Lost in Touristland

Well, it had to happen! Last night I got lost here in Athens. Or, to be more precise, I lost Boak...or he lost me.

With my love of shopping and Boak's love of, well, sitting and drinking coffee, it was bound to happen sometime. Feeling satisfied after a delicious meal in one of those charming little outdoor tavernas in the Plaka, Boak suggested I go looking for a skirt I'd talked about buying. "I'll catch you up", he said, settling back with a Greek coffee (so thick and gritty you can almost eat it) and lighting up a cigar. Now, every second shop in the Plaka sells these peasant skirts, t shirts, cheesecloth shirts and such and has the facade festooned with stock, so it's rarely necessary to even enter the shop to make a purchase. The streets are narrow, almost pedestrian thoroughfares. Except when the occasional Vespa rider roars up behind and sends shoppers scattering to seek refuge on the narrow footpath.

Notwithstanding the Vespas, I set off along the little street leading from the taverna out to the edge of the Plaka area, and after some serious price comparison I (almost) made a decision. I just needed Boak's opinion.

So I waited...and waited.

Eventually I walked back along the street to the taverna. But at the table where Boak had been sitting a party of high-spirited Scandanavian youths was now enjoying a bottle of Macedonian red.

My heart sank. There was only one direct route out of the Plaka from there, if Boak used the most obvious route, and I'd walked it and he hadn't passed me. Buying a skirt was no longer important. I decided to wait for him at the edge of the Plaka - on the corner where the cheerful, welcoming halogen lights of the Plaka end, and the gloom of a not-too-salubrious area of Athens takes over.

So I waited...and waited.

One by one the shops began to close their doors. But a combination of fear of the darkness and concern for Boak kept me there. Eventually I gave up, prayed for protection, and walked, with as much of a courageous swagger as I could muster, back to the hotel. Boak wasn't there either.

Reluctant to face the dark streets again, but reasoning that I was at least less likely to be attacked if I wasn't carrying a bag, I pocketed my room key and set out again. It was around 11pm and I imagined Boak frantically searching the streets of the Plaka for his wayward wife. So I positioned myself on a well lit street corner near the hotel, where he'd see me when he approached.

And I waited...and waited.

Some passers by gave me some very strange looks, perhaps surmising that I was working my way around Europe in a most unusual way - for a 56 year old! Around midnight I gave up and retreated to the hotel room - It was no longer empty but reverberated to the snoring of my sleeping husband!

You'll have to ask Boak for his version of the tale, but I hasten to assure you he was blameless. We have now instituted a "Rendezvous Policy".

I can't lose him yet - he has all the tickets!

Greek sweets 

Greek sweets 

Patterns 

Patterns 

Patterns 

Some beautiful images and patterns that appealed, from the museums at Olympia and Delphi, and from St Andrew's Cathedral in the city of Patros. 

The temple of Apollo at Delphi - where the Oracle used to sit. Delphi is very high up on mount Parnassus, and the site involves some steep clambering up steps to reach the very top where there is another stadium just like the one at Olympia. I walked this one too! If you're wondering why I'm indulging in so much (uncharacteristic) exercise, just see my photos of Greek sweets! 

The original ancient Olympic stadium at Olympia. Of course everyone who visits tries it out, and there's a continuous stream of breathless tourists jogging from one end to the other. I walked it - and imagined the roar of the crowd! The grassy banks where spectators sat held 40,000. 

I couldn't resist this one. In an attempt to part us from our money, our tour guide took us to this ceramics shop in the town of Mycenae. With its urns, statues and pediment It reminded me of the film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". 

Off on our Classical Greece Tour

The first stop as we headed off on our 4 day Classical Greece Tour. Here is Boak in the theatre at Epidaurus (2500 yrs old) where the accoustics are so perfect that an actor can stand on a spot in the centre of the stage, and whisper a message that can be heard in the back row.

You can buy everything from beads to backpacks in the colourful shops that line this pedestrian precinct. 

This taverna looks charming, even in the rain. 

Old church in the Plaka district.  

A Walk around the Plaka district of Athens the morning we arrived

Some photos taken on our walk around the touristy Plaka district of Athens the morning we arrived. The rain was falling lightly, but we didn't allow it to deter us from exploring this maze of wonderful old buildings interspersed with ancient ruins.

