Jan 28, 2021: Patra

After a couple of days with clouds, storm and colder weather,
back to cold early in the morning but nice during the day.
I know, I forgot to take my socks off...

Stupid dog..

In the past week it has been as cold as it gets in the winter, but apart from a sweater and, in in the evening, a down jacket I have not needed any extra heat. Which is good, because the olive tree branches do not want to burn on their own in the fireplace.

Bari - Patras

5 years ago was my introduction to Patras.

I had a flight from Berlin to Bari in Italy. From there I took 2 trains from Bari to Monopili and stayed at a house a friend of mine had rented, for 5 days.

Jan 21
Walked around the old Town.

The stores are open 7 days a week, but closed between 13.00-17.00 and sunday afternoons.

Jan 22
It rained last night, but today blue skies! Cold wind though.

The main square in Monopoli.

Jan 23
Visited the Basilica today.

 Basilica interior.

 I have never seen such intricate stone work.

 Building at the street of Purgatory.

 Tough flowers (cyclamen) in the seawind.

 Retaining wall

Monopoli started out as a fishing village

Jan 26
Taking the ferry boat today from Bari to Patras.
I have a very long day ahead, arriving in Patras after 16 hours on a boat. and of course last night it was noisy outside.
Got on a train from Monopoli to Bari at 13.22, arrived at Bari Centrale 35 minutes later. Walked out the building (towards track 1) to where the buses were stationed. (I had to take bus #20/, not to be confused with bus #20), waited 20 minutes for it. Paid 1 euro and after a 15 minutes ride, arrived at the cruise/ferry terminal.
The blue building is where you get the boat tickets and is also a waiting area.

 I had a hot chocolate and bruschetta while I waited for check-in, which was at 17.30.

 The ANEK Superfast II, going to Patras. Completely Greek, with Greek television.....

The ship has a comfortable indoor seating area, (You can also sit outside)

If it is not busy you can stretch out over 3 chairs.
Wifi (5 euro until arrival in Patras), store, a cafe and a restaurant.

I just heard that we are ready to leave. Arriving in Patras tomorrow at 13.00 hour.

Jan 27 
08.30
Arriving in Igouminitsou, We are no longer in the Adriatic Sea but are now in the Aegian Sea.
Stretched out over 4 seats, too bad there were 3 heavy snorers in the room.
The stop in Igouminitsou was 15 minutes Sunrise was at 07.00, blue sky!
12.30
In Patras I was the first pedestrian of the boat. Good that I did because it took me 10 minutes to walk to the bus station, where the Athens bus was leaving at 13.00! The next bus was at 15.00. The fare was 20.60 euro.
16.30
Arrived at the Kifissia bus station, and took line 51 to Omonia Square, Ticket was 1.20 euro. From there I walked to the hotel.
16.55
Arrived at the Aristoteles hotel. 

Jan 21, 2021: Patra

 Last Monday, primary schools and stores that were closed during the lockdown have reopened. I noticed it last Wednesday on my run along the port. Lots of parked cars, the train was busier. Today I walked on the main shopping street, (I had to go to Protergia to pay the electric bill) a lot of people shopping. 

New decorations on Platia St George, for Carnaval. 

Carnaval is big in Patras, not so much the rest of Greece, Must be the Italian influence. Last year was cancelled because of Corona, this year?? Don't know.

Jan 16, 2021: Patra

 Today, I hate to admit, the weather was no good. Cold wind from the North, with intermittent rain.
This morning I ran with my winter jacket on, gloves and winter headband. After running I walked to the Farmers market in downtown Patras. No longer my gloves, it warmed up enough. When I got back home, I got the wood fireplace started, first time, so far.....

Jan 12, 2020: Patra

 

Ferry Boat docked between Christmas and New Year

Last train stop on the West side

Flowers, in January

Post Office- Patras

Last Friday there was a post office notice in the mail box: a package from Germany could be picked up.
It was send from Germany 1 month ago....

Anyway, I went on the 07.10 train to the second train stop (Lidl) (The opening hours of the post office are between 07.30-14.45). I was second in line and had to wait about 10 minutes. I missed the train going back home by 2 minutes. So, I walked to the ocean and then to the downtown train stop.

Warm South-West wind blowing from North Africa the past 2 days, it was about 20 degrees Celsius at 07.00am. Yesterday the warmest day in 50 years. In Crete (same latitude as Tanger in Marocco), it was 25 degrees Celsius.

Jan 04, 2021: Patra

 Yesterday evening stormy weather arrived, it started raining and that continued today. A serous rain. I ran in it and walked in it. At first I am trying to avoid pools of water on the ground so that my shoes don't get wet (I hate wet socks), but after a while my shoes, socks, clothes and myself are wet anyway, so it does not matter anymore.
As I am typing this (it is now 14.30), it stopped raining........

Jan 01, 2021: Patra

I ran in the New Year.

I have been doing that the past 28 years. Roosters were crowing this morning, usually that happens around 05.30, but today it was at 02.45. I got up, not sleepy anymore anyway, and in the basement I put a basket full of laundry in the laundry machine. 

It rained last night and there were still a lot of clouds. Yesterday I had downloaded Stephen Chow's movie "Shaolin Soccer" and I made a DVD file out of it while waiting for the washing to be finished. The washing was done at 04.45 , I took it upstairs and hanged it on the  balcony and slept another 90 minutes until 07.30. Got up and the clouds were fading out. 

Blue skies! A metaphor of sorts, raining out 2020 and sunshine welcoming 2021!

I took the train (surprised, it was running) at 08.10, got out at the second stop and ran 3 miles.

after that, I walked back another 1.5 miles to the Patras station where I took the train back home.