Sensei Paul Derrick (Or Noel Coward as he is now known) was so moved by the experience and warm welcome that we had received from our host Babis Cachingkis that he wanted to share his lyrical talent with the group, so below is his poem: I invited Sensei Riley to visit me, And he issa here in Athens right now, He's also brought lots of his students, So I'sa thinking "what a wonderful cash-cow" When I invite Sensei Riley to teach for me, I'm sure it would b...

Very subdued breakfast, car packed and set off to the airport. Car handed over to the car hire company with a list of problems with the car that we had to deal with, they didn't really seem that interested. Checked bags in and noticed that the departure gate was being called, joined the queue to find out that we were going to be delayed. Jackie by this time was getting a little tetchy as she wanted another cig but couldn't go for one as we didn't know whe...

As Jackie and Rose we the only ones left in Athens we had a leisurely morning around the hotel and then hired a car for our Thelma and Louise road trip to the Corinth Canal, quick lesson in how to drive around Athens: Place hire car anywhere within the 4 lanes of tarmac (ignore the white lane markings). Press accelerator. Point the car in the general direction you want to go, but if you see something of interest on the left hand side, just pull ...

Early group breakfast, as this would be the last time that we would take over the entire breakfast balcony together. Sob, Sob.. Everyone apart from Rose and Jackie were leaving for home today and met downstairs with their suitcases waiting for the coach to arrive and take them back to the airport. In true Greek tradition, the coach was fashionably late. The leaving party boarded the coach and as the coach pulled away Jackie and Rose felt so deflated...

It was decided the evening before that some of the group, now known as the Ancient Architectural Greek Enthusiast Appreciation Society (AAGEAS) wanted to visit the Parthenon, the other part of the group (now known as the stones and rubble party - SARP) couldn't be bothered as we'd seen it every day from the breakfast balcony. The groups consisted of: AAGEAS - Simon Stanton, Simon Barrand, John, Ian, Shaun, Keith and Shannon. SARP - Shane, Paul Derrick, Tony, A...