John Edward Cooper’s Notes
Saturday 28 September 2013
|
[2013] [Friday 27 September 2013] 08:00–17:00 Mykonos Town, Mykonos Day 271 Saturday 28 September Nehemiah 8-10 Cruise News     Explore Ashore   The alarm on the clock went off at 6am.… We sat outside for breakfast because the Lido Restaurant was like a fridge again. It was another hot, sunny day. Going ashore was by tender boat, and the procedure was to pick up a coloured card and wait in the Broadway Show Lounge till it was announced that people with that colour proceed to the disembarkation point.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 08:19:42 On the tender boat  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 08:19:52 On the tender boat Ashore, on the quay, we were introduced to Katerina, our somewhat elderly, chain-smoking guide, who gave us a talk on Mykonos and Delos, while we waited for the boat to be available for boarding. Delos, she said, was destroyed in 88 BC by Mithridates VI of Pontus, a staunch enemy of Rome. The boat, I noticed, was the ΔΗΛΟΣ ΕΞΠΡΕΣ (“Delos Express”). I think the name was in Latin letters on the side, but it was only the Greek letters on the stern that I could see at first and interpret.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 08:27:08 Ashore at Mykonos. Left: ΔΗΛΟΣ ΕΞΠΡΕΣ (“Delos Express”)  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 08:29:50 MS Thomson Celebration  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 08:53:22 Boarding the ΔΗΛΟΣ ΕΞΠΡΕΣ Shortly after we set off, we passed a small island rising precipitously from the sea, all rocky and craggy, and because it had a church on top of it I named it — was it “Rocky Island” or “Craggy Island”? — after either the home of Father Ted or of his arch-rival Father Dick Byrne. (Let’s say “Craggy Island”.) And farther along — part of Delos in fact — was what I took to be a similar-looking island (“Rocky Island”, then). As we approached the harbour of Delos, we were amazed at the abundance of ruined structures; it was littered and strewn with ruins everywhere.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 09:37:06 Delos, strewn with ruins  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 09:39:38 Delos Katerina led us around the residential and commercial quarter first.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 09:54:16 Remains of plaster on the wall of this house  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 09:55:00 Floor mosaic in a house  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 09:55:10 Katerina points out a feature of this house.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 09:57:10 Cisterns  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 09:57:34 View back from there We visited the House of Dionysus, so-called because of the floor mosaic in the atrium, of winged Dionysus riding a panther. In the corner of this was a small earthenware tube — the well — leading to the cistern below.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 09:59:20 House of Dionysus  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:00:26 House of Dionysus: steps up to the first floor  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:01:50 House of Dionysus: floor mosaic  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:02:08 House of Dionysus: floor mosaic  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:03:40 House of Dionysus  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:04:30 House of Dionysus: floor mosaic — winged Dionysus riding a tiger  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:06:08 House of Dionysus: well  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:06:30 House of Dionysus: latrine  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:10:42 Recess for a street lamp From there we went on to the theatre.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:12:02 Theatre  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:12:14 Theatre  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:19:02 Can’t remember: drain or aqueduct?  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:22:18 Fish slab There were two of the young men from the show team in our party, and when our access to sites was being compromised by hangers-on to the Thomson party, one of them announced that our group was for paying Thomson guests only.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:23:56 Phallic symbol on the brothel wall  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:23:56 Phallic symbol on the brothel wall (detail)  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:24:54 Delos thoroughfare Finally, Katerina led us down to the agoras and temple area.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:27:34 Receptacle for coins…  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:27:58 …in the sanctuary area  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:28:12 Stoa  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:30:44 Mount Kynthos, seen from there, and part-way up the Temple of Isis  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:31:22 Frieze of the stoa, originally atop the pillars  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:31:32 Pillars and statue-plinths  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:46:04 Agora of the Italians  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 10:46:12 Terrace of the Lions Then she gave us an hour’s free time. We availed ourselves of refreshments and toilets in the café next to the museum. Then we braved the hot sun and went up part of the high hill to the Temple of Isis. It looked rather Greek, not at all Egyptian, though. Time and stamina in the heat did not permit us to go all the way up the hill, but the two show-team young men had marched up there.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:17:26 Temple of Isis  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:18:14 Statue of Isis There didn’t seem to be a path directly downwards, to take us back to the harbour without retracing our steps to the café; but I saw what looked like a way if we went ahead a short distance then turned right, and that proved to be correct. It also took us past some buildings mentioned earlier but not visited.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:20:12 View back down from there  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:22:22 Heraion (temple of Hera)  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:22:42 Looking back towards Mount Kynthos  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:24:46 View ahead from there  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:28:30 House of the Dolphins  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:29:32 House of the Dolphins  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:29:48 House of the Dolphins: floor mosaic  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:30:30 Our way back  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:31:24 House of the Masks  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:31:24 House of the Masks (detail)  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:35:10 Marble doorway  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:36:56 Back at the theatre  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:41:18 House of the Trident  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:41:36 House of the Trident: floor mosaic  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:41:36 House of the Trident: floor mosaic  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:42:28 Back along the thoroughfare  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:46:54 Back to the harbour  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 11:47:10 We were about to board the ΔΗΛΟΣ ΕΞΠΡΕΣ when someone directed us onto the ship moored beside it. Janet stayed on the covered deck, but I went aloft to the upper deck.