Day 19: Cosmos European Masterpiece: Venezie

Subtitled:  HOLY GUACAMOLE I'M UP TO DATE WITH MY BLOG!

This morning started out reasonably early considering this was our 2nd day in one town.

After breakfast we all piled on to the bus back to Tronchetto (?) to catch the ferry back to the historic centre of Venice with another Cosmos group (from memory they were doing a best of Italy).

Upon arrival Leo escorted us to the bell tower near St Mark's Square to point out to those who weren't with us last night where we had to meet for the gondola right today.  We then all proceeded into a small shop hidden behind St Mark's Square to visit a Murano Glass Factory.  We watched a master make a glass jug before our eyes before venturing into the showroom for the "hard sell".  I only made one purchase.  I bought a red and gold brandy balloon to replace the one that smashed when I moved back to mum's in '01.

After our visit to the Murano Glass factory we were given an hour of free time.  Theresa and I set off to see if we could get lost.  Surprisingly we found our way back to St Mark's Square but in the meantime we wandered through some back streets, found the post office (Theresa wanted to send a postcard) and we spotted a little place to go and have some lunch afterwards.

Theresa and I headed back to the bell tower (via a Gelati Bar, naturally) meeting up with our group for our gondola ride.  Hm that was a lot more rough than the one I had in '93 and have since vowed and declared I am never doing another gondola tour again!  It was not helped that our "driver" was Captain Cranky Pants who rearranged our gondola which resulted in me being squashed.  Have I mentioned the rocking?  Really thought I was going to end up in the drink a few times.

Made it back onto solid ground.... my osteoarthritic knees prevented me from getting down and kissing the ground!  We then had just under 2 hours more free time before our "Discover the Lagoon" boat ride.  Theresa and I managed to find our way back to the bar we spotted on our earlier walk and had some very nice sandwiches before making it back to our meeting spot for our next boat ride.

All aboard we hit the "high seas" again making our way to Burano.  Here we had free time to wander around looking at all the gorgeous houses all painted in different colours and having another gelati before making our way back to the boat to head back to the historic centre to pick up those who didn't do this cruise.  Fortunately our group (and another) stayed on the boat while the other Cosmos group had to get off and wait for another bus.  Yay!  I don't think this Queenslander could have coped with standing in the heat again (yes, even by my standards it was freaking hot!).

Final boat journey (for now!) over we greeted Rocco and our bus and headed back to the hotel where we had plenty of time for a cold shower and a siesta before our included dinner in our hotel.

Tomorrow...... Vienna!  Hopefully by then my brain will realise it is off the boat.  I still feel like I'm bobbing along on some form of watercraft.  Very annoying!

Until Vienna!

Jax xo

Day 18: Cosmos European Masterpiece: San Marino - Venezia

Well this morning we awoke to the view we weren't supposed to have!  Because my roomie and I had one of the crap rooms in Sorrento our Tour Director "promised" us that we would get one of the best rooms in San Marino.  Hmmm..... I looked out our window to see a brick wall!  But if I did stand at the window and look out to my right I did see an amazing view.  But I didn't complain.  Really I am only in the room to sleep.... and check my email.... and check out facebook.... and upload photos.... and write a blog, I don't REALLY need an amazing view (though it would have been nice).

After breakfast our Tour Director took us on the "Clayton's Tour" of San Marina... yes, that's the tour you have when you're not having a tour.  Apparently Tour Director's aren't supposed to be tour guides. We won't tell :o)  We basically visited the main square, watched the changing of the guard in the Parliament House (not as impressive as the Greek Parliament aka Monty Python's Ministry for Funny Walks) then went up to a lookout for an amazing view of San Marino/Italy.

We then had a few minutes for some free time to take some happy snaps before our TD took us to a chemist to stock up on drugs.  In San Marino (well at this pharmacy anyway) you didn't need prescriptions.  So considering the lurgy is going through the bus like wildfire we all stocked up on amoxycillin.  After our busload of passengers had been through the chemist it is now suspected that the pharmacist can now shut up shop and retire!

