Flashback Friday Fotos

 

Thanks to you amateur Barbara Walters out there!
I don't think my asking for questions last time was particularly courageous ..... but neither did I worry it might turn into a game of Truth or Dare.  (I've never played that. Have you?) 

ANYway.  Cathy, you and Lisa asked about travel.   Yes, I was very fortunate to have travelled here and there -- before my skin and joints went south.   99% of those trips were great.  Then there was Greece.  The irony being, when my mother asked where we most wanted to go, I was the one who chose that destination.

No regrets; in fact, sometimes it's fun to look back.

The way we were:
August 1984

I'd like to say, dinner aboard TWA was delicious ... but I wouldn't know.  The whole time I was dead to the world, thanks to a powerful sleep aid I'd requested from my doctor.  

I apologize for the poor quality of these pictures.

They've been sitting in a scrapbook, largely ignored for years.

I know there are those who'd disagree, but we thought Athens itself was disappointing.  But there were some humerous moments.  For example:

We kept calling down to the front desk for ice.  Except, when the bucket would appear, it wasn't even half full.  Lessons learned; they're not so fond of icy beverages as we Americans.  

Then there was the first night's dinner.  R. found a neighborhood cafe within walking distance -- but no-one spoke English.   He was invited into the kitchen and minutes later returned with a grin and a thumb's up.  Except, what they put out in front of us were fish -- with the heads still on.  Those eyeballs!  Thank goodness, I'd brought along a big container of Extra-Crunchy JIF peanut butter.  Troy and I ate out of the jar 'til our tummies hurt.

Oh, and I can't forget the time mother tired of shopping and said she was going back to the ship.  Except she mistakenly boarded the wrong ship!   That would never happen in today's security-conscious world, but my mind still spins at the idea of her sailing off to parts unknown.

Have you ever suffered a painful toe?  (Sure, you have!)  Well, prior to vacation, Troy had surgery where they removed his big toenail.   Wouldn't you know, shortly after we arrived at the Acropolis someone accidentally stepped on his foot!

My mother wasn't normally known for her wit.  But when our guide mentioned how many thousands of people visited annually, she remarked, "I think they're all here today."

The highlight of our trip was a 4-day cruise to the islands.

One little old lady passenger took a real liking to Troy.  She asked him to call her 'Grandma Edith' and kept slipping him money to gamble.  How I wish I had a picture of the two of them!  

Port of Piraeus

Actually, Troy was the only one among us who instinctively grasped the drachma and dollars exchange rate.   Much to the dismay of the Turkish rugs' merchants in Ephesus, we weren't much interested in souvenirs. Talk about hard sell!  I suspect timeshare salesmen must apprentice under those guys.

There was a decided Soviet presence in Rhodes.

Things may be different today, but the merchants didn't much care for American tourists.

But Mykonos was wonderful ... as was Santorini.

600 steps to the top --

R. and mom took the cable car, but Troy and I elected to ride.

Doesn't this random Greek make you want to break out in a chorus from Mamma Mia?

I remember saying that a LOT!

Home again, home again to the Oceanos

It's always good to go ...

Better to come home to the U.S.A!

 💛

Epilogue

8 years later THIS happened to our ship.

Amazingly, all 571 passengers and crew survived -- no thanks to the ship's captain who, together with a few of his cronies, had abandoned ship! 

The ship's entertainers -- including guitar players, magicians, musicians and cruise staff, ran a successful rescue of every soul aboard.  In the dark they launched the life boats.  Then, as dawn broke, they helped the amazing helicopter crews to airlift the last 200 to safety.

Ordinary men and women  doing extraordinary things. I love that.

Thanks for visiting!

Hugs, Myra