HEALTHY AND HAPPY IN ATHENS

Sorry we haven't been in touch for a while, but our hotel has an exorbitant charge for internet access. We tried to find an internet cafe, but they are a rarity in downtown Athens. We've ended up using the hotel internet, anyhow.

We arrived in Athens, having completed 2,500 km of bus travel. It has been well paced, so we don't feel all that exhausted. The final "rural" set of ruins was in Corinth and was quite spectacular. Our visit to the Acropolis yesterday had us in the company of thousands of others. It would be vile in the summer months. The highlight was a visit to the new Acropolis Museum, a stunning new building built over the excavations of a town at the bottom of the Acropolis hill - lots of glass flooring suspends you over the site. It's a stunning and imaginative achievement.

Must race now and prepare to see what happens with the demonstrations outside.

We probably won't contact you again until Istanbul (unless we find an internet cafe in Athens).

Much love to all.

OUR LIFE IN RUINS

We continue on our way through the ruins of ancient Greece (nothing to do with the current financial situation), with wonderful weather, company and continued excellent commentary from our guide Irini. We found Olympia more interesting than we expected - there is a vast complex of ruins (temples, training complexes etc) besides the famous stadium/arena (which I power-walked on behalf of the Barren Boys). On Tuesday we adjourned to Sparta to explore the nearby ruins and restorations of monastories at Mystras - spectacularly placed on very steep hills (see our red faces above), then crossed the mountains to Tollos, a small resort town on the Aegean. Today has been spent in 13th century BC Mycenaen ruins and the huge ampitheatre at Epidaurus (perfect acoustics - tested to perfection by our friend Trish Ball, who was an opera singer). Tomorrow we head off to Athens via Corinth. May Day should be interesting in Athens, with the planned protests - we'll not poke our noses into them.

GET DUCKED

Thanks for sending us your comments from home (and England - thanks, Chris and Stu) - it's great to feel in touch. Zoe commented that Toby's latest favourite is duck liver pate. Here's a pic for him of where it commences. This is a floating hotel for ducks in the estuary of the village where we had Sunday lunch!

EUREKA - A PHOTO!

I have NO IDEA how I did this, but here we are at Philippi at the spot where Paul baptised Lydia, the first Christian in Europe. I hope I can fluke more photos as we proceed on our travels.

SOUTH TO OLYMPIA

Greetings again. We're in Olympia, having travelled quite a distance from Meteora and the "hanging" monasteries. It was most atmospheric to travel through the clouds to the two monasteries we visited, with snow-capped mountains in the background. Again, I have tried to place a photo on the blog, get so far with the process, then no further. I won't bother again!

Today we spent a wonderful morning in Delphi (after a night in another posh hotel). Our tour guide, Irini, is great - intelligent, witty, concise - she made our museum visit a fascinating experience. We then toured the ruins (which we were last at 38 years ago, but have faded significantly in our memory) - in these dramatic mountains, you can imagine Apollo nearby.

We then headed off down the coast of the Aegean, stopping for lunch in a charming village, where fresh fish and grilled octupus for lunch was mandatory (with a little local white wine - the reds are more dependable here, though). Afternoon tea was at a roadside bakery. The bus tyres were sorely tested when we all re-entered the bus. Must race off to our hotel pool now - it looks most enticing.

TRAVELLING IN THE NORTH

No photos again - the instructions were all in Greek!!

Today has been another fascinating day . We spent the day at a place called Vegina. There are the most extraordinary underground tombs - date back to about 350 BCE and yet were only finally discovered in 1977. The major tomb is that of Philip II of Macedonia who's greatest claim to fame is that he was Alexander the Great's father.

The gold artifacts were just unbelievably beautiful.

We are now at a place called Kalambaka that is jumpin off place for the "Hanging Monasteries of Meteora" We go there tomorrow. Hopefully some photos of this!

