Greek Adventure, prelude

My trip started with a late night flight out of Sydney on Etihad to Abu Dhabi then on to Athens. First time on this airline, chosen as it links with Virgin Australia so and could get ff points & status. Had front row in business class on an A340-600, a new plane for me. Excellent service with one of the new-style seats that made a true flat bed. Despite the seemingly unusual layout it actually worked and was a very comfy way to spend a flight. The 1-2-1 layout meant I had a seat to myself near the window.

Actually the trip started in even better style with a limousine transfer from work to the airport. Car was a very stylish Audi A8 with an excellent driver. Great way to deal with evening traffic in Sydney. Check in was easy then I spied a large group of school girls who turned out to be the Tara girls heading off on the Art/History tour of Italy. Chatted with Stephanie, the science teacher from Tara who I know. They were on Emirates rather than Etihad though. Etihad use the Air NZ Koro lounge at Sydney airport, quite spacious but relatively empty that time of night.

The food on Etihad was excellent, went with the Arabic influenced dishes. Entertainment system was pretty good, a large screen but otherwise compared with Qantas A380 system seemed to have fewer choices but enough for the trip.

Flying into Abu Dhabi was my first experience of the region. Sparse and harsh but obviously lots of new development. The airport terminal 3 that is dedicated to Etihad seems rather cramped though new. The business class lounge was rather crowded and cramped too though there are showers in the spa where I also managed to get a 15 min chair massage for my back.

Next leg was on an A320. very spacious seat with excellent legroom. As business class was not full the passenger next to me was able to move giving us both 2 seats to ourselves. Again, food and service was excellent giving me a very comfortable 4 1/2 hrs or so to Athens.

Athens airport seemed empty. I was first through an emty immigration hall then my luggage came out quickly. Had a 20 minute wait for the Metro then on into the city. By the time I got into town the sky was brightening from the rain that greeted me on landing. On leaving the Syntagma station and orientating myself I soon found my hotel, the Athens Diamond Plus. To say that my room in the new part of the hotel was white is an understatement. The room redefined whiteness! Unfortunately the free wifi never seemed to work with either my iPad or iPhone and the TV signal kept dropping out otherwise the room was very comfortable, and white!