Black Sea Empires - Piraeus

So we've had a lovely lazy day today. We woke late, and only just managed to get breakfast at 9.25am, (they close at 9.30). Most of the passengers had already gone ashore on tour, but we decided to have a short walk around Piraeus, just to see what's there.

An overgrown street in Piraeus

Our impression of Piraeus wasn't very good to be honest. Not in a bad way, it's just that you can see that all of a sudden the money stopped. Loads of buildings empty, the older ones falling into very poor states of repair. We saw several cars abandoned on the side of the road, bumpers missing and no longer roadworthy. These old cars just take up car parking spaces which the city very obviously hasn't enough of, but equally the city doesn't appear to have the money or the motivation to get the cars towed away.

An overgrown park in Piraeus - behind it, the ruins of a roman building buried in the grasses.

Parks and pavements overgrown, roads and pavements full of holes, shops empty and netting around dilapidated buildings to prevent falling plaster hitting passers by. It's a shame to see such a large and previously wealthy city suffering like this, and made me think "there but for the grace of good fortune" - it would be so easy for our British cities to end up in such a mess.  Something to think about...........

I bet this building was stunning when it was new.  Now it just drips old bricks and plaster. 

There were some good spots though.

A tiny little chapel in Piraeus

Inside the little chapel.  Isn't it wonderful.

The Cathedral was gorgeous inside, although I didn't go in. I didn't think about covered shoulders and bare knees before I went out. I'm not religious, but I think it's right to respect the culture of those that are. Peter went in and took all the pictures, I just looked enviously through the door.

The beautiful  Cathedral in Piraeus

After our short walk, we returned to the ship for the Emergency Drill (compulsory on all ships at the start of each cruise), and then lunch. (A very nice salad for me, and excellently cooked fish and chips for Peter). The afternoon was spent wandering the ship a little more and then spending the afternoon on the rear deck, relaxing in the sun and the cool breeze. What holidays are all about I reckon.

There is no rush of activities to join in on this ship. It is just very, very relaxed. Later, we went down to the cabin for a short nap before getting ready for dinner. Formal tonight, so Peter has got his tux on, and I am in a long posh looking skirt I got from Long Tall Sally, with a gold top I got out of TK Maxx. We went to eat in the Veranda Restaurant, expecting the buffet and were very surprised to find it was A La Carte and silver service. An even nicer surprise was the complimentary wine with our meal. I don't drink it, but Peter made up for me.

Once again, the meal was really good, we can't fault the chef or the service. Peter even got his plain vanilla ice-cream with wafer for dessert. Very impressive.

After dinner, we took a walk around the ship and wondered "Where is everyone?". Most of them were still in the main restaurant at that time, but it seems Peter and I are just about the only ones that are out and about in the lounges. There are no shows or evening entertainment planned, just some music in the Orpheous Lounge, and it's all very quiet which we quite like. We're sitting in the Shackleton Lounge and the most we can hear is a quiet murmur from the other side of the room, and the gentle hum of the ship as she sails her way towards Turkey and Canakkle. Lovely.

Eventually Peter will have to work I suppose, but tomorrow is another port day. Let's see what it will bring.