Ochi Day Parade

This morning, Athens was pretty well closed down for its National Holiday of Ochi Day except for the Ochi Day Parade. Ochi Day commorates the Greeks saying “Ochi” (“No”) in 1940 to Mussolini’s call for Greece to surrender. Eleanor and I walked up the street from our hotel and waited for the parade to begin. So did this lucky Athens stray dog––he had the whole street to himself and didn’t have to dodge any cars.

Ochi Day Parade

Ochi Day Parade

There were many, many policemen along the route, but Eleanor noticed that there weren’t any policewomen, until we saw this one. We wondered how fast she could run in her high heels.

Ochi Day Parade

Ochi Day Parade

Another pose of the policewoman.

Ochi Day Parade

Ochi Day Parade

The lead band has finally come. I have put a video of this band and also a video of some of the marchers. Go To Movies, Western Europe, Greece, “Ochi Day Parade, Athens–1 and Athens–2.”

Ochi Day Parade

Ochi Day Parade

School children marching. In fact, there were a very large number of groups of children marching, especially school groups, almost as if this was a children’s parade. On the second video, you will notice that the parade watchers clap for the groups, not cheer like we would do.

Ochi Day Parade

Ochi Day Parade

A youth group marching.

Ochi Day Parade

Ochi Day Parade

Eleanor left the parade early to go back to the hotel to finish packing. I saw this Athens SWAT team on my way back. There was some kind of disturbance on one of the side streets, probably anticipated as the SWAT team was already here.

Ochi Day Parade

Ochi Day Parade

You can park your car in Greece wherever it fits. After the parade, I found an open cafe and had lunch. We were to leave for our cruise at 1:30 p.m. from the hotel.

Ochi Day Parade

Cruise Ship–the Serenade

We said goodbye to Athens for the second time and were taken by bus to the port of Piraeus to board our ship––the Serenade. Mary, our Athens Trafalgar rep, also introduced us to our new Trafalgar tour guide––Sabrina, who we greatly enjoyed having as our guide. Rumors started flowing around yesterday about our ship––old with the plumbing stopping up. Sabrina told us that, yes, it is an old tired ship, dated in style and well worn. We were not going on a luxury liner. But the advantages of the ship were that it was a small ship, 739 passengers maximum, and the service was very good, with a crew member for almost every two passengers. The crew also appeared to be mostly Greek, which enhanced our “Greek experience.” This is a photo of the Serenade taken at one of the ports that we visited.

Cruise Ship–the Serenade

Cruise Ship–the Serenade

The deck of the Serenade. Today was wonderfully warm and it was a delight sitting on the deck. It was to be the last warm day on our cruise.

Cruise Ship–the Serenade

Cruise Ship–the Serenade

The tugboat pulling us out of port. We left Piraeus about 1 1/2 hours late as we had to wait for a large group of passengers who plane arrived late.

Cruise Ship–the Serenade

Cruise Ship–the Serenade

Lined up and suited for the mandatory fire drill.

Cruise Ship–the Serenade

Cruise Ship–the Serenade

There was entertainment every night aboard the Serenade, all of which I missed as it started past my bedtime. However, the first night on the ship, I certainly heard it as my cabin was right underneath the lounge. I complained and the next day I was offered a cabin upgrade for 30 euros for the whole cruise––one located in a quiet part of the ship. I took it. This is my upgraded cabin, which was bigger than my first cabin and also which had a bathtub in addition to a shower. On the first day, the ship’s plumber left a note in each cabin asking people not to put paper in the toilets so that they would not overflow. Did he really mean toilet paper? I guess I didn’t follow instructions as I found out later that this was exactly what was meant. Well, thank goodness other passengers must have followed the instructions as the toilets did not overflow on the whole voyage.

Cruise Ship–the Serenade

Arriving at Istanbul

We left Piraeus at about 6:30 p.m. on Friday night and arrived in Istanbul at about 9:30 p.m. on Saturday night. Because the ship left Piraeus late, we arrived in Istanbul too late to go on the Istanbul At Night tour, which disappointed me. However, we could go off the ship on our own if we wanted, but it would be close to 10 p.m. when we could do so and it was very cold outside, so I didn’t. However, I totally enjoyed watching our arrival in Istanbul. The city was all lit up and it was beautiful. I took many night photos of our arrival, but they did not come out good, so I am putting some photos of Tom and Cindy Lucas on instead. This photo shows the Blue Mosque on the left and the Haghia Sophia on the right.

Arriving at Istanbul

Arriving at Istanbul

The Blue Mosque on the left, the Haghia Sopia in the middle, and the Topkapi Palace on the right.

Arriving at Istanbul

Arriving at Istanbul

We were also treated to fireworks, which were set off to celebrate Ramadan.

Arriving at Istanbul

Arriving at Istanbul

I also bought some postcards of Istanbul at night. This one is of the Blue Mosque.

Arriving at Istanbul

Arriving at Istanbul

The New Mosque.

Arriving at Istanbul

Arriving at Istanbul

The Ortakoy Mosque.

Arriving at Istanbul

Arriving at Istanbul

The Suleymaniye Mosque.

Arriving at Istanbul