Day 17 Athens, Greece Isolation

 I woke up at 7:20 and responded to some emails .  I selected seats for my return flight and requested an upgrade for the Chicago to Dallas segment.  My breakfast was delivered at 9:05.  My new linens and towels were delivered at 10 and I spent 30 minutes remaking the bed since the comforter cover was a bear to put on.  I got linens for both twin beds that make up the main bed, but since I only use the outside one, I just changed it.  I bagged the dirty linens and towels in their proper bag to put outside the door.  I also set out the large trash bag with all of my smaller bags of trash and food boxes.  I decided to skip ordering lunch today and got a coke and ate the leftover chocolate cake from breakfast.  

I got another call from my neighbor and she offered to give me a glass of wine for supper outside my door.  She is in one room while her husband is in another since he tested positive and she did not.  

I read and worked crosswords for most of the afternoon. I ordered the chicken snitchel for supper at 5 and it was delivered at 6, one hour early.  I think the front desk guy was afraid that since I passed on lunch, I might be too hungry to wait until 7.  My glass of wine was delivered by my neighbor about 5 minutes later.  A very nice meal.  

Had a text from Linda with HAL at 7:08 that her colleague David would call with information.  He called at 7:30 about setting up a time for a doctor to see me Friday or Saturday to give me a clear to travel letter. 

I went to bed at 10.

Day 16 Athens,, Greece Isolation

 I got up at 7:15 and answered several emails from Holland America and the insurance people.  My breakfast ordered at 9 last night was supposed to be delivered between 8 and 8:30 this morning, but when I called at 9, they said 10 more minutes.  It was delivered at 9:30 along with 4 bottles of water and Nespresso pods and tea bags.  The food was not exactly what I thought I was getting, but it was good.  My original flight got cancelled while I thought it was being taken care of.  Since they couldn't just change it they are looking at a new booking.  The first quotes were for coach and I asked if they could give me a quote on Business/First.  The coach fares were from $945 to $1035 for United (thru Dulles) or American (thru OHare).  The business class fares range from $2086 to $4876 for British Air (thru London) or United (thru Dulles).  I opted for the American coach and will just have to suffer some more.  Ordered a club sandwich for lunch at 10:40 and it should be delivered between 2 and 2:30.   Got a call about the flight requesting payment card and adding my AAdvantage number to the information at 10:50.  I bought a couple of books on Amazon for my Fire.  I took a shower at 12 and then read and worked a crossword.  As you can tell, I am living my dream.  My sandwich came at 2:08 and came with fries and was very good.   I read some more and at 5, ordered a Greek salad for supper and it was delivered at 6:50.  Huge slab of feta on top of sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and black olives.  Very tasty and filling.  For dessert, I had the banana from breakfast.  I called my eye doctor to cancel my appointment Wednesday. 

Got a call from the room next door from a lady who was on the Eurodam and her husband tested positive but she didn't but had to go into isolation also.  They had booked their own flights and they had some insurance other than the Holland America Platinum and had not heard anything from anyone about when they get out and the procedures.  I told her that I had been contacted several times by the CareFreeAssistance and the Live Travel insurance people.  It turns out they were also on the world cruise last year that ended in Freemantle/Perth and they had seen me on the Eurodam and thought I looked like someone they had seen on the world.  Had a phone call from Linda with Holland America to check on me and we chatted about books for 15 minutes.  The lady next door called again at 8:40 and she had finally been contacted by HAL and was much happier.  She said that they would test her again tomorrow and if she is still negative, they will move her to the Hyatt and she will be able to go out.  

At 9:05, I ordered breakfast for tomorrow.  I read and went to bed at 10.

