Greece and Turkey

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Day 1

We have begun a new adventure! An early morning (4:30 a.m.) has found me meeting with Warren in Bangor, Maine. I meet Jack, Warren's chief pilot, at his house in Simi Valley to carpool to Santa Monica airport for the first leg of the trip to Athens, Greece. Warren has flown commercial to Bangor, Maine a day ahead of time to rest up for today's flight (8hrs. 50mins.) to Greece. I arrive in Bangor in 5hrs. It was an uneventful flight on the Gulfstream IV, which is a good thing. When flights are eventful that usually means something is terribly wrong.

In Bangor, Warren and Brian (the co-pilot) hop aboard and switch command with the previous crew. Warren is looking very Johnny Cash in his all black uniform and emerging go-tee. The flight from Bangor to Athens is 8hrs. 37mins. The flight is filled with conversation with the other passengers, reading, snacking, and napping. I know I will sound very spoiled now but despite flying on a private jet with all the creature comforts, the flight is very long. Arrival in Greece occurs at 9:30 a.m. local time. After some brief clean-up and securing the airplane in an adequate parking spot we, Warren, Brian, and I, ride in a pre-arranged mini-van to downtown Athens. The driver informs us that 5 million people reside in Athens with a total of 15 million in the entire country of Greece.

We are staying at the Marriott Ledra of Athens. Our room was not ready but Brian's was so we all piled in the elevator and headed to Brian's room to relax awhile. While riding up the elevator we encountered a woman from Cincinnati who recommended a restaurant, Dionysos, for dinner near the Acropolis. She stated that the food was very good and if seated on the terrace one can witness the lighting of the Acropolis. Once in Brian's room, we wasted no time in opening a bottle of wine. By this time it was 1 a.m. back home, a perfectly acceptable hour to drink wine despite the local time of 11:30 a.m. A short time later the key to our room was delivered and Warren and I head to our room for a little R&R.

Our room has a balcony with a view of the Acropolis atop the hill, as well as the Kinky Opera across
the street. After a quick shower we grab a nap. We ask ourselves, is it better to acclimate to local time or try to stay on home time? Athens is a city that does not sleep so there is always entertainment to be had. However, the late night entertainment may only include places like the Kinky Opera.

Warren is a platinum member at Marriott properties, and with this comes access to the the executive lounge. When we arise from our slumber we head to the lounge for hors d oeuvres and drinks, mainly free beer. We meet up with Brian and decide to give the previously recommended restaurant a try. The free hotel shuttle takes us to a neighborhood near the Acropolis and we navigate our way through cobblestone streets to find that the restaurant is at the base of the Acropolis. Our reservations ensured that our table was outside on the terrace. It is twilight when we take our seats at the table. The weather is the perfect temperature. The waiter pours us bottled water and we order a bottle of wine to accompany our meal. The view is spectacular! The mystery lady from the elevator has steered us in the right direction. We scan the menu and consult the waiter for his favorite selection. Waiters rarely steer you wrong so I order his recommendation of lamb with gruyere cheese potatoes. This proves to be an excellent choice. As we soak in the atmosphere, the lights of the Acropolis begin to turn on one by one. Each light illuminates a new angle of the Acropolis. A beautiful sight. As the wine soaks in I begin to feel whimsical in Athens.

Dinner wraps up with homemade baklava for dessert. We know, sounds kinda weird considering everyone dodges the baklava at the Christmas gift exchange. The baklava is made to order and takes 40 mins. to prepare so we were sure to order it as we ordered our main entrees. It is the lightest, most amazing baklava we have ever tasted. A perfect ending to a wonderful dinner.

Leaving the restaurant, we wind our way back down the cobblestone streets. It is 10 p.m. and the streets are just beginning to awaken. Shops and street performers line the walkways and we quickly grab a taxi back to the hotel. It has been a long day and we are all ready to relax.

Back at the hotel we bid Brian a good night and head to the rooftop pool and bar. Warren and I share a pitcher of beer and enjoy the weather and the sights. A few beers have now made us long for the comfort of a good nights sleep and we head back to the room and head for bed. Sleep found us quickly.

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Comments

[Todd Evans]

Your making me hungry!
Sounds like your having a great time! Don't buy any Hash!!

[Pat Madden]

Hi you two.
You are really making us feel as though we were there Amber. Great seeing the pictures and reading your story. Love you both.