Athens and tiny bit of Ismir

So.....Athens....interesting...totally not what i expected.....i thought white buildings with blue roofs.....like Mykonos and lots of old ruins with columns....not sure where i got that idea from.....hmmmmm......so the port we were docked at was called Piraeus...from there it was about a 20min walk to the metro which would cost about 1 Euro...or go by Hop on Hop off which would cost about 12 Euros....i decided i have done so many metros....im def no fool...ill do the metro...managed to get there in good time and took the metro which took me 15min, cost me 1.4 Euros....cannot complain....from there it was about a 30min uphill walk to the Acropolis.....i must say...it is beautiful....but i expected more.....i just felt let down....not sure whether that was just me....we all had different schedules...so most of us were on our own...that might have also contributed to the factor...cause i think with a friend it would have been nicer.....i of course bought the ticket to go inside the ruins.....but somehow i just wanted more...upon returning to the ship i spoke to a lot of people...and i was actually surprised how many reactions that i heard which were similar to mine....although some people did think it was the most AMAZING thing....so.....my opinion...let down....so here are some pics from the Acropolis and the ruins near by (you have no idea how much i was sweating...so so hot...def not complaining though).....

 

On the way back i took the metro again and this time i felt like some real local food....so i stopped at the side at some street-vendor bought some kebas...was so cool, they had pork or lamb with beef...so seeing that i do not eat lamb, i went with the pork ones, then you got some french baguette with it...they opened a paper bag, dipped the skewers in lemon, grilled the bread, threw it all into the paper bag and added salt...how cool.... munched it whilst walking back to the ship...very cool....here is a pic of the skewers being griled....

 

That night Julia and i heard that the theatre show was really good (performed by 2 athletes that were part of Cirque du Soleil).....so we def wanted to see that....first some dinner at Garden cafe...awesome...Greek specialities, moussaka, feta in phyllo and baklava...very good indeed.....then off to the show....that was amazing, the things they could do with their bodies, the music...the entiRe show was just great, i def enjoyed that...nightcap in Spinnaker....my fav....Mangopolitan and Julia her fav.....BCB....some banana cocktail.....

In Ismir i was a little unlucky, i was supposed to be off from 11 until 16, but we had a crew drill and they squeezed in training for me....basic safety.....so....the drill lasted until 11:30...,why....because it was a bomb threat which means we all have to abondon ship, it takes ages....thank god this bomb type drills oly have to happen every 6 months...phew......after that i ran to the cabin and changed....Julia and i went together.....i only had 1.5 hrs and i really wanted something to eat and a wax.....so time was ticking....amazingly enoug we found a really great beautician and they managed to squeeze us in....was so cheap...and a briliant job....wow.....then we walked a little further and we found a kind of dodgy street with all local food places, sat down.....i ordered a Turkish coffee and Julia a Turkish tea and some type of sandwich.....coffee....very very wierd...i def dont think ill ever have that again....it lokked really cute.....

 

But the taste...was a little sweet and kind of thickish....very wierd....and the sandwich....consisted of a lot f bread...the meat stuffing was really nice and some good sauce...but not the best best....we actually we trying to find Turkishpizza which is bread with just meat and then you out your osn salad and relish on top.....dont remember whats it is called...but next time we gonna find some....at least it wasnt my last time...after that i actually had to run back and i made it with 2min...cutting it a little too fine....but was fun and what i wanted to get done....i got done......syfety training was actually nice.....it went on for a little too long, until 6pm, so 4.5 hrs and then i still had to work 2hrs...so i was smashed....but the last 1.5 hrs were cool cause we walked outside on the deck and he showed us the life rafts, life boats etc....we sat inside the lfe boat and Michael, safety officer, showed it all to us....was very interesting...we will also go to the bridge and the engin room which i am very excited about.....So not all bad....and i met a cool Brazilian girl so at least i am not bored....there is a SA guy also...must be about 19..... What a nerd...im embarressed to say he is from the same country....looks like he comes from the farms......no joke......

So....seeing that my internet is very slow i didnt manage to publish....so just gonna add a couple more lines of my day today....sea day.....so worked in the morning then had some good lunch....yes, it was good eventhou it was in the staff mess and then i went to deck 8 to tan, it was so hot and so relaxing, 2 hrs just chilling in the sun....soaking up the sun....peaceful.....then work again and only off for 30min dinner...that isalways such a rush and miserable....and dinner was really really bad.....i dont wanna actually go there.....but tomorrow is Split and i got a walkingtour.....i didnt want it....but this is the only fast way to get off the boat...cause tendering means guests first and then i would haveto wait until 1300 (cause we only anchor at 11) and then i would have 1.5 hrs...this way i get to go off at 1215 with the walking tour which will be 2 hrs.....clever....well ill let you know...and then the next day is Venice....still awaiting my new schedule......cheers chat soon...gonna ty to upload again now......