Piraeus

The port of Piraeus is the chief port in Greece, the largest passenger port in Europe and the third largest in the world.  Piraeus has been inhabited since 26th Century BCE in prehistoric times.  It was a rocky island consisting of the steep hill of Munichia, modern day Kastella and was connected to the mainland by a low lying stretch of land that was flooded with sea water most of the year and used as a salt field whenever it dried up.

It is twinned with St Petersburg in Russia and Shanghai in China.

We had Gala night last night and had to dress up but Claire had brought my small clothes and I had to improvise.  The gala dinner was mainly fish which Ian is allergic to so Wagner arranged for a special salad.  We could have shared it between the lot of us.

Sue had been given a card from a company called Piraeus express which is a bus service specially designed for Costa short stops and whizzes you around all the sights for €20 each.  A little confused at first but once we got going it was very good.

It was so hot today, apparently they had a 10 degree temperature rise since yesterday and it was 38 degrees.  First stop I thing was called another temple of Zeus but it was near the arch in the next picture.

We then went up to the acropolis with the Parthenon at the top.  It was a really hot difficult climb and I was the only one to make it to the top.  Trouble is, I felt very poorly by the time I had found my way down again.  Again I got in free because Im a student.  They gave me the third degree again but Ian probably had more trouble getting half price for being old this time.  The only ones that get in free are students and the disabled.  Im just about both these days but I couldn't get any money back.  I suppose the Greek economy cant really stand too many cheap tourists like me and Ian.

I tried to find where Plato’s Academy was but apparently there is not much left of it, just a open area now.  Im so pleased that I did make it to the top now and I can look back at the pictures; they seem to be better than what it looked like with you eye.  I know, its normally the other way around.

I am having to write this the following day because we had no time when we got back yesterday.  Now we are late getting off the boat.  We arrived at 8am today and sail again at 2pm and we didn't wake up until 8.45.  Not sure what we have at Izmir other than I read that it has 3000 years of history.  I hope we make it but Claire is a little fed up with old ruins like myself.  Tomorrow is a sailing day so it will be two days until the next blog and Im not sure if there will be anything to write about.  Take care, we will see you when we get back.