Up and out early this morning to get our COVID test for the ship. There is a testing place 2 blocks away, which makes it super simple to get there, get tested, get results in 10 minutes (phew! Negative – you just never know!!!) and back to the apartment – and all for only 10 Euros each. Bargain.

Now, we have the whole day to ourselves with really nothing much planned besides going to the archeology museum that was closed on our last trip here. First laundry though! Getting all organized for the ship. We end up finally heading out around 11:30, which isn’t bad. And the museum is right around the corner from us, so an easy and quick walk. Past buildings in all states of repair and disrepair – like this one on the corner near where we got our tests this morning….so like Chiang Mai, just with more Renaissance flair!

The archeology museum turns out to be quite fascinating – beyond the fact that we just love that sort of stuff. There were tons and tons of statues and building mantles and relics from 300 AD to 500 BC!!  I mean…really…just mind boggling. Some were even found in the Piraeus harbor when they explored an ancient ship wreck. 

The funerary urns and steles are all remarkable. And the fact that they each tell a story about the person who died is even more interesting. We’re also taken with the bronze Peiraeus Athena statue (in the slideshow above) with the owls on her helmet and the face peeping out of her sash. And those creepy eyes. Shiver.

Outside, in the courtyard that we only saw through the fence last year, there are even more great statuary. The old lions are magnificent and regal, and the funerary urn and tomb have incredibly detailed carvings. And it is all right here in the middle of a residential district! Excavation, museum, the works. So weird to think of this as ancient grounds when you have all the modern-ish high rises around you.

Saying goodbye to the big lion in the lobby, we wander out in search of lunch. Ed had found a great restaurant on the pedestrian street, but when we got there, we were too early by about 30 minutes. We didn’t really want to wait, so we started perusing other options….and ok, we never do this, well, rarely! We ended up at the same restaurant where we had lunch in November. Hey, good food and it was in the right time at the right place.

We still don’t have a clue what the name is – but that didn’t really matter as the outdoor patio is perfect, the waiters are still lovely and the food is still great. We shared baked feta in that yummy pastry crust to which I’ve become addicted, meatballs and a Greek sausage. Perfect for the afternoon. And made even more perfect as we looked back at the other restaurant where I huge back hoe was doing construction work on the sidewalk right next to the outdoor seating area. Right move.

After lunch we struck out across the city to the port, just to make sure the ship is really there. She’s been out of service since March or April, and has just been sort of floating around. This is the first cruise back in service, so, you know, we figured we’d give into our paranoia and just make sure the Journey is actually sitting at the pier. Also, we had to figure out which pier, because it can be very confusing here in Piraeus with Cruise Terminal A at the main terminal and Terminals B and C (where we are) about a kilometer and a half away.

Turns out to be a great excursion, with some fun building viewing along the way.

We are also happily in luck – The Journey is exactly where she should be, just waiting for us tomorrow. So excited to be back aboard Azamara for these 2 cruises – even if the Black Sea cruise is no longer the Black Sea, but Turkey ports and more Greek ports scheduled at the last minute.

Our 40 minute walk back to the apartment is just the exercise we need – although it is brutally hot – made all the more miserable since we were in 60 degree or less weather just yesterday morning. We have A/C. That is all that matters!

A few hours later finds us strolling the Zeas harbor front perusing dinner menus. We settle on a restaurant called Big Blue, focusing on seafood, of course! Look where we are. Sitting right out on the harbor with wonderful views, good beer and wine (a really big bottle for 6 Euros 80 cents) and excellent food. A little starter of sardines and fish dip, then fried zucchini sticks, octopus, shrimp and calamari.

Excellent. But oh so much food! We took full advantage of the harbor though, walking around all the way to the Military maritime museum to try to burn some it off. It was a lovely evening, perfect for a stroll.

Then back to the apartment for a nightcap on the balcony and our final night on land in Greece.