O we can wait no longer!
We too take ship, O soul!
Joyous, we too launch out on trackless seas!
Fearless, for unknown shores, on waves of ecstasy to sail, ...
Chanting our chant of pleasant exploration.
-Walt Whitman, “Passage to India,” from Leaves of Grass
We too take ship, O soul!
Joyous, we too launch out on trackless seas!
Fearless, for unknown shores, on waves of ecstasy to sail, ...
Chanting our chant of pleasant exploration.
-Walt Whitman, “Passage to India,” from Leaves of Grass
Well, the day is finally here. In a matter of hours, I’ll be leaving for National Airport for a flight to New York, where Beth and I will meet up and fly to Athens, arriving on the morning of the 7th. We’ll have the day to explore, then attend a party that the cruise line is throwing at our hotel for those doing all 71 days of the cruise. The next day we’ll have a little time in the morning for more exploration, then off to Piraeus to board the ship.
I’m looking forward to seeing our hotel, the Grand Bretagne. I’ve heard so much about it. It opened in 1874 as a hotel, but about 12 years before was built as a mansion for a wealthy Greek. Its more unpleasant history is that it served as Nazi headquarters during the German occupation in WWII. It overlooks the Parliament and Syntagma on one side; the Parthenon on the other, and I’m told is located near the Plaka and ancient agora, so will be a well-situated base for exploration.
With us on this trip will be two Flat Stanleys (google it!) sent along by a couple of students from Beth’s former school. So, in addition to the blog, there will be a Flat Stanley journal. At the end, I’ll need to get a picture of Flat Stanley with Flat Fido, who still stands guard over my condo.
And away we go!
I’m looking forward to seeing our hotel, the Grand Bretagne. I’ve heard so much about it. It opened in 1874 as a hotel, but about 12 years before was built as a mansion for a wealthy Greek. Its more unpleasant history is that it served as Nazi headquarters during the German occupation in WWII. It overlooks the Parliament and Syntagma on one side; the Parthenon on the other, and I’m told is located near the Plaka and ancient agora, so will be a well-situated base for exploration.
With us on this trip will be two Flat Stanleys (google it!) sent along by a couple of students from Beth’s former school. So, in addition to the blog, there will be a Flat Stanley journal. At the end, I’ll need to get a picture of Flat Stanley with Flat Fido, who still stands guard over my condo.
And away we go!
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