Stocked up on drugs (for medicinal purposes of course!) we wandered back to the hotel to grab our hand luggage and waited for the dedicated time of departure.  We all got rather bored senseless as we were all pretty much standing around for half an hour waiting.... then of course on top of that, Rocco was late bringing the bus up the mountain!

On the bus we went and finally hooned up the SS309 towards Venezia.  We had a lunch stop at some village (Pomoza?) that had a bell tower from the 10th century.  The lunch was rather ordinary.

We made it to Venezia around 4pm and had about 1.5 hours to recuperate before a group of us went out on our optional of a dinner and sightseeing around Venice.  We caught the boat (with another Cosmos Group) over to the historic centre.  Leo had us walking around the back streets.  Prior to this day I never really rated Venice has highly as Florence or Rome.  I have since changed my mind.  I want to come back and get lost in Venice and take in everything in all those back streets!

Finally we made it to our restaurant where we had our four course dinner (too much food!).  the food was nice but it was stinking hot in the restaurant.  one of the head waiters turned the fan on over us.... yay!  But when the main meal came out he turned it off.  When we were all nearly passing out in the heat we asked for it to be turned on again.  We were advised it was "broken".  Yeah right.  the reason was more like they didn't want to pay the electricity!  We also had a very cute waiter.  He was hot!.... and I'm not talking about the fact he was constantly mopping his brow!

For the Posse I have a new manoeuvre for us..... The Gloria Manoeuvre.  While leaving the restaurant one of the older ladies in the group tripped and literally fell into the arms of a waiter.  Sly move there Glo!  I think I may have to use that Manoeuvre!

After dinner Leo took us on a detour back to the boat via some more back streets and onto St Mark's Square where everything was lit up.  Alas it was time to make our way back to the boat to catch the ferry back to where our bus was parked on the mainland to take us back to our hotel.... and in the last 20 days I had the best sleep ever on this tour!

Day 17: Cosmos European Adventue: Patras – Ancona – San Marino

Today was a quiet… boring day.  Unfortunately we were on the ship for most of the day.  We were supposed to dock at Ancona at 6:30pm but instead docked at 7:30pm Greek time.  Then it took aaaaaages for Rocco to bring the bus out of the boat.  He was on the receiving end of a huge cheer when we all spotted the bus coming down the ramp.  Unfortunately a few of us also had to tell off the Aussie Wanker for taking a photo of one of the young daughters on the tour who was sick and was just sitting there waiting for the bus with her head between her knees.  We made him delete the photo.

We had to pull up as we left the port as Rocco had done all the hours he is allowed to drive so we had Luciano drive us to San Marino.  We hope we get Rocco back today, he drives faster!

The day ended with us driving up to the mountain to our hotel in San Marino then a late (even by European standards) at 10pm before we all crashed into our beds.

Tomorrow morning we do some sightseeing around San Marino (including a visit to a pharmacy where we can apparently by prescription meds over the counter… woo!) before finally head up to Venice.

Day 16: Cosmos European Masterpiece: She Came from Greece she had a thirst for knowledge

OK I was ready to leave Athens but not before this morning’s sightseeing with our local guide, Vicki.

First up we left the hotel and drove past some pretty impressive buildings.  Our first stop was at the stadium that was built for the first Modern Olympics in 1896.  We were given 5 minutes there to take some photos before getting back on the bus on our next stop…. The Acropolis!

I was hoping I would survive this visit “incident free”.  We followed Vicki who took us the “easier” way which involved a straight walk halfway up the hill passing Mars Hill.  St Paul preached to the Ephesians there.  Well I think she said the Ephesians.  It was hard to tell with her Greek accent / the different way Greeks pronounce things.  We made it to the top of the Acropolis.  I swear it must have been the windiest day ever.  I was fearing reports of “Australian Woman swept off Acropolis by gale force wind”.  Some people in our group got to the top took a photo and made their way back down again.  I persisted.  I made it to the top and I was going to take it all in.  At the  end Vicki gave us time to stay up there for photos but I had taken all the photos I wanted and Theresa from our group had had enough so we started our descent.  Thank goodness I had her with me otherwise I suspect Leo may have been filling out another incident report for me.  Seriously who thought marble steps were a good idea?  Slippery as!  A few people were slipping on them but fortunately none of us had any falls.

