Itisallgreek2me

Heather and I – Abari Bar

Over recent years, the pattern for me has repeatedly been … 4 months New Zealand, 2 months Greece.  On that basis, I should have returned to Greece by mid April, however, I only arrived back here last week on Thursday 28 May.  It will be for a slightly longer period this time (10 weeks and 2 days to be exact) as I am not scheduled to arrive back in New Zealand until Friday 7 August!

It IS wonderful to be back here on the island with Costas, although my journey and these past few days have not been quite how I would have planned them.  On the eve of my departure from Wanganui, I almost lost my voice (as the Voicemail messages I left the following morning on my mobile and landline will testify).  Earlier flight to Auckland now that Air New Zealand are operating a bigger plane in and out of Wanganui, with a reduction in the number of flights.  Fortunately, I had booked a hire car to take me over to the North Shore to see my Doctor … I had a “virus” as a result of a compromised immune system, having picked up yet another chemical.  This time 245 (nasty) so I am in for a session in the decompression chamber on the day that I return.

Once back at Auckland Airport and missing my friend Vivienne who usually comes out to see me off and share a bottle of wine … I decided to have a large (250ml) glass of wine anyway.  It was to be the first and last alcoholic drink of the trip so you will understand, this girl was not feeling her usual good self.

Because my decision to come to Greece was made at rather late notice and travelling during the high season, I had found that the airfares were rather more than I am used to paying.  However, after spending several hours online, I did manage to find two Breaking Deals with Etihad so decided to give them a go.  As they do not operate in and out of New Zealand, I flew Air New Zealand to Melbourne (not impressed with the smaller plane and so pleased that my ticket included “The Works” whereas many passengers had to either buy food or had brought their own).

The 14 hour flight from Melbourne to Abu Dhabi on a Boeing 777, again, not up to the standard of Emirates.  I understand that Etihad has won Best Airline at the Travel Awards for 6 years running … I would have to wonder how.  The comfort, food, service, everything … quite inferior to what I have become accustomed to on Emirates.  When at last we were in the skies over Abu Dhabi, we circled for what seemed an eternity (I was beginning to think the pilot did not know where the airport was), then a long wait on the tarmac for buses to arrive to take us to the terminal.  I had to forget any idea of duty-free shopping, it was a mad rush to Gate 5, making it there by “Last Call”.  THEN, one hour sitting on the tarmac and another half an hour waiting in a cue before takeoff!  At least on this sector to Athens the food and service were better.  All passengers were asked to fill in a mandatory Incoming Passenger Card for the Hellenic Ministry of Health, basically asking if you had visited a country in West Africa (Ebola).  I filled out my card and helped my fellow passenger (an older Albanian lady who spoke Greek but not English) fill out her card only to find in typical Greek fashion, the cards were NOT collected by anyone on arrival in Athens!

Much to my surprise it was seriously raining in Athens and only 17 degrees C.  Getting off the bus at the Port of Piraeus, I headed straight to the nearest kiosk to buy myself the cheapest of umbrellas … the last thing I needed now was to get myself wet through.  Eventually 1830 hours arrived and the Flying Cat 6 hydrofoil departed for Poros, Hydra, Ermioni then SPETSES where Costas was waiting on the quay (with umbrella).  He escorted me home then returned to the Bar, leaving me to unpack and settle in but would you believe, a power cut left me in pitch black darkness, fossicking around to find candles.

It is now early afternoon Tuesday and finally, I believe I may have reached a turning point with this god damned virus.  Apart from a coffee out one day with Costas and a full English breakfast “lunch” on Sunday with Costas at Klimis Hotel, Saturday night was the only other time I have left the house.  Met up with Ray and Heather and other friends at Abari for dinner where there was live Greek music, then naturally moved on to Bar Spetsa, coming home with Costas at 0500 hours (this morning it was 0600 hours before he arrived home).

As I said, I hope I am over the worst with the virus.  The beach is beckoning, walks are beckoning and people are asking in the Bar “Where is Helen”?

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2015 at 5:51 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.