NILE BLOG 04
Tuesday October, 2012
“Time’s fun when you’re having flies …” (as the old saying goes). And our sojourn in Greece came to an all-too-sudden end yesterday when we boarded our cruise ship and sailed for parts unknown. But I’m getting a bit ahead of myself.
Yesterday began with another 5:30am wake-up call … another yummy non-Weight-Watchers breakfast … and another loading of the coach with bodies and bags. We waved goodbye to Meteora and its unforgettable mountain monasteries, and drove south (that’s right, south – or southeast-ish, if you want to be precise) towards the rising sun. The temperature outside rose steadily (we’ve had 39 degrees, and maybe more, here in Greece) – but we Kiwis weren’t bothered. In air-conditioned comfort we snored with our mouths open, told laugh-yourself-silly jokes, and sang a few choice numbers from the Midlife Madness Ye Olde Songbook … stopping every hour or two to top-up on food and drink at Greek autobahns.
Our destination was the ‘biggie’ of Greek religious shrines: the 2400-year-old Oracle of Delphi – considered by ancients to be the physical and spiritual centre of the earth. This place has everything: a long and glorious history, spectacular ancient remains, a new museum, and a breathtakingly beautiful location on the craggy slopes of Mount Parnassus. There’s not a lot left standing, to be honest – with the ruined Temple of Apollo being the main draw-card, and the smaller Sanctuary of Athena with its mysterious ‘tholos’ (circular temple) being Delphi’s most photographed attraction.
But we Kiwis lost no time puffing, panting, sweating and clambering all over the site.
Then, in the afternoon, we motored eastward to the port of Piraeus (Athens) where our floating hotel, the ms Prinsendam, was waiting to welcome us aboard.
The Prinsendam is the baby of Holland America Line’s proud fleet – carrying only 800 passengers, weighing 38,000 tons (for those of you who like to weigh your ships), with four giant diesel engines giving her a maximum speed of 21.5 knots. We sailed all night, leaving Greece and its untold islands behind, and have continued sailing all day.
I won’t go on about it now, because you’ll just get jealous. But let me drop a very broad hint: the 5-star-luxury part of this Mad Midlife adventure has begun in earnest. And, even as I write these words, your loved ones and friends are being disgustingly pampered.
I know you feel sorry for them, and I will pass on your sympathies and commiserations tonight when we sit down together for another four-course gourmet dinner.
CORRECTION: Several of you dear readers spotted a misteak in the previous blog-entry – where I stated that Kalambaka was “rebuilt after being almost entirely destroyed by the Nazis in WW1.” Surely I meant WW2? Well, yes and no. The town was, in fact, nearly almost destroyed in WW1 by the Nazis – who were a virtually-unknown group at that stage. However, when it was pointed out that they should have waited until the next war, they apologised and stopped their almost-destruction, returning to properly almost destroy it in WW2. (And if you believe that, you’ll believe anything …)
PEOPLE NEWS:
Two more Mad Midlife Kiwis have each walked away with a cute little yellow Quacky Duck (or they will tomorrow morning when I’ll make the thrilling announcements):
- As we embarked the Prinsendam yesterday we each received a plastic ID card (much like a credit-card) which (i) gets us on and off the ship, (ii) gets us into our cabins (doubling as a key) and (iii) allows us to purchase luxury goods and services on the ship (where cashlessness rules). Martin, who managed to lose his card almost as soon as he got it, had to go to the front office for a replacement – and shortly thereafter he found the original, tucked inside the little nametag-pouch which was hanging around his neck. For this and other misdemeanours, Martin wins our ‘He’d Lose His Head If It Wasn’t Screwed On Award’. (You had to be there …)
- Pam gets the ‘Upside Down & Inside Out Award’ for reading the security code on her Visa card upside down – and spending 30 panicky moments wondering why her online Visa transaction was being declined.
TOMORROW:
With our heads still spinning from all we learned in Greece, we get face-to-face with another ancient culture in Alexandria – Egypt’s second largest city, founded in 331 BC by Alexander the Great. (Bet you wish you were with us – right?)
Yours bloggedly – JOHN
P.S. If you want to leave a message for someone in our group, just click on the little speech bubble at the top of this page, and add your ‘COMMENTS’! Make sure you say who it’s for and who it’s from – and keep it brief.
To “Allison Ersking. You are all so very lucky to be seeing what Greece has too offer. We loved the experience 7 years ago and would love to do it again. The weather in NZ is STILL raining.
Olwyn, I hope that the twins are behaving themselves and that you are not having to continuously monitor their activities, as a consequence mite be you sleeping in—heaven forbid.
The pictures are truely amazing and it appears all are thoroughly enjoying themselves. Janelle says she misses you, the empty seat at our dining table is blatently obvious.
Take care.
For Pam Hampton. Goodness, i’m worried about Pam, with her money problems so soon She always keeps me on the straight and narrow,and i’ve trusted her implicitly. John & Robin, please keep her under your wing. Sounds as if you’re having a fabulous time. Enjoying your blogs Thanks Mary
Love the blog! Awesome updates, keep them coming! For Carole and Norman – got a brief taste of spring but it’s back raining again! All well and safe at home. Taylor grand kids are enjoying school holidays. Madi on a horse riding camp in Rotorua for a week. Might be adopting a toy poodle from an animal shelter – watch this space! Buddy will think it’s a cat! Cheers, Steve and Penny.
For Brenda Howard:
Hi Mum, hoping you are having a great time. Managed to make it back for the funeral but not after the most ridiculous travel experience ever, makes your trip seem simple, very long story, will tell you when I get home, take care, Paul.
Olwyn Nicholls
Good morning, well a quick update as to the Weather, like most days the sun comes up only to go down later in the day and within this cycle we have had a lot of rain. A couple of days ago a few of the local kids must have been bored as a small bush fire was started in Cooney Reserve, took 4–5 fire appliances to put out the 25 metre fire line with the flames getting as high as 6–7 metres. The grass is still growing, Joel still growing and the damn cats still living at your place.
P.S. Am making up a baking list especially for you as am fearfull that you have got out of practice and we can’t have that, take care Andrew
Hi Pam Strong – Seems it wasn’t you with the Visa problems! Temps in 30’s in Sydney – would love to be sailing the Med right now, enjoying the blogs and dreaming – one day. All OK here, we are back from Orange (froze there), last day of school holidays – back to work on Monday.
Take care and cheers from The Carmodys