We got up and down the Acropolis just in time.  As we were leaving heaps more buses were arriving.  It would have been so busy up there after we had left.

As I got to the bus Leo was hanging out the door screaming “Jackie, did you make it?”  I said I did.  He was giving me the thumbs up saying I was a legend.  Before we made the ascent I asked if I couldn’t make it could I come down again?  He said if you don’t make it I will kill you.  Ummm okay.

So Acropolis/Parthenon ticked off my bucket list.   We only had one more stop before we left Athens… Parliament House to see the changing of the guard.  I didn’t think we were going to see Parliament House up close.  I was disappointed but thought I’d live.  So I was happy we were getting to see the changing of the guard after all.  You know the skirt those guards wear have 400 pleats?  Wouldn’t that be a bitch to iron!  I still love their shoes and their march.  It looks like something out of Monty Python.  I had my photo taken with one of the guards.  I asked the army dude in the khaki if the bear could be in the photo.  He couldn’t.  The Greeks seem to have some funny rule about “posing”.  Good thing I asked.  The last thing I would want would be to be standing there with “the bear” to have the guard stomping the butt of his rifle on the ground when he was displeased.  For example, when the Aussie wanker (there’s always one) on the tour saluted as he posed for his photo with the guard.  The next minute the guard is stomping his rifle on the ground and the army guy in his khakis asked for the photo to be deleted.  The Greeks are sensitive alright! 

OK I’ve seen basically everything I wanted to see in Greece…. You can get me out now!

So off we went heading back the way we came to the port of Patras.  We stopped off at the Corinth Canal for lunch.  We were in for a treat.  Apparently when ships come in to the canal there is a bridge that goes under the water to a depth of 8m to allow the boats to pass.  As we arrived at the café for lunch a boat was going through the canal so we got to see the bridge coming out of the water.  The lunch was ok.  There were a lot of cats roaming around meowing for food.  It broke my heart.  It also made me miss Psycho Pussy!  Funny, I’m not homesick yet, but I’m missing the cat!

Back on the bus we finally make it to Patras only to learn the ferry was half an hour late.  Then by the time we got on the ferry it was another half hour late leaving.  We were to have another welcome drink hosted by the Captain.  I made it into our cabin but for the last few days I’ve been feeling like the lurgy that has been going around our bus is trying to hit me (that or I’m getting tonsillitis).  I suddenly felt really tired so I took some Ibuprofen for my throat (everything else I thought of taking is in my suitcase that is on the bus which is in the hull) and got into my jammies and went to bed.  I have since learnt they served ouzo last night.  I KNEW that would happen.

Oh well Italia…. I’m coming back!

Day 15: Cosmos European Masterpiece: Athens

Today was a non-event for me.  I was supposed to go on my optional full day cruise around 3 Aegean islands (Hydra, Aegina and I forget the 3^rd). 

Instead I woke up with a slight beginnings of my fortnightly migraine so I stayed in bed getting up around 9ish to get downstairs and have some breakfast before they shut the buffet before crawling back into bed and napped until around midday.

Woke up feeling much better so I went for a walk around the local area finding something for lunch and taking it back to my hotel room.

Spent the rest of the day just lazing around relaxing.

Day 14 – Olympia - Athens

The day started early with an early morning walk to the archaeological Olympic site.  We walked around the site seeing ruins of the area where athletes trained and had what would be qualifying/heats for the main event.  We also saw ruins to a temple to Zeus and we visited the spot where the Olympic flame is lit for every Olympics before ending our tour on the Athletics field.  We were then told to make our own way back to the hotel but to make sure we were back at the hotel before 10:30am which was when we were to depart for Athens.

Most of us made our way from the Archaelogical site to the Museum across the road that had on display lots of statues and lots of pottery discovered from prehistoric times. 

