IstanBull

The recent violence in Istanbul has caused me to cancel the side trip I had planned there. Very disappointing, but clearly the only thing to do. Although the State Department hasn't issued a formal warning, they do give a pretty strong caution on their site. In addition, a friend of mine from that part of the world concurred that this is not a good time to go there. As result, I'll be spending an extra day and night in Athens. I'm sure I can make good use of it. The added hotel cost will be mostly offset by the avoidance of airport transfers. I'll be staying at the Divani Acropol as was already scheduled for the following night.

Other news is more pleasant. My ferries have been booked as has my rental car for Crete. George the Famous Taxi Driver has confirmed and has the changes on my schedule. I've started packing, but rather slowly.

The slow nature of the packing is due to uncertainty about the trip. The information on who is being laid off is due the second week of my trip. After a friend called to tell me she was losing her job, it all became very real and very scary. If there is a good chance I'll lose my job, I'll cancel the trip. It isn't reasonable to spend so much money when I may be out of work. In addition, I'd get paid for the two weeks as part of severance. If I haven't heard anything by tomorrow, I'm going to impose on my friendship with our Director's manager and ask if there is any reason I should cancel the trip. Will keep you posted. Please keep your fingers crossed.

Ode to a Grecian Yearning

It's travel time for me again and another few items are coming off the life list. This is the list I created about 15 years ago of things I wanted to do in my lifetime. Please note that Ellen DeGeneres has stolen my idea for a life list and is making good money off of it. I've told her I would call it even if she helped me take one of the tougher items off the list.

This year's big trip is to celebrate my 50th. To any of you thinking of "over the hill" comments, remember that my birthday will have come and gone while I'm away. Please save your black balloons for some other poor soul who wants the attention.

So, enough dawdling.

Early on September 22, I begin a long and winding trip to Greece. I'll get there just about sunset the next day. By that time, I will have taken four flights, all in either Business or First Class. Love those frequent flyer miles! For my first nights in Athens and my night in Istanbul, the hotels are free thanks to frequent guest programs. Speaking of cheap travel, pay no attention to the prices you might see on websites for my hotels. My trusty travel agent card comes through again with some amazing rates.

On arrival in Athens, I will be met by George, The Famous Taxi Driver of Athens. The caps are intentional. I found him through a great website, Matt Barrett's www.athensguide.com. George reportedly goes the extra mile for his customers, doing things like going into hotels with them to make sure everything is OK with their reservation. While I'm normally very self-sufficient and have no qualms about using public transportation, I couldn't resist availing myself of such extraordinary service. You can read about George at http://www.athensguide.com/taxi.html. He'll be leaving me at the Hilton Athens(http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=5JIKRYJQHJ24QCSGBIU222QKIYFC3UUC?ctyhocn=ATHHITW), my home for the next two nights (9/23-24).

After a day and quarter of Athens sightseeing, it's off to Istanbul for a very quick (half-day) visit. This is just because I have to see Hagia Sofia. I can't imagine being so close and not seeing this wonderful building. Unfortunately, if the recent bombings of tourist sites continue, I may just have to find a way to get my imagination working harder. A last minute change on this is not a problem. It means cashing in a cheap ticket, canceling one hotel reservation, and extending another. Not a big problem beyond the let down. Assuming all stays as planned, I'll be spending the night at the Hyatt (http://istanbul.regency.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp) (9/25). Unfortunately, flight schedules aren't very convenient between Istanbul and Greece. It's fairly lucky they exist at all given the history between the two countries.

Returning to Athens, I'll finish up my sightseeing and take a trip with George The Famous Taxi Driver of Athens to Cape Sounion for the sunset and to visit the Temple of Poseidon (http://www.athensguide.com/sounion/index.html). This will also let me see some of mainland Greece outside of ultra-urban Athens. My bed that night (9/26) will be at the Divani Palace Acropolis Hotel (http://www.divanis.com/acropolis/default-en.htm).

The next morning I head off to the islands. My first stop will be on Santorini (9/27-29), a major Minoan center and considered by many to have been the source of the Atlantis stories. Unfortunately, word is that Akrotiri, the primary Minoan archeological site is closed for restoration this year. The most important pieces from there are in the archeological museums in Athens and on Santorini, so I won't have to miss them. The snorkeling around Santorini is supposed to be great and I'll have my first chance to swim in the Mediterranean. My lodging on Santorini should be wonderful. Although not mentioned on many lists, Alexander's Boutique Hotel (http://www.alexandershotel.com/hotel.htm) has the most wonderful reviews I've ever seen. When confirming my reservation for the sapphire suite, I mentioned that sapphire was particularly appropriate as the visit was part of my birthday celebration because I'd read they really go all out for special occasions. The manager wrote back that he'd been planning on upgrading me to the emerald suite, but now didn't know what to do. I thanked him and told him to save the emerald suite for someone else. Hopefully for someone else who likes green more than I do.

After experiencing a couple of Santorini's famous sunsets, it's off by ferry to Mykonos (9/29-30). This is a quick stop made only so I can get to the nearby small island of Delos (http://www.mykonos-web.com/mykonos/delos_history.htm), birthplace of Apollo and major religious center. I will have time to see the famous windmills and other Mykonian sights. The night will be spent at Cavo Tagoo (http://www.cavotagoo.gr/main.htm).

My second ferry trip and last stop in Greece will be Crete (9/30-10/2). Whatever Minoan cravings I have should certainly be quenched before I leave. The famous archeological museum and the Palace of Knossos will probably do the job and there are several smaller Minoan archeological sites to fill any gaps. On Crete, I'll also be able to follow the footsteps of El Greco and Zorba. Staying at the Elounda Mare (http://www.eloundamare.gr/), I'll be right at the beach and have another couple of snorkeling opportunities.

If they can roll me onto the plane after all that good Greek food, I'll fly from from Crete to London (10/2-5). In one of our many karma coincidences, my friend Marge is passing through London on her way to a vacation in Spain just as I'll be returning from Greece. Since Marge has never been there before, I'll get the chance to show off one of my favorite cities. One of the highlights will certainly be tea at the Ritz with my friends Tessa and Rob. Another will be seeing Evita and possibly Billy Elliot in the West End. Yet another will be guiding Marge through Westminster Abbey and the British Museum. Our home for the three nights will be The Savoy (http://www.fairmont.com/Savoy/) on the Strand.

As always, I'll check email and update this blog whenever possible. This might be spotty while I'm in the islands.

My first real warm up for the trip will be this weekend. There's a big Greek festival nearby that I'm going to with some friends. In addition, I've gotten some CDs on speaking Greek that I'll start working on. At minimum, I need to know how to say please, thank you, how much, where, bathroom, ferry, friend, hello, and goodbye. Reading Greek will be a real challenge as much of it is only writen in Greek characters. Although I'm getting pretty good with cyrilic, I still need to learn my alpha betas.

Opa!