The day began with Liz and I hitching a ride to Pirgos in an open truck. We caught a bus from there to Krestena. We got two quick lifts in vans carrying milk churns between villages. I lost my sunglasses on the first ride due to the wind, but it was fun. We then picked … Continue reading Big Trip Day 53 – Olympia to Andretsaina
Author: Derek Lee
I was born in Croydon, South London and eventually settled in Northamptonshire. After more than 30 years as a clinical psychologist in the NHS, my welcome retirement finds me dabbling in bits and pieces - e.g., writing, running, martial arts and photography.
Big Trip Day 52 – Oh Olympia, my Olympia
This place is starting to grow on me, notwithstanding my failure to leave it. Today I toured the ruins again, this time with my new Australian friend Liz. Actually, the site starts to have more meaning this time round and starts to resonate with me. Not passing through it but passing with it. We saw … Continue reading Big Trip Day 52 – Oh Olympia, my Olympia
Big Trip Day 51 – Olympia
Emerged from my sleeping bag around 09.00 hrs. Spent a bit of time playing with the dog that was making all the noise last night. Doug had talked about The Hound of the Baskervilles, which was quite accurate given the ferocity of the barking. However, as is often the case, the dog was actually quite … Continue reading Big Trip Day 51 – Olympia
Big Trip Day 50 – Tripoli to Olympia
I picked up my first lift of the day after being on the road for an hour. It was a short lift in a van with a Greek poultry farmer who had an Australian accent. My notes record that 10 minutes later I got another lift from the same guy. No idea what happened! I … Continue reading Big Trip Day 50 – Tripoli to Olympia
Big Trip Day 49 – Athens to Tripoli
The day began with another of my valiant attempts to leave a town or city. In the end I caught a bus to Elfesis, a thirty minute ride to the north-west of the city. I soon picked up a lift in the rain on the back of a motorcycle that took me the couple of … Continue reading Big Trip Day 49 – Athens to Tripoli
Big Trip Day 48 – Athens again
Unusually, I did not record anything in my travelogue for this day - 29th May, 1973. The next entry in my diary was written on 1st June, but does make reference to what happened on 30th and 31st May. So, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to write about today. The … Continue reading Big Trip Day 48 – Athens again
Big Trip Day 47 – Athens
Today is Monday and all the museums are closed. My travelogue records that I just spent the day wandering around Athens alone. That is not as sad as it sounds. I was soaking up the sights and sounds of the city, marvelling at glimpses of the Acropolis as I turned various street corners. It seemed … Continue reading Big Trip Day 47 – Athens
Big Trip Day 46 – Athens
A little clarification to begin today's story. In Day 44's post, I provided a clue for my next destination - the "Edinburgh of the south". This was of course an alllusion to Edinburgh's sobriquet - the "Athens of the north". I really don't know where these ideas come from. Today was about sightseeing, and where … Continue reading Big Trip Day 46 – Athens
Big Trip Day 45 – Izmir to Athens
A day of timings and movement. Firstly, a bus to the airport at 11.40 to catch the 13.15 flight. This was in a DC9. Arrived at Athens airport at 14.00 after a smooth flight. It took me about an hour to clear passport control, baggage collection and customs. I also changed some money. I caught … Continue reading Big Trip Day 45 – Izmir to Athens
Big Trip Day 44 – Izmir
My travelogue entries for today include a recap of last night, when the USAF guy and I went to the "Kulture Park" in the city. This was basically a small fairground with balloon sellers, shooting stalls, a big wheel and chain swings. There was also a sad little zoo. This morning we visited the Roman … Continue reading Big Trip Day 44 – Izmir
Psychologist on the Move 