Peloponnese 2000NightflightDay 1, Friday, 01st September 2000Karlsruhe - Frankfurt - Athens |
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| Program according schedule: After arrival in Athens or prior stay transfer to the round trip hotel. Welcome and introduction to the program. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel Athens Acroprol. |
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02.15 Who ever invented early flights for tourist should be shoot. I hardly can imagine a less pleasant start for a journey than when the alarm clock rings after a too short sleep. Well, a quick shower, a fast coffee a last sight around. Nothing forgotten? Let's go. The first part of journey to Frankfurt Airport is accomplished without problems. One can't thank Corinne enough for the nocturnal driving service. |
 Of course this journey was booked at the Reiseland American Express Travel Agency in Karlsruhe. | |
| 06.00 Exactly on schedule the plane left from the gate. There hardly was a noise in the darkened cabin while we were waiting for take off. Nobody talked or searched his hand luggage. Everybody seemed to take the last chance to have another nap before breakfast is going to be served after take off. 10.00 Just as punctual as take off was, the arrival in Athens tooks place. The Greek chaos welcomed us. But first of all it has to be notices that Schengen treaty seems to have arrived in Greece. There is no passport control upon arrival. This is new. On my last arrival at Greece I still had to show my passport. Baggage claim is overcrowded. It took the suitcases ages to arrive and as life usually plays, mine is one of the last arriving. The reception by TUI at the airport was short and efficient. It seems like I was the only one arriving with this plane for this tour because together with another couple who booked another tour I was taken to the hotel by taxi instead of the normal bus. Well, that way I received a small sight-seeing tour in advance not only passing the Acropolis. However to my surprise the driver was very quiet. Even when I asked some questions on Greek, he kept being taciturn. Well, there must be those Greeks as well. After a reaction time I adjusted myself to the merciless traffic in Greece again. Reckless lane changing, no flashing and what the hell is a speed limit? Winner are those having stronger nerves and a louder horn. |
 Boing 737-800  Though their following model is already in function the old shaky orange trolley busses are still in business  | |
| 11.30 The Hotel Acropol is located in the very centre of the city, just next to Omonia Square, one of the main traffic junctions of Athens. The indicated fare for the one-bed room is 50.000 Drachmaes which is grossly exaggerated. The room is small and the furniture does not seem like it has ever been changed since the opening of the hotel which must have been sometime in the early seventies. New are only the Pay-TV and the door-key-card system. You also need to know that all the electric equipment including air condition and lights just works when the key card has been placed into a small box just next to the door. It would have been nice if somebody at reception told me to do so. There is no view from the window. At least I wouldn't call a backyard a view. But noise isolation seems to be good. I couldn't hear any traffic noise. 12.00 I quickly refreshed myself and left the hotel again. Cause Athens is not on the tour schedule I should at least had to walk a bit through the city. To do so the location of the hotel is perfect. Life pulses around Omonia. Especially at lunchtime. There is one Periptero next to the other and plenty of snack places around the square. Most likely you won't die from starving here. The major problem is not to be overdriven by the traffic. First I covered my demand of drinks 'cause I don't see the point of supporting the hotel by using the mini-bar. A cash withdrawl at a bank and a Gyros-Pita followed. Finally I walked aimlessly through the streets and alleys of Psiri and Monastiraki, roughly heading towards the Acropolis. Over here boulevards with heavy traffic alternate with small alleys hardly allowing a car to pass through. Side streets with heavy traffic and pedestrian roads complete the picture together with the small squares. The Greek mentality allows it to place new buildings next to old ones without care. The closer I get to Acropolis, the more touristical the scenery becomes. But also streets and allays are more clean and beautiful than anywhere else. The waiters of the nearby restaurants and cafes try to force you into their places. This finally stopped me from walking closer towards the Acropolis and so I returned. Around the old Central Market a lot of small shops did establish. Just like nothing has changed in the butchers road the meat still hangs around without cooling at 30°C. A distinctive smell of Naphthalene comes from the old cloth-shops a less than 50 year old Greek lady would never enter and passing by the modern shops you can catch a glimpse of cool air conditioned air. 20.00 At eight we meet out tour guide Maria who gave us an introduction into tomorrows program. Having a welcoming Ouzo the group meets. There were three elderly couples, one young couple and me. Once again I was off beat being the only single. But it seemed to be a very nice group. At least we got along well at once. Well, we would find out which quirks one will show up. We were all happy about the fact that the tour took place although the minimum participants number of 13 has not been reached. The dinner is not actually bad but for a fare of DM 400,- I'd expect a bit more than chicken with rice and fruit salad with ice. |
Two wheels and two feet are the
best way of transportation in Athens  Hotel Athens Acropol  Small shops are typical in Greece  The small byzantenian church at the Monastiraiki square seems to be crushed by the modern buildings all around  Often there is a nice view towards the Acropolis in Monastiraiki. |
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