Greece trip 2001

Greece trip 2001

I believe it was in the spring when Rosalie contacted Cathy to see if we wanted to join them for a trip to Greece and Italy in September. When she pointed this out to Butch he noted that September was one of the nicest months in Oregon and we should wait until we have more time to spend there.

Later Butch asked Cathy what she had told Rosalie. Cathy said, "great - we will join you". With that settled it was time to make preparations for the trip. For Cathy that meant a number of shopping trips and for Butch it meant checking some travel tapes out from the library. One of these tapes emphasized traveling light, which meant Cathy way over shopped. Since we had a Monday morning departure we had the weekend for organizing and packing.

First thing Monday we headed for the airport for our two-plane seventeen-hour trip to Athens Greece. The bad news was that we ended up in the very back row of the plane but the good news was that we got free headphones for the movie. I think airline cutbacks have gone too far - there were only two bathrooms for the 200 or so passengers. From where we were sitting it gave us the opportunity to visit with most of the passengers as they stood in line.

In New York we met up with the San Diego bunch. They had their own misadventures as the jet way for their plane was broken and the departure time for the plane going to Athens was rapidly approaching. Luckily their arrival and departure gates were close together so they had a good five minutes to spare.

We were comfortably seated, (ha ha) and ready to take off on our nine hour flight to Greece when our departure was delayed by thunderstorms.

It's a mystery to me why the flight from New York to Greece is more efficient when taking a curved flight path heading north and then south rather than just going East. The highlight of the flight was seeing the sun come up over the Alps. We also had a beautiful view of Athens flying into the city. Greek Customs consisted of two dogs lying in a passageway. Seems that if they didn't smell counter band you were good to go.

Converting money was the first thing on our list. This should be a simple matter of putting your Visa card in an ATM machine and getting cash. Finding the ATM was no problem, it was getting it to surrender cash that proved fruitless. The money exchange people didn't want our Visa cards but did tell us where a nearby bank was located. When we found the bank we also found another ATM. This machine was glad to give us cash. It was the ATM's secret as far as what the exchange rate and finance fees were.

The eight of us piled into two cabs. Guess what - not everybody here speaks English. That shouldn't be a problem as we had a brochure with the name of the hotel and a map. Maybe the problem was the brochure was in English and she (the cab driver) didn't have a clue. We were able to convey that the cab in front of us had the rest of our party. When we came to a tollbooth she got the other cabs attention. There was an excited exchange in Greek and we were off like a bat out of hell. This was our first experience with European driving- WOW. Our driver was fearless, risking our lives time after time dodging traffic. You know how the lines on the road are used to separate lanes of traffic - in Greece they are a special lane for the countless motorbikes on the road. It took about an hour to get to our hotel but it seemed a lot longer. After paying her, she got back into her cab and showed us her taillights. About five minutes later the other cab arrived. The cab driver quickly unloaded the luggage, collected his money and immediately lit a cigarette. Apparently he had asked if it was all right to smoke on the trip. The answer was unanimous.

The rooms are small but comfortable. The Greeks have come up with an ingenious way of saving electricity. None of the electricity in the room works without the keycard in a special slot. Of course nobody mentioned this to us. The good luck was that Butch noticed this cardholder on his way out of the room to the lobby to see why we didn't have any power.

After settling in our rooms we gathered for a walk around the area. We were only a few blocks away from the Acropolis. In another few blocks we were in an area of restaurants and shops. We dined on Greek food at one of the outdoor restaurants. The Greek salad was great.

With our stomachs full, sleep became an overpowering urge. Our rest was interrupted when Harry knocked at our door to inform us the United States was under attack. I guess we won't know what the effect will have on our trip until the last chapter.

September 12 Wednesday

The hotel provides a continental breakfast. The fruit and yogurt was great and they had some sort of crispy fried potato pieces. After breakfast we began a day of sightseeing. We went to the Acropolis, the Parthenon and other ruins. The museum was great as well as the view of the city. Next we found the subway system - very modern, clean and nice. We made our way to the Capitol building to watch the changing of the guard. We found an Internet cafe and did the email thing. Then we took the subway to the waterfront. We took a stroll checking out all the many cruise ships and ferries. Lunch was next on our agenda. The Greeks are so accommodating that the restaurant people brought another table outside, blocking the sidewalk for us. After another excellent great meal we made our way back to the hotel.

