing past us at all speeds. Back at hotel by 2130.
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| May 14, 2008 |
This time last year... day 1. |
Monday 14 May 2007
Panic wasn't supposed to happen this early. It's 1315 - I'm 5 minutes late. I quickly lock and gather up my bags and throw them in the car. Tony said to pick him up no later than 1330 but it takes 20 minutes to get there. On the way over I realise I'd left my luggage keys behind. Driving like a maniac, I arrive at Tony's slightly after 1330. He's walking out the door with his bags. "There's no rush", he says. "Yes there is!" I reply in my panicked state. I drive back to my place, encountering every slow driver in Launceston on the way. Tony's nervously clutching the seatbelt, I find the keys where they had fallen on the floor, right where I'd been packing the bags. It's another 10 minute drive to Mum and Dad's place. They'll take us out to the airport. Luckily they were waiting for us and we quickly transferred the bags and packs to their station-wagon. Dad had the car in motion before we'd closed the doors.
They drop us off at the airport and we check-in at the Jetstar counter, just making the check-in time. Time to relax. My ears prick up when I hear a check-in call for "Mr. Underlin". What? Is my Michael (an old friend of mine) in the airport? Has Tony kept a secret from me and he's coming with us??? Well, no. We didn't see or hear from him, so the trip continues as planned.
We arrived in Melbourne 10 minutes early (1610) and head straight to the international terminal and find the Emirates check-in. The queue is quite long and takes us about 30 minutes to get to the counter. After check-in Tony buys some Euros at the currency exchange counter then we go through passport control and security check. Tony gets into an argument with the woman at the security check about his toothpaste tube. The limit is 100ml (that's millilitres) and Tony's toothpaste is 120g (that's grams) and he's telling her millilitres are not grams, and so it goes on for 30 seconds until he decides it's better to give up than be arrested!
It's still quite early for the flight so as we pass the smell of coffee I tell Tony I've never had a Starbucks, so we spend the next 20 minutes having coffee and cake. Then we wonder through some shops. Tony buys a Sudoku book and something to read on the flight. He also gets some toothpaste, seeing he had his confiscated. We arrive at departure gate 9 with an hour to spare. I look at the departure monitor for our flight. It reads "Relax". Tony starts on a round a Sudoku... then another. At this rate he'll have all the puzzles finished before we board.
The flight itself was quite enjoyable. The inflight entertainment system kept us amused and occupied for the seven hour flight to Singapore. The only downer was a woman sitting opposite us travelling with two babies and two other children that took it in turns to cry, howl and squawk the whole flight. |
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Pedro |
since May 15, 2008, 12:14 |
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Nice description |
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| Apr 19, 2008 |
12 Months On... |
Time flys, but the memories are still vivid. I've been meaning to upload some of my photos to Greeka for sometime, and now with a photo competition in the works, I finally have the motivation to do it.
Next month (May), will be one year since my friend Tony and I set off to Greece for our three week backpacking tour of 5 islands. I'm planning to use the blog facility to write a retrospective day by day account of our trip, 12 months after the journey.
Stay tuned! |
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Alexis |
since Apr 19, 2008, 10:33 |
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We will! :)
Enjoy your time. I wish I could do the same. Stocked in Athens for 2 months and then... my paradise island, Naxos. I love the islands and miss them. Only place on the world were it feels like home. |
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| Dec 27, 2007 |
Looking back at 2007 |
This past year I had the opportunity to revisit Greece and tour some of the islands. I doubt if I'll get the chance to do it again any time soon.
What I dearly loved most, was the hospitality and warmth of the Greek people I came into contact with. Although I don't speak Greek, I found many would help me out when I was confronted by language difficulties.
Although it was 8 months ago, I still read magazines and travel fiction books on Greece to keep the memories alive. From my travels I posted pictures on my website and publish a photo book.
All the best to everyone at Greeka.com
Regards, Andy (smirka)
http://andrewshepherd.net/images/greece07/index.htm
http://www.lulu.com/content/1263791
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