Mediterranean Cruise

September 29, 2023

We had breakfast at our hotel, the Athens Avenue Hotel.  We boarded our buses to go to Lavrio, one of Athen's three Mediterranean ports.  It takes a little over an hour to get there.  Nearby to the port are some extinct silver mines.  This area was quite active as a mining area until the early 20th century.  By reason of this, there was a colony of French miners that lived close to the port.  The area is no longer supporting the mining industry but the Catholic Church of St Barbara and the Apostles that served the French miners is still there.  Our group had Mass there before boarding ship.  As usual with a group of 73 tourists, many people want to use the toilet after an hour on the bus.  The toilet here at St Barbara's was in an out building that had only one stall.  The line was very long. 

The Church of St Barbara 

After Mass we hopped back on the bus for a 5 minute ride to the Port Lavrio.  Ship Ahoy!  Its the Celestyal Olympia.  Before we could enter the ship, port authorities created a personal ship pass made from our passports.  It would be both our passport and credit card for entering the ship and purchasing anything on board. 

Day One Aboard Ship

The Celestyal Olypia

       

First Mate Sylvia

Immediately there was a practice drill for emergency situations.  We had to report to our life boat stations on the outer 7th deck with our life jackets on.  

Our cabin was an interior hallway one, #5058.   We proceeded to 5th deck.  Cabins are the size of a small popup camping trailer with an airline size bathroom and shower.

Once the emergency drill is done its time for lunch.  We got out first taste of on-board life: buffet line, drink waiters, handmade gyros, burger and pizza bars, dance lessons, swimming pool, gift shops, activities.  Most of this took place on 9th deck.

The Blue Mediterranean

At 5:30 PM  we had our first excursion off ship.  We had arrived at the Greek Island of Mykonos

.  The ship was able to dock here, so we could simply walk off board to the pier.  Shuttle busses took us to town (Hora).  We started walking through town following our tour guide.  We go by and in some cases through many restaurants, busy with Friday night diners. We stopped to admire a small chapel of a church built right on the coastline.  A common expression of thanks to God from some family granted some personal wish.  I stopped to take a few pictures and Sylvia to light a candle.

The dock at Mykonos

Icons in the shoreline chapel on Mykonos.

Unfortunately, here is when the unexpected happened.  Sylvia took a tumble on the rocky shoreline.  (Of course, it was my fault!)  But she split her upper lip, and it was bleeding bad.  So, the two of us walked back to the ship.  (30 minutes) As soon as we stepped on board ship, there was the first aide station.  The medical assistant looked at the cut lip and proceeded to call the ship doctor to come down.  It required four stitches to close the wound on the inside of the mouth.  Oh, my. Oh, my.  Soft food and antibiotics for several days, and fresh ice to put on it. 

Sylvia with a stiff upper lip.  😘

S