my digits

Hey everyone!

I have a cell phone here in Greece (my sister's) and the phone number is: (30)6981396032
*30 is the country code, if you're calling from a payphone in Greece you won't need that.
Please call me as soon as you land. You can buy telecards in the airport and just use the payphones with those. I bought 400 min with 4 euros. Please call me and let me know you got here safe and all that...also call if you have any questions. ok dokey.

airport info

Just wanted to give you guys some info about the Airport and getting to the bus station or downtown. As you exit the luggage area of the airport- straight across is an information counter where they can point you in the right direction. Otherwise go to your right and exit out Gate 5, there you will find taxis and busses/shuttles. If you're looking to get a shuttle to Kifisos Bus Station (the bus station to catch a bus to Sparti) take the X93 shuttle. To get to Syntagma Square and the center of downtown (where most of your hotels are located) you can take the X95 shuttle. Once you get to Syntagma square you can hop on the metro lines 2 & 3 to get to other spots around there. There are brochures at the airport with public transportation maps...lots of them.

The shuttles from the airport cost 3.20 euros. You can find out more information at the OASA website.


PS...went by the Sparta Inn the other day and the place looks so great! I'm so excited for you to stay there! There will be goodie bags waiting for you all in your rooms with lots of info and stuff. OK, take care!

PPS...my sister is here!! yay!

driving down from athens...

If you are renting a car in Greece I'm sure they will give you a map, but just keep in mind that as you are driving from Athens to Sparti, you want to follow the following signs: Corinth to Tripoli to Sparti. The signs are in Greek with English below. I downloaded a map for Southern Greece from The Ministry of Tourism (download the Southern Greece Map). It seems as you head south from Athens you take E94 towards Corinth. About 100km down, the road splits, make sure to veer LEFT towards TRIPOLI, and not right to Patra. Once past Tripoli the road narrows a bit and gets a bit winding, so just take it slow and be aware of the signs that read: Sparti.

OK, hope that helps. Safe travels!!!

Last Minute Logistics

It's come to my attention that KTEL's (the national bus company) website has been down. I'm sorry about that. Check out Matt Barrett's Athens Guide for his Kifissou Bus Schedule. I can't vouch for if it being up to date, but it's a schedule and towards the bottom you can get an idea for the frequency of buses from Athens to Sparti. Now returning to Athens they are supposedly less frequent. I'll be able to confirm this once in Greece, but the latest bus leaving Sparti for Athens is at 8PM–FYI for those leaving Sunday from Sparti and then early Monday morning from Athens.

On Renting Cars from Athens Guide:

"You can rent a car, which will give you more flexibility. If you are planning to rent a car and drive from Athens to Peloponessos check out Swift Rent-a-Car . They will pick you up at the airport or your hotel and drive you to the National road and let you by-pass the notorious Athens traffic. Great prices and very nice people. See their website at www.greektravel.com/swift.

More info about hotel:
-There is a pool on the roof (so I hear, I have not ever witnessed it, but the beach is only a half hour away by bus)!
-There are no hairdryers in the rooms, so please if you need one-pack one (with a converter!)
-They have a coffee bar downstairs, where you can order up your very own frappe!
-HOTEL PHOTOS
-they organize paintball excursions!!!!

Travel + Leisure Article

In the July issue of T+L, there is an article "(Secret) Islands of Greece" written by Eleni N. Gage (granddaughter of the Eleni of the biography of the same title which was written by her father, Nicholas). The article covers three islands off the coast of the Peloponnese: Spetses, Monemvasia and Kythera (or as they spell it, Kithira). They also have a nice sidebar column on logistics: where to stay, what to eat, etc... Check it out! (see, I was right!)

*Thanks to Rebecca for the heads up on this lil gem!

It's Greek to me!

Please click on the images to see them larger (and to be able to read them).

Also check out these following sites:
Useful Greek Phrases
Greek for Tourists
TakisNet (with audio pronunciation and a "questionable language" section, hahaha)
BabelFish (good for translation)

Beaching it in Athens

For some of you who will be in Athens for a few days and would like to partake in the famous Greek beaches without getting on a ferry and heading to an island, check out "Beaches of Athens". There are great pics and info on how to get there.

Epidaurus Ancient Theater August Festival

For those of you interested in seeing ancient operas and plays in an ancient venue, you should visit the Epidaurus Festival at the theater of the same name on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese. I actually have never been and would really love to go, they say the acoustics are amazing!! The theater is said to have been built between the 4th and 2nd Centuries BC, click here for some more history. Getting to the theater is relatively easy from what I understand. There is one main road from Athens via the Corinth Canal (the Corinth-Epidaurus Highway, ha!). You could also take a bus from Athens or a ferry from Pireaus, click here for travel info. This would make a nice lil stop, for anyone interested, on their way down to Sparta. But the shows are only Friday and Saturday nights. And ladies, remember, no high heels in the theater.