After resting up we went out for dinner. The place really starts to liven up after the sun goes down. With many outdoor restaurants to choose from, we went with the one that offered a free drink. Ouzo is a Greek liquor that has a strong licorice flavor. Seeing we were Americans they also brought a glass or water for dilution purposes.

Thursday September 13 - three island Cruise

Rosie found a 3-island day trip cruise. The first Island was Poros where we had a 40-minute stop. The most memorable picture from that island was Christina standing on the dock as the boat was pulling away. Next we went to Hydra. This island was very picturesque and they were very strict about keeping it that way. Motorized vehicles were not allowed on the island. There were little cobblestone alleyways with lots of little shops. This island has attracted a lot of artists. The resourceful Christina has managed to make her way to the island and rejoin the group.

This excursion included lunch, which was served in the lower dining room. A guy came by with a drinking cart and supplied us with soda pop, beer and wine with every impression it was included in the meal. It was only after he completed his mission around the dining room that he came back and collected money from his surprised victims. After the meal they served a dry cake dessert followed by a coffee service. The dry cake made the coffee really appealing to some of our group. I suggested that we make sure it was free and that turned out to be a good question. It's not that we're cheap, we just don't like getting stuck twice in the same meal. On the last island we finally got a chance to stick our feet in the water - nice!

That night back in Athens we tried another outdoor restaurant. Most of the restaurants have greeters - their job is to be your best friend so you will sit at their tables. Once seated the mood changes as the waiter takes orders. You get the sense that they are impatient when you aren't sure and have way too many questions. I suppose this is largely a result that tipping is included in the price and there is no advantage to good service.

Chapter three

Friday September 14 - starting the cruise.

Time to pick up and start the cruise portion of the trip. It was a low-pressure morning but we still meant to be up before 9:30 as breakfast closes at ten. After breakfast we did our packing and replenished our money supply. Eventually we were collected by the bus and had a beautiful drive along the coast to the port. There are wonderful little towns with lots of swimming spots along the way. The ocean was very clear and inviting. Although the ride was scenic it was filled with lots of anxious traffic moments. We find it amazing that there is anyone left alive to drive.

We arrived at the port and found our boat the Aegian Lady very charming and picturesque. Our cabin was about the size of our walk in closet which is actually bigger than others we've stayed in. It had an all purpose bathroom - you can sit on the toilet seat while showering. There are five crewmembers and sixteen passengers on the boat. We met the captain who went over the usual boat mumbo - jumbo. Then we set off to some island that I can't pronounce and you probably wouldn't know anyway. There are several terms that come to mind when describing this trip - feeding the fish, worshiping the porcelain god, or rougher than a cob. Anyway the winds didn't die down as predicted, making the trip an hour longer than expected. About half of the passengers got sick including Butch.

Shortly after Butch's interaction with the toilet, we arrived in port. Before dinner we walked around town. I suppose each town is unique but they are beginning to look a lot alike. We tried some goodies from the bakery - they were light and flaky but too sweet.

September 15 - Peros

The boat ride to Peros was smoother. We stopped at a small quiet bay for a "bath" as our cruise director Mina would say. Our first swim in the Aegean Sea. A little cool but refreshing. Then lunch - pork and potatoes and also the usual Greek salad followed by dessert.

The port town of Peros was pretty much all white buildings with blue shutters. We took a stroll on the beach and it seems that tops are optional for women and clothes are optional for children. That night we went out to dinner and Cathy had a seafood salad-octopus included. Octopus seems to be a common menu item in Greece.

Sunday September 16 - Santorini

When we woke up we were under way to Santorini. On this island we decided to take the boat sponsored tour. The island has cliffs with the towns on top. The tour involved first getting from the port to the town up above. There are three options 1. Walk (out of the question), 2. Ride a donkey (out of the question for the donkey), 3. Take the tram (that one will work).

