“Travels to A Different Time” : 12August2000: Epidavros, Greece: Off to The Sunken City and Staying at a Grand Hotel In Athens on the Decline!

Off in a boat with a local met at a restaurant to see the sunken city. Atlantis? Just out of the port into another bay with ancient ruins on the hills. It was thought there was a town there in antiquity but an earthquake or volcano destroyed it and it slid into the sea. Indeed below the boat there were more ruins but the water was choppy so the view was not so good. But the thought of a city that disappeared below the ocean surface is intriguing and special. We chugged along the coast and there were those Dutch and French campers on the beaches full of overweight men and women many burnt to a crisp. Then past renowned Greek actress Melina Mecouri’s summer house. A couple of hours back in Hotel Christina for a late breakfast. Paid hotel bill and back to the Flying Dolphin for the hydrofoil back to Piraeus. Ended up in the President Hotel in Athens. It struck me that years ago this was THE HOTEL in Athens but it badly needs updating. As they say the bones are good but it is in a good area of Athens unlike the Hotel Stanley. The rooms may be old but spotless and proud. There are high end shops and clean streets without shifty characters milling about. Had a swim at the rooftop pool but it lacks the ambience and view of the Stanley Hotel. Back to Kolonaki Pizzeria for an overly salty cheese pizza which necessitated downing a litre of spring water on the way home. Fell asleep like a rock. Back to Toronto tomorrow.