The Acropolis, Parthenon, Lunch, and Setting Sail

How much luggage do 50 guys need for a week at sea?

Have I mentioned that Athens was hot? Like over 100F (38C) and very humid. I can see why those with the means leave the city in August. To beat some of the heat, we had an early start for a tour of the Acropolis and new Parthenon Museum. John, the instigator for the previous evening’s fun, decided to skip the tour in favor of a massage to settle a pinched nerve. He also wanted to get a haircut in order to be especially handsome for his boarding pass picture. So it was just me and Jay on the morning tour along with about 15 others. We left our luggage in the lobby and set off into the city.

Faye: our tour guide

Our tour guide, Faye was a delightfully sarcastic language instructor who spent nearly as much time teaching us that “we all speak Greek” as she spent explaining that nothing is new, it has all been done before by the ancient Greeks. She reminded me of the father from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. However, she was eager to share her country’s rich history – the good and the bad – as we slowly made our way through the winding streets towards the Acropolis. 

Jay: Gorgeous with only a few hours of sleep....

 

The first time I visited this site was in 1996 during a nine hour layover on my way to the island of Mykonos. We had no guide and we had to find our way by bus and foot up to the ruins. This time, I had a much better understanding and appreciation of how and why the buildings were made – i.e. no slave labor. There was a brisk breeze at the top of the hill and we spent our limited time clicking as many pictures as possible before being led back down the hill to the new Parthenon museum. 

Entrance to the Odeon

The modern side of the same wall with the modern city of Athens in the background

Jay at the Amphitheater

Where in the world is Glenn?

Jay at the Parthenon

Parts of the original frieze that were not taken by Lord Elgin to the British Museum

The other side: Original sculptures (from around 500 BCE)

Jay in Greece

The Temple of Poseidon

The Temple of Athena

Ahh – air conditioning. The museum is very modern and is constructed over an archeological site. The glass floors allow visitors to catch a glimpse of ruins from 2500 years ago. You can see a portion of the ancient city and how it was organized around fountains, benches, and curving streets. With a little imagination, it was easy to see that cities have not changed much over the millennia. The rest of the museum included the remaining marbles from the top of the Parthenon building as well as some of the original columns and frescos from the inner part of the building. Luckily, the last time I was in London, I made a point of visiting the British Museum to view the originals, which are stunning. The copies, are not very well executed, and are intended mainly as a means to highlight that many of Greece’s cultural treasures reside outside of the county in other European museums. 

Following the Museum tour we rejoined our ship mates for an al fresco lunch of stuffed tomatoes, dolmatha, spanakopita, moussaka, chicken kebobs, and braised veal in tomato sauce. After a few bottles of water and a couple jugs of wine we were all happy, refreshed, and eager to board our buses for the ship. I am guessing the slim physique I work so hard at maintaining will be expanding over the next week or so – but fitness and vacation are not two words that I often say together.

Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

After a rather long bus ride to the port – complete with a short nap, we were dockside and ready to board the ship around 2:30. The process was not nearly as efficient as that used by Holland America to get 2500 people on board, but we were eventually all processed and welcomed on board.  I was looking forward to getting to my cabin for some quick unpacking, to be followed by the raising of the sails, dinner, and a welcome aboard toga party. I am already worn out and the day is only half over. 

Frieze on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

The Rear View Mirror: Ship, Taxi, Plane, MINI, Home

The Rear View - Indeed!

Usually, when the last day of vacation arrives, I have a good breakfast, put on my traveling blinders, and focus solely on the steps required to get home. There is no talking, just the need to keep moving towards the destination. Today, along with my feelings of happy things to come in the next weeks, there was also a bit of regret and bitter sweetness. As I dragged my bag down the ship's hallway one last time, I looked forward to seeing Roxy, sleeping in my own bed, getting back into a routine, and seeing my friends at home.

In the cab it struck me that I was, once again, leaving behind some of the best friends in the world. Some who have been in my life for so long now that they are more like family. There are others who were rediscovered or newly found who also contributed to making the last week a spectacular blur of warm breezes, blue seas, bling, dancing, laughing, eating, and drinking. I am often in awe of my tribe and the fun that follows them.

At the airport, I was a little regretful of my decision to skip next year's February cruise. There are two main reasons for this decision: I was not thrilled with the itinerary in that I have been to Key West and to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. The other is that while I love leaving reality behind for a week, there are other parts of the world I would like to visit.

Our Next Big Adventure: The Greek Isles

The travel agency we use to book our cruises (Concierge Travel) also does excursions such as an Amazon Riverboat Cruise, Trips to Machu Picchu, and cruises to the Galapagos Islands. These trips are definitely not as large as the RSVP cruises, and they are a bit more pricey, but I am eager for some new experiences. John, Jay, and I will be taking one of these smaller ship excursions this summer when we visit Turkey and the Greek Islands. So, while I may be jealous, envious, and petty about not having a winter 2013 vacation on the books, I have a lot to look forward to in the coming year.     

My bitterness, however, did not stop there. Upon arriving in Raleigh, the temperature was a cold, rainy 40F (5C) with a stiff breeze. That night there were also snow flurries. The only silver lining to this cloudy day was that I arrived home around 2:00 PM, had the entire day ahead of me to unpack, and Monday was a work holiday. Yay for me!

But the cough and cold were not giving up so easily....