We toured Akrotiri a 4000-year-old city that was buried under volcanic ash. They had multi-storied homes and a waste removal system of pipes in the houses. So far no skeletons have been found - the people apparently fled before the disaster struck. Next on the tour we went wine tasting. The tasting room had a great view, which we used for a photo Op. Then to the town of Oia at the northern end of the island. We walked around and took in the wonderful views. It's amazing how they built the town on the side of a cliff. Next we stopped at a restaurant for some refreshments and to enjoy more of the fabulous views. We headed back to the ship for a lunch of fish and mixed vegetables. The rest of the day we spent power lounging.

September 17 - Monday Santorini to Ios

Cathy, Rosy and Sally opted for the donkey ride up the hill to Fira this time. The donkeys were quite spirited with a guide yelling behind them and occasionally touching them with his whip. Cathy's donkey was rude and kept cutting off the others from getting ahead of him. As if that wasn't bad enough he also pooped his way up the hill. Meanwhile Butch rode the tram up. Hoping to catch the girls on their asses he made his way to the trail head. He asked the donkey tender if three women arrived and received a noncommittal grunt. Since he had not passed the girls in town he assumed they hadn't arrived yet - so he waited and waited coming to the conclusion he had missed them. He started back up the hill toward town and was surprised at how far it was. It didn't seem so far going down. When he reached the top of the hill he was rewarded with Cathy's voice "Butch - what happened to you?". Butch quickly figured out why she was glad to see him-she wanted to buy something and he had the money.

Shopping and sightseeing completed it was time to catch the boat for Ios. When we got close to Ios, the boat stopped so we could take a swim. The crew got really excited and shortly we found out why-the Aegean Lady II came around the point. It is almost identical to our boat.

Ios is a small island that is popular with the younger crowd-a regular Fort Lauderdale. The public transportation (bus) worked well to get us to the beach in a different part of the island. This beach offered water sports - most of which tested the customer’s endurance. If you managed not to get thrown off the giant inner tube the ride was free. The beach was covered with umbrellas and lounge chairs with somebody in the background waiting to collect if you sat in one. After a walk on the beach we got a bus back to port where we had a delicious gyro and a double chocolate ice cream bar.

September 18 - Naxos

So far the commuting from island to island has been fairly rough so we decided to take advantage of better living through chemistry - we both took a Dramamine. Naxos is the biggest island and the port city is fairly large. It is very fertile, prosperous and less dependent on tourism.

We took a tour of the island. We stopped at a very old church, saw an ancient statue and saw some marble queries. Next we stopped at a 100-year-old distillery. The owner was either the happiest man in Greece or his job was to do quality control because he never stopped smiling the whole time we were there. They made a special liquor that came in strong, medium and sweet, which they gladly allowed you to sample. When we made our selection of decorative bottles it was based on color not content. The last stop on the tour was a pottery shop. We were showed how they made pots. We also got some grapes right off the vine - the highlight of this stop. After completing our tour we wandered along the waterfront finding a gyros for dinner. Our downfall was when we came across the guy making fresh waffle cones.

Chapter 4

September 19 Wednesday - Delos/Mykonos

Waking up shortly after eight, Butch decided he had slept enough. This turns out to be a good thing as he no sooner got dressed than the goat bell rang which summoned us to breakfast. The goat bell ringing highly motivated Cathy who got dressed in record time. Within a few minutes we noticed something different about the boat that we hadn't experienced before - a smooth ride. The sea was like glass.

Delos is the ruins of an ancient powerful city that has been ravaged by conquerors for centuries. The museum is full of findings of their civilization such as statues, tools, fishhooks and so on. After the museum we spent a couple of hours wandering through the ruins before returning to the boat.

Next we headed to Mykonos, which is known for its nightlife and gaiety (gay bars). A regular Greek San Francisco. We dropped anchor at the new port - a couple of miles away from the town. We were told the best way to get to town was by the local bus. What we weren't told was that it was half a mile to where you catch the bus. We couldn't have missed the bus by more than two minutes. As we walked to town an old saying came to mind - what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. This town is known for its windmills and Venice like area where the sea came up against the buildings and sidewalks. Prices here seemed higher than the other islands.