Day 15 Athens, Greece Isolation

 My wake up call was at 5:15 am and the nurse came at 5:50 to administer the covid test. Another nurse came at 6:20 and gave me a N95 mask to wear instead of the Holland America one.  They loaded my luggage on a cart while another crewman sprayed my bags and all along the hall as we walked thru the guarded hall to the mid-ship elevator and down to the gangway.  I was put into a waiting car with another covid positive passenger and driven away.  The driver had plastic between his seat and the passengers.  We got to the hotel at 6:55 and check-in was a breeze.  I took pictures of my room (612) and my cleaning supplies.  Also today's menu.  I have a nice view from the balcony, but the bells at the church are quite loud.  I ordered a beef burger for lunch as I did not have breakfast this morning due to the early start all.  Allan called and checked in on me just after 12.  I read and did a crossword puzzle.  My burger came at 7 and was 2 beef patties with a lemon half, no bread.  Had a call from Linda with Holland America Line Family Assistance to check on how well the transfer from the ship to hotel took place and to explain that a local doctor will come a couple of days before I get release to give me the necessary paperwork to be allowed to fly home.  She also said she would look into the airline arrangements and that I have $150 per diem  if I want to order food from outside.  She will be checking back tomorrow.  Ordered dinner, pork snitchel, peas with potatoes which was delivered at 7.  As it turned out, the pork was served with fries and rice, so the peas and potatoes were an overkill.  The fries were a bit soggy but the pork was very good.  I got a call from someone with insurance who is going to look into changing flight arrangements.  I worked on documents for insurance and went to bed at 10.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day 14 Nafpliion, Greece Isolation Cabin

 I got up at 7:12 as we dropped anchor as this is a tender  port, not that it matters to me.  I ordered breakfast at 7:40 and it was delivered at 8:05.  Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, toast, butter jam and coffee.  After breakfast, I called guest services about information concerning cancelling my flight tomorrow and obtaining a hotel for the remainder of my isolation.  They said they would deliver the information later today.  I took a couple of pictures from my isolation cabin verandah.  Got my hotel information at 1:45 and I will be staying at the Kubic Athens Hotel during the remainder of my isolation period.  I will have to change my own linens and can exchange old for new on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.  I ordered a late lunch, early dinner at 3:15, Chicken Noodle Soup, Caesar Salad, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and iced tea.  It came at 3:45 and was better than last night's meal.  I took my shower and repacked so that I would be ready whenever tomorrow.  I just found out that I will be disembarking first at 6 am tomorrow and will have another covid test to allow them to determine what strain it is at 5:50 am.  I will probably to to bed very early tonight so I am posting this a bit early.

Day 13 Mykonos, Greece/Isolation Cabin

 I got up at 6:30 and went down to get my Covid test at 7.  I was in and out of the testing area with no waiting in just about 2 minutes.  I went to breakfast at 7:30 and then watched the sail in.  I got a phone call at 8:20 from the ship's doctor that my ainttigen test was positive and that they would be in my cabin shortly to give me a PCR test.  If that comes back negative, then all is well, if not, they would go from there. The nurse came at 8:23 and took my medical history and took the PCR swab and left me confined to my cabin at 8:30.   She said that it would take about 30 minutes or so and that she would call with the results.  At 9:20, the doctor called and my test was a positive so I am being moved to an isolation room and when I disembark, I will have to go to a hotel for 10 days before coming home.  At 11, they came to transfer me from mu cabin 5097 to my isolation cabin 6007.  l ordered a sandwich at 12 and it was delivered at 12:20 completely covered in aluminum foil on a paper plate and wooden spoon and fork.  I ate it and then worked several crossword puzzles.  Its a good thing I brought several.  At 7:10, the nurse brought my medical results papers.  I ordered diner at 7:45 and it was delivered at 8:20.   The presentation was lacking.  I read until 10 when I went to bed.