We made it back to the hotel by around 10:10am which gave us enough time to get back to our rooms and gather our hand luggage and be down to the bus in time for our 10:30am departure for Athens.

First thing I noticed as we were driving through the outskirts of Athens was the amount of derelict buildings and the amount of graffiti.  Leo said a lot of the graffiti was actually about the 3 soccer teams in Athens, but that was not my impression.  Even John the Greek on our tour when asked said it was political.  As we entered the city proper there was so much graffiti and posters for the upcoming election.  I really thought I would fall in love with Athens, but it wasn’t doing it for me.

We arrived at our hotel and it was definitely the best hotel this tour.  Heaps of room, another balcony (although the door that turned into a window had many of us thinking our door was broken when it started coming of it’s top hinge!) and the buffet breakfast had a great selection.

On our first night we had an optional excursion “Taste of Athens”.  First up we drove around some ruins (ancient, that is) before stopping at the base of the Acropolis.  Here I had the first look at the steps up as Leo had warned us that it was a strenuous walk and not everyone would be able to do it.  Leo asked me what I thought.  I said they looked OK.  I asked if they were all light that and he said “you’ll be ok”.   I hope so, the Partheon was reason #2 I chose this tour. 

After getting off our bus we hopped on the “Happy Train” that took us all around the Plaka.  Leo had us all yelling out “Yassou”.  First few people just stared at us.  We were starting to think he had us saying something rude and we were about to get embroiled in some international incident.  But some people started waving and yelling Yassou as we went past.  Our journey ended near the base of a hill that we had to walk up to go to our restaurant for our dinner.

Again it was another case of too much food!  We had bread to nibble on, then a small tapas-style plate with fried haloumi, stuffed vine leaves and some other Greek tidbits that I had no idea what I was eating.  We then had a greek salad followed by souvlaki.  I passed on dessert because a) I was full and b) I don’t do Baklava!

Day 13: Cosmos European Masterpiece: Patras - Olympia

Well we all met in the self-serve restaurant for our breakfast.  What an experience that was.  There was a wide selection of food available but we could only have what was given to us (bread roll… or was that a rock?, croissant, bacon and eggs and coffee and a juice).  If you wanted anything extra you had to pay for it and someone in our group got yelled out for taking an extra knife.  So this is travelling Greek-style during the economic crisis?

The rest of our voyage was spent just sitting around contributing to the Greek economy (4 euro for a coffee) relaxing before it was time to disembark and rejoin our bus.

First impression of Greece?  Olive trees!  Second impression…. Lots of unfinished / derelict buildings.  Leo did explain to us that people start building houses but don’t complete them because then they have to pay a tax; and the Greeks appear to be excellent at avoiding paying tax!

We made it to our hotel late in the afternoon and we greeted by the Greek version of tapas and a shot of ouzo…. NOW WE’RE TALKING!  That impressed me straight away.  After our welcome we went up to our rooms and well this was the best hotel so far on the tour.  Andrea (my roomie) and I had the most room since the start of the tour and we had a balcony.  I went out onto our balcony to admire the view yelling out to Andrea “OMG the view!” only to notice down on the street was Rocco looking up at me.  I state now I WAS going ape over the view…. Not the fact that Rocco was downstairs cleaning the bus in his tshirt and black lycra bike pants.

Of course then there were the internet issues.  We were told there was free wifi in our rooms.  About 7 of us all tried (including Leo) and it wouldn’t work for any of us.  We all ended up down in reception with our laptops and the beatch at the counter tried to tell us it was working perfect for her and that it wasn’t working because of our settings because we were from another country.  Errr we’re all from different countries and our computers have been working in other hotels.  In the real oddity of the situation I tried later in the night in my room and it worked.  Yet Andrea was in her bed next to me and it still would not work for her.  Go figure!

The night was ended by a Greek buffet in our hotel.  A lot of people were saying it was the best meal we have had on tour.  I’m not sure about that.  It’s up there with the tapas in Barcelona.