From Israel to Instambul Turkey to Athens Greece~

The alarm went off at 3 am....oh boy...take about EARLY morning!!!!  But we both jumped out of bed wide away and got dressed and packed and was ready in 40 minutes to head out of the room.

Jonathan our host was awake and sitting behind his computer...he said he liked getting up early and get focused.  He creates websites for people!

So we said our good-byes and thanked him for a great 2 day stay...Jonathan was so kind to help us bring the suitcase down to the car!  Thank you Jonathan!!!  We appreciate your kindness!  Say good bye to Mor and also Paulus for us OK?  And remember...if you come to the US you are welcome to come visit us in Oregon too..there will be a room for you!!!

We headed onto the highway and there was hardly any cars out...just a few taxi's!  We were at the Tel Aviv airport in not time at all! We returned the Fiat back to Thrifty Rent a Car  and the shuttle brought us to our airline Pegagus Airlines a Turkish airline.  We got in line and it was packed already with people!  Gosh lots of people flying out: Canada, US, Germany, Australia...it was bustling with people!

There was recliner chairs in the waiting area..so people could relax & watch the World Soccer Tournaments!

....when we arrived in our hotel room here in Greece~

We checked in our bags and headed down the long long corridors...taking our baggage through the scanners...oh they have to be extra careful here in Israel.

We found this pamphlet in Nick suitcase...

Yes it was time to say "Farewell to Israel....the place where my Lord has walked, witnessed and went to the Cross for me!  Oh how thankful I am for His Grace! 

Nick looks over the menu...on these short flights you pay for it...that is if you want something!

 









We departed on time 6:20 am and flew first to Istambul - the flight took 2.10 hours - a very nice airlines! We sat with a gal who was from Australia...and she was traveling with her husband and two children.  Annemarie was born in Holland and had immigrated to New Zealand with her parents when she was 3 yrs old!  She & her husband later moved to Australia together!  So fun to share the stories!  Annemarie said how she enjoyed her time with the family discovering all the sights where are our Lord had walked - they had a wonderful time she said!

We did not have to go through customs in Turkey this time...but they kept those who were going to connecting flights in a separate Terminal section AND we did not have to pick up our baggage either...they were forwarded to the next airline!  Nice!

 It was hard to comprehend that we were actually in Istambul!
We waited an hour and then we boarded another Pegasus Airline flight to Athens ~


Oh I must share this with you all....lookie here.....you know the procedure in the airplane once the plane taxis to the runway...

 

.... a Flight Attendant begins to tell us how to use the life jacket & tells the passengers about the exit etc???






The TV monitor drops down, and we see this little boy in uniform...talking like an adult...going through the steps with us all....he did it so well!

 Then this little girl...shared with us all the other details...my she spoke like a grow up...sharing everything of importance with us passengers!  And the funny thing too was that in the seats were all children - so the two "flight attendants were talking to "children passengers" oh it was adorable - and I honestly think that all of us passengers were listening to the instruction more diligently then ever...because it was all done through these kids!  It was adorable!!!  


This leg took only 1.40 hrs - and we arrived in Athens at 12 noon!  Wow..Nick we are now in Athens!  My how exciting again!

From the airplane Greece looks very dry...like Las Vegas...we see olives trees out there but otherwise dry landscape.  The airport was very large and big and very nice!  We walked long corridors again...glad to stretch our legs!  We usually let everyone get off the plane and just sit and take it easy - we have time...no hurry!

 Wow...can you believe it...we are now in Greece!  Wow...Athens! 

We collect our baggage and then took a lunch break with a good cup of coffee!  Nice!  We got some Euro's out of the ATM machine & then collected some maps and guides to see where and what we would do next!  Ah they have a subway...nice...let's see if we can figure it out where our hotel is that we booked for 2 days in Athens?  We did figure it out and we could do this...with one change we would be able to get to the area where our hotel is.  The Greek language has lots of different lettering to it...but they also use the alphabet so under each name there is a alphabetic Greek name written!  So we figured it out...and yes...we would head out on the subway.

On the map here -  we arrived at the airport...and we know our hotel is in the Metaxourghio  - so we are on a blue line and need to get to the red line...and they cross at the Syntagma stop...then we need to take the direction going towards the end stop  - which in this case is the direction of  Anthoupoli!  Fun huh?

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It was conveniently laid out and we bought the ticket, a 3 day ticket & entered into the subway area and down to the train. Our suitcase rolled right in...no step ups or anything!  The system was as nice as we had experienced in Singapore!  We made the connection change where the red train would take us to the other part of town...and before you knew it we were in the area of our hotel..."Metaxourgio"also written  Μεταξουργείο...aren't you glad for us that it was also written in the alphabet lettering...yes? 

We found out the Hotel Minoa was just a few blocks up from the subway exit...Nice!

So we checked in & it was  w o n d e r f u l  to arrive and settle into our hotel room.... relax!  Put our feet up! Yes!  
The hotel was in a decent area where other hotels were as well!  

We went out to look for a restaurant close by and even a store to buy some items for the room for the next 2 days.

We found a cute little resto very close by that served a nice Greek menu!  Boy those Grecians sure know how to cook...and everything is FRESH! Ah a nice glass of wine too! 

We had a great meal...and the music was playing...with a real Greek song using the mandolin - and this little girl...got up from the table and began to dance the Greek  dance...so cute...and she didn't stop either...turning and twirling...and stepping forward and backwards...Wow...she knew the steps all right! Way cute!  Everyone watch her! 

 

 Our hotel had a balcony...

 ....so I took some pictures of our street in the evening~

We were pleased with it ~ an older hotel but clean & tidy!

Time for bed....we have been up since 3 am and it is now 11 pm! 
That makes for a long day!

But we are here in Athens Greece! WOW! Can't wait till tomorrow...and see the sights!