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 12:44:20 “Craggy Island”  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 12:44:32 “Craggy Island”  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 12:46:20 “Craggy Island”  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 12:47:14 “Craggy Island”  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 12:52:10 Windmills, Mykonos town  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 12:54:00 Within Mykonos harbour  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 12:54:42 MS Thomson Celebration at anchor  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 12:55:18 Views of Mykonos town from the boat  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 12:55:28 Views of Mykonos town from the boat Before we parted company with Katerina, she suggested that one head for “Little Venice”, pointing the way (but avoid the pricy sea-facing bars, she said), so that’s what we did.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 13:16:36 Views of Mykonos town: Church of Panagia Paraportiani  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 13:19:04 Views of Mykonos town We found a bar that we thought would be far enough from the waterfront to be not a “rip off”. I had a beer, and got a little bowl of nuts to go with it—  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 13:32:22 Refreshments in a bar  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 13:38:04 Refreshments in a bar —before we resumed our walk in the direction of the windmills.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 13:50:52 Views of Mykonos town  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 13:53:30 Views of Mykonos town: windmills Just before the rise to the windmills, to the left there was a square with cafés, and beyond that a little church, into which we went. It proved to be a Catholic church.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 13:55:32 Views of Mykonos town: Catholic church Our Lady of the Holy Rosary There was a cross on the left wall. I noticed that its superscription was not the expected “INRI” (“Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum”) but “ΙΝΒΙ” (presumably “Ίησούς ό Ναζωραίος ό Βασιλεύς τών Ίουδαίων”), i.e. Greek, not Latin. Some rude people who disgusted us came in, walked around, clicked photos, and left without putting a coin in the offertory box. I took photos, yes, but discreetly, and with the camera set to silent, so there were no clicks. And my attitude was one of respect. Before she left Janet went forward and thanked the priest who was seated there in silent prayer and meditation, and I did the same. He smiled back at us in turn. I don’t know whether he spoke English, but expressions of gratitude are a language anyone can understand. And we put coins in the box.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 13:57:54 Our Lady of the Holy Rosary: not the expected “INRI” (Latin: “Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum”) but “ΙΝΒΙ” (Greek: “Ίησούς ό Ναζωραίος ό Βασιλεύς τών Ίουδαίων”)  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 13:58:24 Our Lady of the Holy Rosary  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 13:59:10 Our Lady of the Holy Rosary  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 14:00:06 Our Lady of the Holy Rosary  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 14:02:34 Our Lady of the Holy Rosary We went up to the level of the windmills, before finding another way through the labyrinth of narrow streets back to the harbour.  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 14:04:02 Views of Mykonos town: windmills  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 14:05:54 Views of Mykonos town: windmills  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 14:08:48 Views of Mykonos town  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 14:09:08 Views of Mykonos town  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 14:11:12 Views of Mykonos town  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 14:17:28 Mythological scene on a doorstep  Saturday 28 September 2013 — 14:20:26 Views of Mykonos town: Church of Panagia Paraportiani We didn’t have to wait for a tender boat, so we back at the ship by ca.2.45pm. Copied today’s photos from the camera (14:52–14:54). “I had intended washing my hair this afternoon,” Janet wrote, “but decided I was too tired and exhausted so booked an appointment at the beauty salon for a wash and blow-dry at 4.30pm. I never normally do anything so frivolous, but I decided I was worth it! Besides, we saved £20 by not having to buy visas into Turkey.”
That’s where we went. We had drinks served to us, and I got a slice of pizza from the buffet.
Janet wrote: “The ‘entertainment’ was a member of the Philippine crew carving a huge piece of ice. It would have been entertaining but for the prat very loudly talking us through it, and when [John] disappeared into the Lido for something else I got his beer and followed. I couldn’t stand it any longer! We found a table right in the sun and it was lovely and toasty. We got chatting to a Welsh lady until just after 4pm when we returned to our cabin. [John] sat at his computer.” (I viewed today’s photos, rotating those that needed it (16:13–16:16).) Janet continued: “I had a quick ‘wash and brush-up’ then at 4.20pm ran up all the stairs to Deck 8 (we’re on Deck 3) — not bad going as I was still exhausted [from the heat and exertions of the day]. It only took about 20 minutes [in the hairdresser’s] and made me feel so much better. Was worth every penny. I decided to stop off at Hemingway’s for a Coke as I was so thirsty. I got chatting to a couple. Just after 5pm I returned to our cabin to find [John] asleep on the bed. No surprise there! I was still very tired but decided it would be best if I didn’t lie down as we’d be off for dinner at 6pm.… I ‘sorted my bits’ and updated this.… At ca.6pm we went for dinner then strolled into Hemingway’s and listened to Tim Adshead.”[iii] He was scheduled to end his set at 7.45pm, so this would be the time we returned to the cabin briefly. For we’d started going to the Broadway Show Lounge half an hour before the show was due to start to ensure we got good seats.
“We returned to our cabin then went to the Broadway,” Janet wrote. “As usual, it was bloody freezing in there — fortunately, we’d taken our coats. We got front-row seats — at the side, but still good seats. This show — Mediterranean Nights — was even better. These performers are brilliant. We enjoyed it immensely. It was ca.9.30pm by the time it finished and we were both… so tired.… I had a shower then it was lights out just after 10pm.…”
|
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]