Day 6

We arrive in Piraeus (Athens). We didn’t take any of the ship sponsored tours and decided to take a taxi to the Metro and then catch a train to the Acropolis and walk from there to the Plaka (shopping area). While negotiating with a taxi driver we agreed to a city tour. We took 2 taxis and they took us to the Acropolis, Zeus’ temple, the changing of the guard at the palace and to the Plaka. The ruins are amazing to see. Currently they are working at some restoration on the ruins at the Acropolis but they are still beautiful to see. We only got about 5 minutes at Zeus’ temple. The changing of the guards was interesting to watch.
In the Plaka we were told we had ½ hour to shop, but we had paid to be back at the ship by 7pm, so we took some extra time. When we gathered back at the taxis, we discovered that Judy was missing. We searched the street for nearly 1 ½ hours before heading back to the ship. We were all praying during that time that she was ok and that we would be re-united safely. I spoke with a police officer after searching for nearly 1 hour. He hadn’t had any reports of someone reporting that they were lost. We had several shop keepers watching for her. I even followed and medical team thinking she might be hurt. When I saw that she was not the injured party, I asked if they had anyone reported injured who fit her description. They had not. At that point we needed to return to the ship. Becky had already sent the others ahead before I returned to the taxis. As one of the shop keepers told us she had called the police another taxi driver came and told us that a woman fitting her description had been returned to the ship by taxi earlier. He hadn’t taken her but over the phone described her to his colleague. Through our discussion we realized that it was most likely her and returned to the ship. As we went to re-embark we saw the others in line. They were distraught that we did not have her with us. I told them to ask as they boarded if she had returned to the ship. When we boarded we didn’t see them and so we asked if she was on the ship and were told that she had checked in. Heavenly Father certainly watched over her and answered our prayers.
We learned that after she became separated from Aunt Susan she had turned the wrong way. When she didn’t find us she ended up turning off the one street we were on and then, when she realized she was lost, took a taxi back to the ship.
For dinner we had several appetizers, as well as several desserts that looked good. I ordered three appetizers and Julie also ordered three. We had anti pasti, mushroom risotto, and shrimp cocktail. Fortunately the appetizers are fairly small. Most of the table ordered chicken marsala for an entrée with raspberry panna cotta and warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert. Judy ordered four different desserts and shared them. Tonight our waiters danced and sang for us. Tomorrow is an early day; 7am docking at Mykonos and 7:45am excursion for Delos.
I will post pictures in one or two days.