Day 12 At Sea

 I got up at 7:20 and went to breakfast at 8.  After breakfast, I started to do some packing since I have a tour on the last day before the cruise ends.  At 10, I went to get my passport back from the ship.  On this cruise, your passport is collected and returned on the deck where you reside making it much nicer than everyone going to the front desk and forming a long line.  I just saw where the 2022 Grand World Voyage scheduled for January has been cancelled along with several other Holland America cruises.   I went up to the back deck to look for Allan and Sandra, but they were not there. I did run into my favorite egg cook from the World Cruise, Zai Clavel Pasiolan.  She is working at the pizza station.  I returned to the cabin and worked on some crosswords.  At 2:30, I went up to play final bingo and bought the 6 pack of cards but only the first game was won by a paper card while the other three were won by a tablet which plays for you.  One couple won 3 of the four games including the $1000 final jackpot game.  I just don't understand the enjoyment of letting a machine play the game for you. The dress tonight was Gala Attire, so I got dressed in coat and tie and went to dinner at 8.  After dinner, I returned to the cabin and packed my slacks and jackets.  I went to bed at 10 as I have to get up at 6:30 to go have my Covid test.  Tomorrow, is Mykonos again and I do not have a tour scheduled and will probably treat it as a sea day.

Day 11 Limassol, Cyprus

 I got up at 6:40 and cancelled my 7 am wake-up call.  I went to breakfast at 7:45.  I   went down to the main stage area at 9:15 and got my sticker for the tour at 9:30 and went to the bus.  We drove for about  30 minutes to Kourion.  During the stop, i bought a bottle of water for fifty cents euro.  Besides the tour described, we also stopped at a winery and tasted about 7 or 8 of their wines including white, rose, red, blue wine and a desert wine.  During our free time, I had a chocolate ice cream cone and a Coke Zero for 3 euros.  We got back to the ship at 320 and went through security in the terminal building where they made me take off my watch and fitbit and my belt.  Regardless, I still beeped due to my knee replacements.  The dress code was smart casual and I cleaned up after working on the blog and worked some crosswords until dinner at  8.  Tomorrow, I get my passport back and the next day, I have to get my covid test.  Went back to the cabin at 9:10 and posted this entry before going to bed at 10.

 Top 3 Reasons To Book

• Kourion's Greco-Roman site, pavement mosaic remnants
• A superb Greco-Roman theatre, built in the 2nd century BC
• Omodos Village, the Monastery of the Holy Cross

Enjoy a relaxing drive through the vineyards and orchards of the Phassouri citrus groves. The day begins with a visit to the main historical attraction of this area -- the ancient ruins of the city of Kourion. This impressive Greco-Roman site features remnants of pavement mosaics, including the fine four-panel design in the central room at the House of Eustolios.

Nearby is the superb Greco-Roman theatre, built in the 2nd century BC and still used today for many performances including ancient dramas. From this beautiful and unspoiled spot perched high on a cliff, you can enjoy the dazzling view of the ruins and the sea below.

Your next stop is at the Temple of Apollo. Apollo was a significant deity of ancient Greek religion. He was the god of light, sun, poetry, music and woodlands, as well as the protector of the city of Kourion. The Sanctuary of Apollo is the largest and perhaps the most important religious center on Cyprus. It has been in use continuously from the late 8th century BC to the second half of the 4th century AD. The southwest side of the temple has been restored and excavations have revealed other structures, such as the bath complex, the pilgrim halls, the palaistra and a holy precinct.

Continue to one of the most beautiful old villages of Cyprus -- Omodos Village. Explore the Monastery of the Holy Cross with its excellent woodcarvings and old icons. You'll also see the restored Linos wine-press in an old house. Step inside some local houses to feel the age-old tradition that seems to ooze from the walls, and stroll through the narrow streets and local shops famous for their vitraux and handmade pieces of traditional stained glass.

Spend some time in the village square to enjoy the serenity of the surroundings.

Day 10 Rhodes, Greece Day 2

 I got up at 7 and went to breakfast at 8.  Today, I did not take a tour as I had been here before.  After breakfast, I returned to the cabin and worked some crosswords and edited some pictures.  At 9:45, I went our of the port, through a gate and walked around and took some picture.  I bought a T-shirt and after about an hour, decided it was too hot and I needed to save myself for tomorrow in Cyprus. 

The sail-away was at 3:30 and I went up to the aft pool and had the last of the Mariner's Special drinks and then to the middle pool bar for another drink.  We sailed at 4.  I returned to the cabin at 4:05 to get ready for the evening.  The evening dress was formal.  I went to dinner at 8 and returned to the cabin afterward.  I went to bed at 10.