• Jan and Andrew
  • Jan and Andrew

Greece

In the footsteps of St Paul Læs mere
  • Start på rejsen
    24. september 2019

    Early start

    24. september 2019, England ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    We began our trip in the early hours picking up Alex and Tony on our way to Gatwick. The airport was heaving and we hardly had time for breakfast before time toto board our squeezy jet flight to Thessaloniki. When it was time we were directed down to go to the back of the aircraft which meant going out into the now pouring rain and getting absolutely soaked, something the airline blamed on the ground staff. The aircraft was almost full and a new A321, G-UZMP.Læs mere

  • Arrival in Thessaloniki

    24. september 2019, Grækenland ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    The flight arrived a little early and we were whisked to our hotel Capris in Thessaloniki. The weather was similar to uk so the pool was closed. We went though for a wander into town towards the port returning via the market. The town though is suffering from a great deal of construction for the metro.
    Buffet dinner in the hotel was very good.
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  • Thessaloniki and Vergina

    25. september 2019, Grækenland ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Our guide Eugenia is incredibly knowledgable and has close connections with archaeological sites, starting with Byzantium museum , then a visit to the walls of the acropolis and in the afternoon at Vergina where she had helped discover the tombs of Philip II his wife and grandson with amazing amounts of gold and silver artefacts.Læs mere

  • Philippi

    26. september 2019, Grækenland ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Quite a long drive took us to Philippi where we visited the place where St Lydia was baptised by St Paul by a stream, then the jail where St Paul was imprisoned in 49ad and the ruins of the town which was abandoned in the tenth century after an earthquake.
    We drove to the port of Karbala for lunch of mousaka and Greek salad.
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  • Mt Athos

    27. september 2019, Grækenland ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    8 am coach to drive to Ourinoopolis where we boarded the Calypso for a cruise in perfect weather perfect temperature along the coast of the Mt Athos peninsula, easternmost of Halkidiki. Views were brilliant and the boat just the right size.
    On landing we stopped for sardines and salad lunch with Vergina beer topped off with a scoop of ice cream.
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  • Travel to Athens

    28. september 2019, Grækenland ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C

    We enjoyed a leisurely morning including a freddo cappuccino latte by the poolside.
    Check in was straightforward although the flight was delayed 50 minutes. We had time for excellent Italian rolls and vanilla glacé.
    We eventually arrived an hour late and transferred by coach to our hotel which is just off parliament square. All a bit hectic for unloading the coach which fortunately the porters did for us.
    We ended the day with the view from the rooftop bar.
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  • Athens churches and Acropolis

    29. september 2019, Grækenland ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    After a good night and splendid breakfast we assembled to meet our guide for a walk round some of the now quiet streets. First call was the metropolitan cathedral where a service was underway. Built in 1842 it was beautiful inside and busy. We saw several other Byzantine churches all busy with Sunday services.
    Then we visited the Agora with lots of ruins and a small temple. From here the traffic was very busy because many streets were closed due to a marathon being run. However we got to the Acropolis in time for a few to rush up the 200 steps to the top and down.
    A late lunch was taken in the hotel cafe.
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  • Corinth

    30. september 2019, Grækenland ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    This morning we boarded our bus up at the square for the relatively short drive to Corinth. Along the way we stopped at the crossing of the Corinth canal, started in the 1st century ad though not finished until the 1890s. The cutting is over 200m deep although the water is just 8m deep. Impressive piece of engineering which saved 2 days journey around the pelepones peninsular.
    We then called briefly at the ruined eastern ancient port from where St Paul sailed to Antioch.
    Our main visit was to the ancient city of Corinth where St Paul addressed the Corinthians. Here we said mass in the open air. Very interesting Roman ruins with some Byzantine additions all destroyed by an earthquake, after which the city moved to the coast.
    We had a light lunch in a quiet taverna beyond the car par including delicious pistachio ice cream.
    We got back to the hotel mid afternoon in time to wander down to the cathedral and sketch in the grounds.
    This evening after our meal we walked the short way up to the parliament to watch the changing of the guard, from which John Cleese clearly gained inspiration.
    Later Janet stayed up to watch Man Utd play Arsenal with Greek commentary. It did not improve the football which ended 1-1.
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  • Arrival at Gatwick

    1. oktober 2019, England ⋅ 🌧 18 °C

    EZY8082 landed at Gatwick just a few minutes late after dire warnings over delays due to the weather. In fact the sun was shining and we stayed dry exiting from the rear after a smooth flight.
    We had to wait ages for the bags but made it home by about five. Not bad at all.Læs mere

    Slut på rejsen
    1. oktober 2019