After visiting the city it was time to find a bus back to the ship. We asked the driver of the first bus we came to if he went to the new port. He said no and pointed us to a vague direction. We headed in the direction he pointed and found several buses parked in a row. But on closer inspection we found they were private buses hired by the giant cruise ship lines, which were docked at the new port. We thought about sneaking on one of their buses - but fear and common sense made us think better of it. About 7:20 a bus pulled up and we asked the driver if he went to the new port. He said yes - at 8:00. I think I want his job - for 20 minutes work he gets a 40-minute break. With time to kill we found a nearby restaurant and had some dinner. When we returned to the new port we found two 10-story love boats parked at the dock. Someone told us there were roughly 2100 passengers and 700 crew.

When we return to the boat we were given the option of having breakfast at seven before we sailed or 9:30 after we arrived at Tinos. Let me put the choice to you another way - wake up at seven, drag yourself out of bed to eat before you are hungry or sleep until you wake up, have some coffee and visit and then eat breakfast. Being the quick bunch we are we chose 9:30.

Thursday September 20 - Tinos

Breakfast ended up being at 8:30 or so while en route to Tinos. Tinos has a church at the top of a hill where an important icon was found. One of the streets has a strip of carpet that runs from the port to the church. People walk from the port to the church on their knees. They also buy very large candles to light in the church. After a quick foot tour of the town we decided to take a bus to one of the recommended beaches. The bus trip was going well until we ask what time the next bus came back from the beach. The answer that this is the last bus of the day caused a few anxious moments. After a quick check at the hotel we found that a cab could easily be called. Next we spent a relaxing afternoon swimming in the sea and sitting in the hotel outdoor cafe. Our cab ride back proves to be a safe and sane trip - something of an oddity here. We suspect that was because the meter was running.

We returned to the boat and found the harbor master was busily compacting boats to make room for some Australian sailors who were having a race. The seemed to require an awful lot of shouting. When completed this was a work of art with boats tied two and three deep in all directions.

That night was the captain’s dinner and Lita out did herself. She had filled a table on the deck with Greek delicacies. Dinner was followed by Greek dancing on the deck. That will teach Butch to go barefoot.

Friday September 21 - back to Athens

We settled our accounts, gathered our stuff and packed our bags. Around noon we said our good-byes to the captain and crew and then boarded a high-speed ferry for the two-hour ride back to Athens. We then boarded a bus for the tedious traffic jammed ride back to the hotel. As we settled into our hotel room it seemed spacious after the cramped quarters of the boat. We really appreciated having a real bathroom, bed and TV. We met up with the group for dinner. Sally had a place in mind where they had live harp music. The food was great but nobody showed up to play the harp. We decided the way they keep patrons from spending too much time there was to have really uncomfortable chairs. We made our usual ice cream stop on the way back to the hotel.

Saturday September 22 - flight from Athens to Rome

Today we make the trek from Athens to Rome. We decided to allow three hours for the cab ride and the check in at the airport - we needed to leave by 10:00 AM. It was decided to call the cabs at 9:45 AM to allow them to be at the hotel by 10:00. At 9:48 AM we arrived at the front desk for check out and found the cabs already there. A quick check showed we were missing Jenny and Christina. As it turned out Christina had gone out to do some last minute shopping and hadn't returned yet so Rosy and Jenny packed her bags and brought them down. Then a few minutes before ten the first cab left for the airport leaving Butch, Cathy & Jenny waiting for Christina. Let's go over this one more time - we had a cab waiting with the meter running for fifteen minutes - it's 10:00 AM and no sign of Christina. We decided we couldn’t wait any longer so we got her bags out of the cab and Jenny wrote her a note. As we headed up the hotel steps with a note and luggage the hotel door opened, and as if by magic there stood Christina. We reloaded her bags and headed off to the airport.

The trip to the airport was smooth - traffic was light because it was Saturday morning. Although the cabby didn't speak English he seemed very nice and was patient with us (most Greeks didn't seem very patient). We were about to make the cab drivers day but we wanted some fun first. When we asked what the fare was, the cabby said 6000 and Butch said "what!!" in a questioning manner. Taken aback the cabby replied - "well there's the meter, the bags, and the toll". That is when Butch smiled and handed him 10,000 Drachma and thanked him for his patience. His gratitude fell just short of kissing us.

