March 9, 2018 our first full day in Sydney, Australia

March 10,2018

Sydney Radisson Blu Hotel.

Impression- great place- good service from all the staff and very good lunch and breakfast buffet the nest morning. 

Centrally located as promised by the travel agent.

Glad we’re are staying there again when we return from the cruise and several more times during our tours.

It was close to the cruise terminal , Circular Quay and the Opera House. We heard the Queen Mary II was in port so we walked down to see her, the opera house and the Harbor Bridge.

We stopped at cafe along the promenade for coffee and crepes. Afterwards we went into a nice gift shop to shop for local souvenirs planning to go back and buys souvenirs on our last day in Sydney so we don’t have to pack them around on our travels.

On our way to Australia and New Zealand March 7,2018

we have been planning a trip to Australia for almost a year now and today we left on this trip.
We chose to fly on Qantas in premium economy class. Interesting that the flight leaves at 8:45 pm and arrives two days later at 6:45am.


We boarded the aircraft and found our seats to be very confortable and a good amount of leg room.
We were offered drinks before takeoff as well as a menu for dinner and breakfas)t.

After take off Darren came around to take drink 🍸 orders.
Later dinner was served on real china plates- all food and drinks were served on plates and glasses.


Once all the meals/plates were cleared away the cabin lights were dimmed (10:30pm) and I read and Sophia watched 3 billboards. We slept until 6am.
Around 9am breakfast was served along with the best coffee.
The 14 hour flight went by quickly since we slept some of the time and Darren gave us excellent service. He found out we were Greek and he grew up with lots of Greek friends, learned Greek from them and spent layovers in Thesolonica and Kalamata.



March 9


At the border control there is an passport system and since we had electronic visas we put our passports into the kiosk and get a pass , stand before a camera and continue. I was told to go to service assistance desk and wait for a border agent to inspect my passport and then let me through to go to baggage claim. We got ou. bags, found our driver and went to our hotel , the Radisson Blue.
 Ecause got to the hotel at 9am our room was not ready.
We had breakfast in the lounge and now waiting till noon on to check in.



We took a walk in the afternoon down to Circular Quay to see the Queen Mary II. It was really a nice view of the ship docked across from the iconic Opera House.  We walked along side this and then alon the promonade taking photos of the ship and the Opera House.
We walked done to the tourist area and looked at the shops, stopped for a dessert and coffee and then made our way back to our hotel.

The concierge recommended the Athenian Restaurant for dinner so off we went to experience a Greek meal.
We looked at the menu and there were very few traditional Greek foods. Speaking to the only Greek waiter we found out the business was sold in Dec. to new owners who changed the menu.
We ordered what the waiter recommended and the food was very good.
Back to the hotel to rest and get ready for our New Zealand 🇳🇿 cruise tomorrow.

Dinner at Taverna Opa in Orlando, FL July 2017

We were in Orlando to attend the AHEPA National Convention at Disney World. One of the advertisers in the AHEPA program was the Taverna Opa. Since we had a free night I researched Tripadvisor to get reviews of the restaurant. All reviews were positive but mentioned loud music.

The music and entertainment started at 7 pm so I made reservations for dinner at 6pm so we could have a quiet dinner and stay for the entertainment.

The place was packed with large parties when we walked in at 6. We were seated in a table close to where the food was prepared - open kitchen  concept and we could see the whole dining room and bar.

The menu had a lot of appetizers and meat and fish entrees. We ordered cocktails and several appetizers to start.

 After the food and drink was served we ordered dinner- my wife the roast lamb and potatoes and I the lamb chops.

The appetizers were delicious and the dinner divine. My wife said the roast lamb and potatoes not only reminder her of her Mom's version but maybe even better. Major compliment.
My lamb chops were cooked to perfection and very tasty.

After dinner we had coffee and Ekmet which was very very good.

Now it was around 7 and the Dj started playing music and the belly dancer came out and started dancing. Some young girls climbed on tables and danced and then more guests got on tables to dance.
See video below- much more on Youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_referrer=watch&video_id=8KTiaTEYKG0

There were lots of birthdays and  the birthday boy or girl got on the table with the belly dancer and the waiter brought a cake with a giant sparkler ablaze.

Same time the waiters and waitresses started throwing napkins in the air and it was snowing napkins all over while the DJ played a lot of Greek music and some popular music.

What a show! What fun!

Got a photo with the belly dancer...

Then the belly dancer led a group of diners in a line dance all around the restaurant and then suddenly a second belly dancer appeared and danced all around the dining room.

We stayed a while and enjoyed the festivities before we called it a night.

This is a must visit place if you find yourself in Orlando.

Jan. 6, 2017 Epiphany in Tarpon Springs

We always wanted to go to Tarpon Springs Florida to celebrate Epiphany and in Dec. we decided to make plans and go.

The trip involved flying to Tampa stopping in Houston to change planes as there are no non stop flights.

We rented a car and drove to the Hampton Inn in Tarpon Springs on Jan. 5, 2017.
At our hotel was a group of  70 students and their parents who would be dancing at the glendi after the diving for the Cross.

The next morning we drove down to the Church and parked behind the hall and went into Church around 9:30 am and it was standing room only.
Before we entered the Church we saw some of the young men who will be diving for the cross and an Icon.

We had spoken   to other folks who have attended this event and they said it was not possible to stay for the end of the Liturgy and then be able to get down by the Bayou to see the Blessing of the Cross and the throwing of the Cross so we were advised to leave before the Liturgy ended to get a place at the park so we can watch everything.

The distance to the park from the Church is a few blocks and the street was blocked off for the parade and procession. On the way down to the Spring Bayou we passed the local AHEPA chapter house which was selling food outside and refreshments and coffee and danish inside.

Inside the AHEPA house

We found a spot on the lawn at Spring Bayou Park and waited for the Liturgy to end- about 1 1/2 hrs after we waited in the park.  There was a large crowd of people at the park to witness the Throwing of the Cross.

Then the parade started down the street from Church to the park.

 There they all gathered on the dock and blessed the boys who were going to dive for the Cross. Once the prayers were over the boys swam to rowboats moored in front of the dock to await the throwing of the Cross into the water by Archbishop Demetrios.

Once  the Cross entered the water all the boys jumped into the water and one boy did get the Cross and he got a trophy and was carried on the shoulders of the other divers to the Church.

 two of the divers

divers with commemorative towels

There was a festival in the Church hall with food and music that was scheduled to end at 11pm. The hall holds 1,000 people and it was packed.

We had gyros, souvlaki, fries and loukamadethes for lunch and watched the dance groups and crowd dance.

We spent several days in Tarpon Springs and had planned to go to Clearwater and see the beach and walk around but there was a cold spell and some rain. 

We did go daily to the Sponge Docks and eat lunch and dinner and shop. We met some friends for dinner too.

One place that was recommended for lunch was Mr. Souvlaki and they had the biggest portions of food I ever saw. Here is a photo of a gyro which was enough for two people to eat.

Good place for a meal but remember portions are gigantic so order accordingly.

We had a wonderful time here and plan to make the trip again next year. If you get a chance make the journey to witness this joyful event.

(soon there will be direct flights on United from San Francisco to Tampa which will make the journey easier.)

Tarpon Springs High School student retrieves the cross in 111th Annual E...

Epiphany 2016 in Tarpon Springs, FL in 4K