FLIGHT. Egypt Air flight #747 Cairo to Athens. Original departure was 11:30 am but it was changed to 10:30 am. Should be arriving in Athens around 12:30 pm as original time 1:30 pm was for the later departure from Cairo. However, in my notebook I wrote that we arrived in Athens at 1:30 pm. Maybe that's the time we were finally leaving the airport to get our rental car? Retrieved our checked luggage, through Customs-no problems. With my debit card I withdraw 200 euros from the ATM machine. At the exchange for $20.00USD I get 10.52€. There's a shuttle that we take from the airport to pick up our
rental car. Auto Union. Lime green citroen. Really cute car and it will be easy to find due to that color! Cost of rental $217.67USD.
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Our flight is #747 Cairo to Athens
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View from plane-landing Athens
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| Our car rental is super cute! |
We are on our way to
Nafplio/Nafplion. I had researched and wrote down the directions to get there from the Athens Airport. We leave the airport following the signs for Elefsina. We spot a grocery store/market where we stop to get water and orange drink, cost .76 euro. Continue to follow signs for Corinth and finally Nafplio. Many tolls, total 11.40 euros. We got lost a few times! Finally reached our destination at 6:30 pm.
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Where we stopped to buy drinks
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NAFPLIO. Port town on the Gulf of Argos. One of the most beautiful towns in the area of Argolis (in eastern Peloponnese) as well as one of the most romantic cities all over Greece. Nafplio was the first capital of the newly born Greek state between 1823 and 1834. According to mythology the town was founded by Nafplios, the son of god Poseidon and the daughter of Danaus Anymone. The town's history traces back to the prehistoric era when soldiers from here participated in the Argonautic expedition and the Trojan War. The town declined during Roman times and flourished again during the Byzantine times. Frankish, Venetian, and Turkish conquerors left their mark in the town and strongly influenced its culture, architecture, and traditions during the centuries. Ancient walls, medieval castles, monuments and statues, Ottoman fountains and Venetian or neoclassical buildings are everywhere. Our hotel is located in the Old Town. Narrow cobblestone alleys. Neoclassical well preserved mansions. Turkish fountains. Free parking in the large municipal lot by the harbor. But first we need to find our hotel so we can drop off our luggage and check in. The street to get to our hotel is very, very narrow. Good thing we have this small car. There is space in front of the hotel for a few cars to park.
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Postcard
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AETOMA HOTEL. I had booked this hotel on 1/15/2011. We will stay here 3 nights, from 6/8-6/11/2011. Price per night is 125 euros which includes taxes and breakfast. Total 375€/$541.65USD. This hotel is an 18th century mansion located in Old Town. Florentine and Venetian furniture. I booked the Akrokeramo junior suite. It is located on the second/highest floor of the hotel. No elevator. Check in was a very pleasant experience. Staff is family that owns the hotel. Very friendly. Gave us information on restaurants. Our room is lovely but the bathroom shower will be a challenge for my husband! From our large verandah we can see Palamidi fortress and roof tops of other buildings. Breakfast will be served to us on the verandah. We just need to call down when we want it delivered. For now we have tea and slices of homemade pound cake that just melts in our mouths. Delicious and just what we need to give us some energy. Luckily Richard is able to park our car here at the hotel.
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Hotel pamphlet
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| Our hotel |
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Bathroom
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Verandah
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| View from our room |
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| View of Palamidi Castle from our room |
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Tea and cake
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OLD TOWN. We decide to head out for dinner after we've finished our unpacking. The walk into town only takes 5-10 minutes.
Syntagma Square. Intriguing shops that I will have to check out later.
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| Syntagma Square |
KAKANARAKIS 1986. Dinner. We decided to sit at a table outside as it's such a beautiful night. Richard has a Greek salad which he enjoyed. This is when we discover that a Greek salad in Greece does not include any kind of lettuce/greens. I thought I ordered cheese ravioli in sauce but what I got was penne pasta with cheese and sauce which was fine. Coke and 7 up. Cost without tip 24.50€
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| Specials |
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| Menu |
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| Greek salad |
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Penne pasta
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Then it's back to our hotel and bed! We are so tired and tomorrow we start our sightseeing with a day trip to Epidaurus.
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