Last sightseeing @ Lavrio
09 May 2014 | Lavrio Greece
fine
Still in Lavrion
Most of our work is completed with the radar being our only hold up. Andy and Jane (sailed in the Pacific with them last time) arrived on Wednesday expecting their boat, to be in the water. As per Greek timing this hadn't happened so we quickly cleaned up one of the forward cabins for them to stay. Along side of us we have another Australian catamaran. John is here to collect his wife arriving on Sunday night so we invited him for dinner on Thursday night. Friday and Matilda (Andy and Janes 380 Lagoon) came to the other side of the marina finger. George the Australian Greek reckoned the Aussies were taking over and Gary asked him if he felt homesick. Friday night all the Aussies headed into the bustling town centre for dinner. The charter boats are all back and the place is busy. We all chose to have the gyros, like the ones in Athens. For Gary and myself, having a gyros each, he a beer and me a half kilo (they call a litre a kilo) of white wine the bill was €8 total. Again, so cheap we have to stay.
With our impending departure we decide to complete our knowledge of Lavrio/Lavrion. We have just found out that walking distance away there is the oldest ampitheatre in Greece, over 3000 years old. No one looks after it or oversees anyone visiting and it was just a pity that they can't see a potential tourist venue.....charge a couple of euro to visit and use the money to reconstruct. The weather was perfect for our walk there and we had the place to ourselves.. Took some pics and started back, going to the waters edge to take some pics of what we think may have been some kind of ancient walled jetty. There on the bank was a gyros van. Checked it out. Tables and chairs out under a sun shade off the side of the van had people enjoying lunch so the decision was made that we wanted what they were having. Again for €8 we had pork skewers, grilled pita bread, tomato, onion and chips with delicious sauces plus a beer and a wine. This was really delicious and the greek god doing the cooking was run off his feet with other people arriving not just to sit and eat but for take aways as well.
On the way we checked out a small fishing fleet and took some photos, and no they aren't toys. they are actually working boats but soooooo tiny.
Dimitri our electrician had told us there was some music event happening the same afternoon. Their equivalent to blues and jazz so we thought we would take a look on the way back to the boat. Directions are not easily followed and we couldn't find the place even after asking several times. We were sorry to have missed it as we were looking forward to some Greek culture.
I must report that on 1st May they celebrated a sort of May day union rally in the main street. A lot of people with loud speakers and the familiar chanted responses from the crowd told us we were correct, but they had the added ceremony of laying wreaths at the memorial of mine workers which we understand did it tough with injustices. We could hear them from the marina and not knowing then what was going on went up the street for a look. It was a public holiday so all the shops were closed.
Must tell of Glens experience with one of the banks. He was attempting to withdraw money from the hole in the wall and when after two attempts without success, went across the road to another to try. This one took his card, the bank was closed so it was go back the next day. Then he discovered he wasn't using the correct card. Next day we left him at the bank expecting him to join us within a short time. They wouldn't give it back, even tho' he had his passport, international drivers licence, drivers licence from home and other cards. He said he had no money and wasn't leaving without his card. They wanted proof he was who he said he was from his bank in Australia . Now being Friday afternoon in Australia made for a problem. He spoke with his Australian bank asking for a fax or email to be sent to the Greek bank saying he was Glen Jones. Australia thought it a joke but asked for his passport number which he gave them and they put it in the email. It didn't matter that he had his passport with him. The Australian bank didn't really know who it was asking for the info but their email allowed the bank to return his card. It took all morning for it to sorted, as they kept telling him to come back in an hour. I told Glen to go back into the bank, stare them down and stay in their sight all the time. That's life in Greece.
We think we'll be leaving this weekend, but the weather has turned nasty so that may change. Once we leave here , I'm not sure about the strength of our hot spot, so the frequency of contact maybe reduced.
I've added some more photos into the photo gallery of past posts if you are interested.