Let us k now what's happening - speak soon. C and J

WE'RE ALREADY IN ST PAUL'S FOOTSTEPS

The flight defied world trends in volcanic dust hazards - we arrived safely in Thessoloniki after the initial 17 hour trial of Melbourne-Dubai (with only 100 people on the plane - Tullamarine airport was almost deserted - quite weird). 4 hours in Dubai airport was like pergatory - trapped eternally in a mega shopping complex hell - then the rest was easy. Having arrived at our hotel in the late afternoon, we had a great meal (after all, you can't beat Greek food), then collpased into bed. We had to be ready for an 8.00pm start, travelling three hours east to Philippi, where St Paul first set foot in Europe. We explored some amazing ruins of basilicas and forums, and visited the site where Paul baptised Lydia, the first European Christian.

We're just enjoyed a duty-free Chivas Regal before tapping out this blog and preparing for dinner. I was going to add a photo, but the hotel's computer told me I didn't have sufficient security approval to do so. Apologies!

VOLCANIC IMPEDIMENTS

The volcano in far-off Iceland may be affecting the flying public, but we labour in hope of catching our plane on Monday evening (just two days to go). Emirates flew into Athens today, so we hope that trend continues.

HAMISH WOULD LOVE TO JOIN THE TOUR

Hamish loves the water and would love to join John John and Neen on their tour, particularly in a suitably heated pool.

TOUR ITINERARY

MONDAY 19 APRIL
Depart on evening Emirates flight to Athens
TUESDAY 20 APRIL
Arrive Thessaloniki
WEDNESDAY 21 APRIL
Thessaloniki/Philippi/Kavala
THURSDAY 22 APRIL
Thessaloniki
FRIDAY 23 APRIL
Veria/Vergina/Kalambaka
SATURDAY 24 APRIL
Meteora/Delphi
SUNDAY 25 APRIL
Delphi/Olympia
MONDAY 26 APRIL
Olympia/Sparta
TUESDAY 27 APRIL
Sparta/Mystras/Tolo
WEDNESDAY 28 APRIL
Tolo/Epidauras/Mycenae
THURSDAY 29 APRIL
Corinth/Athens
FRIDAY 30 APRIL - TUESDAY 4 MAY
Athens and perhaps the odd island
WEDNESDAY 5 MAY - FRIDAY 7 MAY
Arrive Istanbul by train, meet up with Andy Hooper and the Marstons from England
SATURDAY 8 MAY
Gallipoli/Dardanelles/Canakkale
SUNDAY 9 MAY
Troy/Pergamum/Kusadasi
MONDAY 10 MAY
Ephesus
TUESDAY 11 MAY
Pamukkale
WEDNESDAY 12 MAY
Perge/Antalya
THURSDAY 13 MAY
Antalya
FRIDAY 14 MAY
Aspendos/Konya
SATURDAY 15 MAY
Cappadocia
SUNDAY 16 MAY
Cappacodia (with early morning balloon flight)
MONDAY 17 MAY
Ankara
TUESDAY 18 MAY - THURSDAY 20 MAY
Istanbul
FRIDAY 21 MAY
1200 entertainment options on Emirates flight (if you can work the remote)
SATURDAY 22 MAY
Arrive 1.00am - yuk!

2010 AND OFF TO GREECE AND TURKEY

2009 was a special year for acquiring our first two grandchildren, Toby and Hamish . Now that they are firmly established, controlling their parents and dazzling their grandparents, we can head off to Greece and Turkey. The group of 25 going to Greece is basically the same as went to Italy in 2007, guided by the wonderful Rev Scott Holmes. Five of us go on to Istanbul to meet up with Andy, Christine's younger brother and Chris and Stu Marston, who were our neighbours in our bedsit in Sunningfields Road, Hendon in London and whom we haven't seen since 1973. What a joyous reunion as we retrace the steps of St Paul (in slightly more luxurious accommodation than his caves and nights under the stars).