Week before last we started with sleet! By the time I was headed to the York train station on Thursday, that had stopped, but it was still very chilly. I got to the train station and boarded my train for Manchester Airport where I caught my KLM flight to Schiphol airport in Amsterdam, and then on to Athens. I arrived at Athens airport and was met by my friend, Kostas Gellis, who took me to my hotel, the Attalos. It was a wonderful, small hotel, with a roof terrace bar with a staggering view of the Acropolis. Anyway, it was close to 2am when I got there, and so Kostas bid me goodnight, and off I went to bed!

Next day after breakfast, I headed to the Acropolis. I climbed to the top (wasn't sure this 63-year old would make it, but I did!), and I spent a great deal of time there, and wandering the Ancient Agora and the Roman Agora. I then went to Kosta's Souvlaki and had the same mouth-watering souvlaki I had 33 years ago. Old man Kostas had died 3 months before, but his grandson, also named Kostas, had taken it over. It was wonderful, and the Greeks are still the lovely, kind, warm, generous people I remembered.

Kostas Gellis called me on my mobile to let me know he would pick me up around 7pm. I returned to my hotel, and I got prepared for the evening.

He arrived, and off we went to Cape Sounion, an absolutely wonderful village outside of Athens a bit where the Temple of Poseidon is. We wandered around there, went into the village and walked around, stopped and had a drink, carried on, had another drink, and around 9:30pm we went to a lovely seaside restaurant and had a delicious seafood meal! I'd taken my camera, but naturally, it decided that this evening was when it would no longer work! So no pictures!

We returned to Athens close to midnight, and Kostas dropped me at the hotel.

Saturday he'd told me he would call around 3pm, and we would be off to some other places. I got up and went to Syntagma Square to see the changing of the guards at the Presidential Palace, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, wander around that area, etc. I then headed back to Monastiraki Square, where my hotel was located. The new metro is outstanding, and the stations are quite interesting, with archetectural ruins in them, etc. I returned to the hotel and went to the rooftop terrace waiting for his call. No call. I called him. No answer. I texted him. No answer. Well, I went out and went to the Psiri section of town, just behind my hotel, and then I returned. Still no call. I went up to the room, watched some TV, then about 8:30, I decided to go to dinner, and of course, my mind was thinking terrible things about him and why he didn't call, etc. About the time I got to the lobby, I got the call; however, it wasn't Kostas who was calling. It was a friend of his, Panos, who said he was calling from Kostas' phone, and he'd been in an auto accident that day, when a woman drove out of nowhere and ran into him. Panos came to pick me up, and off we went to the hospital. There he was, bandaged with a broken collarbone, arm, wrist, ribs, leg and ankle, and he was apologizing to me for not getting in touch with me! Of course, he couldn't have his mobile in the hospital, and I was feeling terrible that I'd had such bad thoughts.

On Sunday I went to the National Archeological Museum, then down to the Plaka. I returned to the hotel late in the afternoon. I met up with others in the hotel, and we had drinks on the terrace. I could just sit and stare at the Acropolis for days on end, I do believe. Then, I went to the hospital to see Kostas, and he was feeling some better, but very sore, he said. After being there for awhile, I went out to dinner.

Monday I journeyed to the flea market of Monastiraki and up and down the many little streets, then over to the Plaka area. I went back to the hospital, and I told him I'd come that evening before going to dinner. I returned to Psiri and after walking around there for a bit, I went to the terrace again in the hotel, visited with more fellow tourists, and then back to the hospital later. Afterwards, it was out to dinner.

Tuesday morning I received my wake-up call at 2am; so I could get my taxi to the airport. All my flights went well and on time, and the train trip back to York got me here a bit before noon. Of course, all I wanted to do was go to bed! Surprise! I walked in to find the joiner and the electrician here getting things ready and installing the recessed lights, the ceiling fans and the new radiators. They left around 5pm, and I just collapsed in bed!

On Wedensday I was back to work and relating things to my co-workers. Work went well the rest of the week, and on Friday after work I headed to Weatherspoons to catch up with friends who worked for Corries before the large part of it was sold. That part is now called Minster Law. There was Gill Barker, Darren Sage, Tracey Reid, Jo Hull, Kevin Tate with his girlfriend, Clare, Jonathan Linton, Kerry and Nick Stojanovic, Sarah Haskins, Rebecca Cook, and Peter Gibson. They were all headed on to the Slug and Lettuce as it was someone's leaving do, but I was headed home, as the painters were to be here at 8am. Well, when I got home, I found out that the painter was sick, and they weren't coming!

Saturday the plasterer returned to do some touch up work, and I went to get my hair cut and to do some errands. I'd made plans to go to Thormanby to stay with Dana Dennis and Pam Patterson, as I didn't want to spend the night with the fumes. I decided to go on anyway, as I've not seen them for awhile. We walked across the road to visit with Peter Gibson and Gareth Dadd, and had a wonderful time of it. Then we returned to their home, and off we went to Easingwold to the Jaipur Spice restaurant for delicious Indian food. Thoroughly sated, we returned to their home and visited until about 11, when we retired to bed.

This morning I awoke, Dana prepared a hearty breakfast, and I then headed back to York. I needed to get some washing done, some ironing done, etc., and then I went to Bruce and Sally Corrie's home for dinner tonight. Just back from there and writing to you all. I do so hope all has gone well for you all. Hope you all had a good Easter, and Happy St. George's Day, which is today! He's the patron saint of England! Have a good week!

Denny