We met up with the rest of our group who had arrived just before us. After checking our luggage we had time to spend the rest of our Drachmas on some souvenirs. Among the souvenirs were some chocolate bars - the odds of them making it home were remote. After scanning our bags they pulled us aside and confiscated Butch's mustache trimming scissors. Rosie also had an adventure with her pocketknife but managed to make the flight. I guess it's a small price to pay for making the world safer.

As we leave Greece this is a good time to mention a few general observations about Greece.

Most of the climate and terrain were like Southern California.

I just love what they do with cement.

It seems like a Greek hour has about 90 minutes - at least when traveling by boat.

They don't use the saying "It's Greek to me".

My final observation - there are a lot of hidden costs.

Travel tips.

Lots of Internet Cafes!

Few opportunities for laundry.

When using the ATM for withdrawing money you have no idea what it actually costs you.

On to Rome via Alitalia air.

On the plane there was lots of legroom and they cleverly showed videos and cartoons that didn't require sound. There was a candid camera section that was really funny - laughter sounds the same no matter what the language.

When we arrived in Rome we collected our luggage and were surprised by the absence of any sort of customs. We could only find Banco De Roma teller machines at the airport. They have a reputation for cheating people so Rosie cashed some travelers checks for transportation money. It was slightly more expensive to hire a van than take a train but less of a hassle and we got a mini tour thrown in. After getting settled in our hotel we set out to find a laundromat. The one we found also had Internet connections so we could check your email.

Later we got acquainted with public transportation and found our way to the Spanish steps. Rosie explained that this is where the beautiful people go on Saturday and Sunday evenings. We checked out several cafes before settling on one that seemed more like a local spot. The place was so popular that they didn't have room for eight people and so we divided it into two groups of four each. It was very loud - lots of people excitedly talking. They stay at their tables forever and have about five courses for a complete meal. Their evening entertainment is the meal. The waiter returned to the table at one point to announce that Cathy's chicken was "finished". Cathy thought this meant her chicken was done before the other meals, but in fact it meant that that the chicken was really finished - NO MORE LEFT! Oh well, better order something else.

Chapter 6

Sunday September 23 - Rome.

Rosie helped guide us through ancient Rome. After seeing the Pantheon - a church with an amazing huge dome - we set out to walk about the forum of ancient Rome. We were fortunate enough to hook up with an English speaking free tour, which brought a lot of meaning to the rubble. Then we saw the massive coluseum and its intricate underground tunnels.

For dinner we went to an outdoor cafe at a plaza, which used to be the racetrack for Chariots. There were a number of street performers out doing an assortment of amusing acts. For dessert we experienced death by chocolate at a world famous shop.

Monday September 24 - the Vatican.

Rosie again led the way and showed us to Vatican City. We first visited Saint Peter's basilica - a gigantic wondrous church. We were lucky and joined a free English speaking tour group that proved very helpful and educational. The tour guides interesting stories convinced us to go on the guided tour of the museum and Sistine chapel. The museum is huge. Our tour lasted three hours and we barely hit the highlights. The guided tour was well worth the money giving us stories and explanations for much of what we saw. The tour terminated with the Sistine chapel where Michael Angelo's famous ceiling was on display.

Tuesday September 25 - Naples & Pompaii

We decided the best way to see Pompaii was with a guided tour. As a bonus is also included the sites of Naples. Christina was the only other member of our party who decided to join us for the tour. The hotel provided us with some boxed breakfasts since we left before breakfast was served. This turned out to be a box of juice and several sweet rolls. We managed to eat this before they announced no eating or drinking on the bus. The guide pointed out several sites along the way. We picked up a different guide who pointed out the sites of Naples. We next headed to Pompaii. Before the tour started we had a free lunch provided with the tour. The tour guide said we had an hour for lunch. The meal was provided but not the drinks. We ordered a couple of Coke lights. The first course of the meal was spaghetti or soup followed by some sort of indistinguishable meat (we think was pork or turkey) and peas. This was topped off by a cake that was sort of like a twinkie. So far the meal had managed to take the best part of two hours. This was mostly because there was only one waiter to serve 50 or so people. When we had finished our desserts as if on cue a second man appeared to collect for the drinks. Let's just say the term "there's no free lunch" applies here.