Afternoon Tea at Raffles

Still eating ... A very proper English afternoon tea in Raffles' Bar and Billiard Room the next day. Dainty little sandwiches, strawberry shortcakes, pastries and scones. I think we were born about 150 years too late!

Singapore Gin Slings in Raffles' Long Bar

Here we are enjoying one of the "must do" activities in Singapore - sipping Gin Slings in Raffles' Long Bar. Those peanuts were tasty too, and it was such fun tossing the shells on the floor (it's actually encouraged!).

Update from Athens

We've been travelling for 6 days now, including a 24 hour Singapore stopover and a 4 day tour of Classical Greece. Here are some photos that will give you a sense of what we've seen and done. It's all been wonderful so far. The Greek tour took in Epidaurus (with its famous amphitheatre), Mycenae (the ruins of Agamemnon's palace), Olympia (birthplace of the Olympic Games), Delphi (and the Temple of Apollo), and Meteora (more about this wonder later). The weather has been very hot, but the bus was air conditioned so we've coped well.
Greek sweets

One last visit - Lunch with Mum and Dad

Tonight our bags are almost packed and the good news is that I still have lots of room in my case.

I drove up to the leafy North Shore this morning, where the azaleas are blooming their little heads off and Sydney's springtime is most evident, to have lunch with my parents, Mary and Trevor, before Dad went off to play tennis.

(That's the patchwork wallhanging I made for their 50th wedding anniversary eight years ago, in the background).

They're smiling in the photo, but I know they're secretly a little apprehensive for our safety as we fly off to explore foreign lands - but they'd never say anything. They'll be praying for our safe return, and that's a very special gift. You always need your Mum and Dad!!

We are being picked up at 5am tomorrow, and I'm sure I'll be waking up all night - don't want to miss that plane.

Family Portrait

The five of us...Ben, Boak, Sarah, Di (with Cherie Blair mouth from smiling too broadly!) and Lachy.

Our beautiful Sarah getting ready to blow out her candle. 

The Birthday Girl - Sarah is 24 today!

Sarah's long-term goal is to work with tigers but in the meantime she is doing her PhD with research into koala diseases through Sydney University.

Alicia, her godmother, always manages to find new "tiger-abilia" and tonight she wrapped a stunning African animal themed towel for Sarah's birthday with this striking paper.

Goodbye Paddington Quilters

Today it was time to say goodbye to my wonderful friends who make up the Paddington Quilters. Just look at those faces, so happy and well-adjusted! We don't need therapy - we have quilting!

(I'm the tall one on the left)

Our last Sunday at St Mark's until December

I'm feeling very blessed. Our St Mark's church "family" prayed for us in church today, and we said our goodbyes to most of them. Tonight Boak's officially "On Leave". It feels as if we're going for such a long time.

We had eight to lunch afterwards, so they could meet (retired Bishop) Brian King and his wife Pamela who are going to help look after the parish while we're away. We're almost ready to start packing, but there's one more - very important - event to take place. Sarah's 24th birthday tomorrow, and a family dinner.

And she looks so sweet and gentle.....

Last night we enjoyed another farewell get-together with friends, this time it was champagne and smoked salmon (and other delicious goodies) at the home of our dear friend Moo.

We sipped and nibbled, and laughed, and laughed .... and laughed ... as we always do when Moo entertains.

I've been thinking I may not go after all - this socialising is such fun!

By the way, this could be my final posting - if camera-shy Moo sees this I might be in big trouble :-).

Show and Tell - I finished my shoulder bag!

At last, with everybody else in bed, and the companionable cricket commentary on the radio beside me, I've put the final touches to the embroidered shoulder bag I've made for the trip, with its nifty little pockets for everything.

I'll be looking at this bag all day every day for three months, so it had to be an item that I would love using, and these embroidery designs that my friend Gail gave me were the perfect embellishment I needed. There are five zipped pockets on the outside, and a pocket for my glasses on the shoulder strap. Then inside there are more compartments to hold my purse, watercolour pencils, sketch book and sewing accessories - and maybe even a small paperback book.

But will I remember which pocket holds what, I wonder?

Now all I have to do is pray it doesn't get snatched in Italy!