Text 10373, 84 rader
Skriven 2007-01-11 12:37:26 av Glen Jamieson
Ärende: East European travel 10
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East European journey, 2006 (10)

20/09/06  Wednesday, Naples.

Breakfast of capuccino and Nutella rolls at a cafe in Garibaldi
Square, then caught Metro to the museum, which we found was closed,
so back to the station to take the Metro to the funicular railway,
then the Metro to Santa Lucia, where we walked along the seafront,
observing the local lads sunbathing on the rocks, and a couple of
castles.  The ticket machine at the station was not working, so we
could not frank the tickets. Lunch was at a small restaurant in a
street off Garibaldi square, then back to the hotel, where I left Nora
and Bill alone to "rest" while I walked around the back streets for an
hour.  I noticed a wine shop selling 5 litre flagons of red wine for
E4.50, but didn't buy any.

There was an interesting similarity between this area of Naples and
Manila, with temporary fruit and vegetable stalls set up in the back
streets, and fairly major car repairs (cylinder head and brake
repairs) being done at the roadside.  A few of the local lads sitting
on scooters insisted on posing for pictures.

That evening, at the Ristorante Ettore, we dined on antipasto - Parma
ham with buffalo cheese, and a litre of decent house wine for E4,
spaghetti puttanesca, veal, etc - total of E30.  And then back to the
hotel to pack.

21/09/06  Thursday, Naples to Athens

We woke at 6am and dragged our bags to a nearby bus stop to catch the
7.10 Alibus to the airport, where we had our usual, difficult to
avoid, Nutella-filled bun and Capuchino breakfast.

Our last morning sight of Naples was that of a tall black man peeing
on the side of an over-flowing rubbish skip at the end of our street.
We were not sorry to leave Naples, even though. in spite of the dirt,
unpleasant people and ugliness, we had had some very good food there.

When it came time to check in our luggage to Athens, we found it was
necessary to get a ticket first, from an understaffed counter with a
long queue waiting.  Only then the girls at the check-in counter
condescended to accept our luggage.

Eventually we were loaded into a shuttle bus and driven out to the Air
One CRJ900, seat 14C.  It was only half full, so I could move around.
Although it was an international flight, no alcohol was served - only
a ham sandwich and pink orange juice.   Take-off 1030, landing 1155.

On arrival at Athens airport we found there was some sort of
conference on in the city, so most of the hotels were full, but I had
details of the Athens Backpacker hostel at 12 Makri street, so Nora
phoned them with my mobile, using the Austrian connection, and
arranged for accommodation for 5.  There were no buses, due to yet
another transport strike, so we followed the directions given in the
info I had downloaded in Adelaide from the web site, taking the new
train from the airport at 1400, changing to the Metro for one stop
travel to Akropolis station. Right on target, we found the hostel,
with several people sitting on the kerb outside, drinking beer.  One
of them was the Australian manager.  We checked in, and his partner
guided us to a new studio suite, nearby in Velkou street, where we
were to stay.  It was so new that air conditioning and some of the
lights didn't work, but it was quite adequate for us.

I stayed there, and then walked around the neighbourhood while Bill
and Nora took the Metro back to the airport to meet their friends
Maria and Lester, coming from USA. On the way I bought a bottle of
wine (Boutari 2004 Agiorgitiko) for E8.50 at a delicatessen.  The
woman who sold it was surprised that I didn't want her to open it.

Eventually the others returned, with Mexican-born Maria and
Philippines-born Lester, so we welcomed them with the wine.  The
apartment was equipped with 6 bunk beds, so we moved 2 of the
mattresses into the sitting room for Bill and Nora, while the rest of
us stayed in the bedroom.  The cost was reasonable, at E25 each,
breakfast included.

That evening we dined at nearby "God's restaurant", where the manager
was charmed by Maria, and insisted on practicing his Spanish on her.
Greek food was a nice change from Italian, so we enjoyed Mousaka,
Souvlaki, etc.
___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 [NR]

--- FLAME v2.0/b
 * Origin: Braintap BBS Adelaide Australia (3:800/449)