The ruins of Pompaii were originally excavated for their wealth rather than any historical significance. We're not sure if it was the city or our guide but we managed to find several pornographic sites with statues and drawings. The ruins were overall will preserved and gave a lot of information about earily Roman times.

The trip back was uneventful until Butch left his fanny pack on the bus. Luckily the tour office was only a couple blocks from the hotel. Unfortunately the bus had returned to the garage and would not be back until morning.

Chapter 7

Wednesday September 26: Rome to Florence

The girls of the group went out together to see the monk's crypts - these are human bones arranged in designs and preserved monk mummies WIERD! The saying at the last section of the crypt was: "What you are we used to be and what we are you will be".

Rosie had sorted through schedules and obtained train tickets. So the little band of travelers collected in the hotel lobby to settle accounts and start the trek to Florence. We were on an express train that only took 1 and 1/2 hours to reach Florence. The train was fast and quiet allowing us to see a lot of the Italian countryside. We saw miles of vineyards and an occasional castle on a hill. When we got there it was a little confusing finding the hotel but again Rosie came through leading us through long narrow streets to the hotel Rapallo. The hotel building was obviously very old and seemed to us it had been retrofitted with electricity, plumbing and even half an elevator. The bathroom (which appeared to have been a closet at one time) was reminiscent of the all-in-one bathroom on the boat. Since it was the middle of the afternoon and we hadn't had lunch yet Butch assumed this would be the next order of business. Instead we found ourselves on our way to a museum of Art containing Michelangelo's David (really a beautiful work!!) and other artsy fartsy stuff. No problem on the lunch, Butch took a quick side stop on the way there to eat something to hold him over. After the museum we saw a very large church built during the Renaissance period. After dinner we sought out a gelatto shop (ice cream) that was highly recommended in Rosie's book. The word YUM!! Comes to mind.

Thursday September 27 - Florence to Pisa

Rosy organized the trip to Pisa where we marveled at the leaning tower. It leans slightly further every year as it settles so they are now doing some major structural work. While we were there it was closed so you couldn't tour inside. Next we had lunch at an open-air cafe and then took the train back the Florence. When we got back we discovered a shopping mall under the train station.

Friday September 28 - Cinque Terre (Italian Riviera)

Rosie organized a day trek that was a bit more complicated because of the required train schedules and transfers. There are five small towns on the seashore connected by walking paths. The weather was gorgeous and the sea was calm - what a beautiful day. Butch and Cathy opted to ride the train and go sightseeing while the rest of the group took the trail between towns. Just before we got to the first of the five towns where we were to get off the train Christina decided to use the bathroom. When the group formed up after getting off the train we found we were missing Christina again. The hardy five started a 6 mi. hike while Butch and Cathy checked out the first town and Christina rode the train off into the sunset. We took an elevator from the train station at the top of the town for a really great view. The towns are built along cliffs with a lot of tunnels leading to various platforms. We walked a lot even if we didn't go on the hike.

Our original plan was to spend fifteen to 20 minutes checking out the second town since we were under the impression that trains came frequently. It was only when we returned to the rail platform that we checked the schedule and found we had an hour to kill. An hour seemed like a long time to sit on a hot railway platform so we returned to the town for a more thorough exploration. The town had boats parked like cars alongside the road leading down to the harbor. More people own boats than cars in this town. We got to see them launch a boat using an overhead crane affair.

We decided to skip the third town since it was small and up a bunch of stairs. The fourth town bragged of beaches and even a castle. Walking on the sand and wading in the surf always bring tired feet back to life so that is what we did. It was when we were returning to the rail platform that we ran into the rest of our group including the lost Christine. They were hot, tired and hungry. For some reason the restaurants were closed or just serving drinks. I guess the dinner cooks hadn't showed up yet. Since we had to go back to the first town to get train tickets anyway we decided that would be the best place to find food. Stomachs and water bottles full it was time to return to Florence. One of the things we observed about Italy is that there always seemed to be a McDonald's near the train station. We bring this up because Harry had a big Mac attack. I think he just liked McDonald's because you can replace sodas with beer in the combo meals.

