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
Tag: europe
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 25 – Istanbul
I strolled down to the Galata Bridge again this morning. As in many cities, the streets are like a gallery depicting the full spectrum of poverty and wealth, of fortune and misfortune, of happiness and despair. I tried to capture the essence of the city in my notes at the time: …minarets of many mosques, … Continue reading Big Trip Day 25 – Istanbul
Big Trip Day 24 – Istanbul
The first notes for today were recorded in a cafe at the Galata Bridge, where I enjoyed an early afternoon beer. I had spent the morning wandering around the city, soaking up the sights and sounds. It was so noisy and vibrant, the characterful hawkers broadcasting the wonders of their wares, the man playing his … Continue reading Big Trip Day 24 – Istanbul
Big Trip Day 23 – Ipsala to Istanbul
It has always been part of my personal narrative, my autobiographical memory, that I ended up in Istanbul by mistake. My original destination was Athens, but I could not find the right road out of Saloniki. That is how I found myself on the road to Istanbul - by getting lost. We know about the … Continue reading Big Trip Day 23 – Ipsala to Istanbul
Big Trip Day 22 – West of Xanthi to near Ipsala
Well, that was a very cold and uncomfortable night! Up at 05.00 hrs and on the road by 06.30 hrs. First lift was in a jeep, followed by a bone-shaking ride in a truck that took me as far as Xanthi. Never mind the bumpy ride, the scenery was lovely. And, compared to yesterday, the … Continue reading Big Trip Day 22 – West of Xanthi to near Ipsala
Psychologist on the Move 