Chapter 8

Saturday September 29 : San Gimignano & Siena

Today we took a bus tour to a couple of towns dating back to medieval times. This was a beautiful drive with hills covered with villas and vineyards. The first town San Gimignano sits on top of a hill with several tall towers. Butch was surprised and pleased when he bought a chocolate covered pastry there and found that it was filled with chocolate pudding - it was delicious.

In Siena we had a two hour guided walking tour as part of the tour package. The Town Hall and Church are gothic features and dated back to 1200 AD. The Plague hit the city hard and 50% of people died. They have a horse race every year that runs through the center of town and is a very big deal.

Sunday September 30 Florence to Venice

It was raining when we woke this morning and those who took a last wander around town came back very wet. Even the hardiest members of the group agreed on taking a cab to the train station instead of walking. We arrived at the train station early with some time to kill. The good news is there's a shopping mall under the train station; the bad news is that it was Sunday morning and most of the shops were closed. On the train ride we passed through countryside to the northeast coast of Italy where Venice is located. From the train station we took a taxi to the hotel - mind you a water taxi is the only option as there are no streets or cars in Venice. We settled in our hotel room - all four rooms were different shapes and layouts. We wandered around town looking at shops and eating our daily ice cream before turning in.

Monday October 1 Tour of Venice

Finding organized tours for Venice was both educational and entertaining. When we asked the hotel clerk, he informed us he had already told the rest of the group about the glass factory tour and that he had no other offerings. Then we tried a tourist office and they gave us a brochure with several tours. One of these was a walking tour with a gondola ride at the end. The tour didn't start until 3:00 PM so we had time to look around. Next we ran into a man offering a free ride to one of the islands if we would agree to tour a glass factory. This probably was the same tour the hotel clerk had described. Having nothing better to do over the next few hours we decided to take him up on it. We were the only two on the boat ride so we sat in the open-air seats in the back of the boat and enjoyed the ride. Upon our arrival an English-speaking guide took us on the tour of the factory. It was interesting watching the men work with hot glass. Next we were brought into a showroom of very expensive glass products such as chandeliers, animals, vases and so on. We were also informed that they accept Visa and MasterCard and took care of the shipping cost. We concluded our tour in the gift shop, which had smaller and more reasonably priced glass products. Cathy picked out a glass gondola for $5.00. Butch's humor was lost on the clerk when he asked if he needed our address for shipping.

The guide then showed us where to catch the water taxi back to the main part of Venice. We marveled at how this whole process seemed like a time-share presentation.

On the way to the tour we passed through Saint Marks Square where they had live music playing. The band seemed an odd assortment of instruments including the piano, violin, and accordion. You can imagine our surprise when the other two bands were made up of the same instruments. On the tour we hope to hear of the colorful history of Venice. Why is it not a surprise that we ended up on a long walk to a very old church and were told a great detail about all the art inside. The last part of the tour was the gondola ride. We were the first ones on the boat and took the lovers seat. This seemed like a good idea until we snuggled and it rocked the boat. On the boat they told us that Venice is sinking 5 cm every hundred years. In fact many of the doors were rotted at the bottom and the bottom floors were often uninhabitable. It was very interesting traveling through the narrow canals.

We’re not big McDonald's fan but after ten days of mediocre pizza and spaghetti we found ourselves at the golden arches.

Tuesday October 2: The longest day

We started out the day checking out of the hotel and taking assorted water taxis and buses to the airport. Once there we encountered rigorous security. In fact we had to take a bus to the plane, which was parked some distance from the building. From Venice we flew northwest going over the Alps and flying over Paris, and London. One of the passengers spotted another Delta plane flying across the Atlantic below us. The flight attendants were excited and took pictures so we guess it was a big deal. By the time we reached New York we had gained six hours of daylight.

It felt good to be back to the United States. So much had changed since we had left. Somehow soldiers walking around with rifles didn't make us feel any safer. The plane to Portland was only 30% full and everyone seemed pretty sober. Our next new culture shock came when we arrived in Portland and found the airport virtually empty (except for Army guys with machine guns). Our friend Dave collected us at the airport for the final leg of our journey home.

Our pet cat Tom was really glad to see us after being cooped up in the garage for three weeks. Cats seem to have a lot in common with people. If they spend all their time laying around and eating too much they get that fat!

After all the fun and adventures we had trekking halfway around the world it still felt great to be home.