Set aside another camping spot there Vagelis,
I just booked my flights today!

That's great, Frank! ok.
You know, I 've always had the feeling that you 'd come, one way or another.
Leon would be very dissappointed if you wouldn't!
What is your flight schedule?

I hope you will not be as rude as John
Gee, we were talking to him during the night, and he wouldn't move at all.
Standing (or sitting) still, he preferred to turn his back to us, rather than taking his eyes off the Scorpius-Sagitarius region :shock:

John, we all very glad meeting you
And sure wish to meet again!

Wonderful news!
Our tents and scopes will be yours for this July weekend!

Vagelis what do you think?
Are they gone talk with us or Sagitarius?

Que sera, sera, whatever will be, will be, Yiannis!

Wonderful news!
Our tents and scopes will be yours for this July weekend!

Vagelis what do you think?
Are they gone talk with us or Sagitarius?

You guys don't stand a chance Sagi and Scorpius will win out I'm afraid.

You guys don't stand a chance Sagi and Scorpius will win out I'm afraid.

Never mind John!
We'll do the homework and laundry

We'll do the homework and laundry

For those not in the know laundry means bedroom exercise.

So be careful not to mention how often you hand wash.

Frank - Good man I see you have decided to go.
I can guarantee that you won't regret it.
You may find it tough to put some time aside for photography of the sky, but it is one thing I should have spent more time on. The pictures I took were hurried and not done carefully. I also only had a fixed tripod to work with so exposure time was limited. Block out a couple of hours on whatever clearest night you get, and make the most of it. This is my only regret for the trip, that I wasn't more careful and took more time.

I need some quick answers :!: in order to make hotel reservations for you (for Wednesday, 2nd July).
See my previous message.

Plan B is abandoned, so we follow Plan A. We need daylight to set up the tents.

Dave Lillis and Michael O' Connell, I DO have your flight schedule.
Dave Grennan and Frank Ryan, I have NOT your flight schedule yet.

Is it the same flights for all 4 of you :?:
Do you all agree with Plan A :?:

Plan A
We pick you up from Athens Airport upon your arrival, give you a lift to a Athinais Hotel*, then you take some rest, and in the evening we all go out for dinner and/or a drink at downtown Athens historical center, enjoying the view of Acropolis. In the next morning, we pick you up from the hotel and we drive to the observing site. We arrive at about noon.

* www.athinaishotel.gr/default_en.htm
It's nice and clean, situated by a metro station (subway), not far from city center, and very convenient for picking you up on our way to Parnon the next morning. Prices: Single room 65 euros, double or twin room 80 euros (40 euros each person), triple room 96 euros (32 euros each person) - all prices include breakfast.


Plan B
We pick you up from Athens Airport and we drive directly to the observing site. We arrive well after midnight. No observing, because we will all be tired. We just settle ourselves in the George Pierce refuge. In the next morning we start enjoying our 4 days in heaven.

As for Sunday 6th July, day of your departure, DO BRING your swimming suits with you. We will stop at Kineta Beach, on our way to the airport, for a couple of hours swimming/relaxing and having lunch.

Wasn't it a great idea to have a swim at Kineta, John?

Vagelis,

Yes stopping for a swim on the way to the airport was a great idea. There are no shower facilities at the refuge so if you want to be allowed on the plane home a swim will de-scent you.
One thing I would suggest though is to find the route to the beach - I picked up some sea-urchin spines in my heel, probably just unlucky, but there'd be less chance at the sandy beach. I got 'erself to dig some out with a needle and the rest fell out after soaking in salt water (I have since heard that soaking in a Vinegar solution is the medical treatment).

The Hotel Athinais is fine, if a bit noisy (traffic) at night. Then again I can't imagine anywhere in Athens centre as being quiet. The traffic there makes Dublin traffic seem like Lisdoonvarna - seriously.

Ooops, so we had some side-effect casualties Sorry John!
Well, this time we won't have only 15 minutes. We will spend over an hour at an organized beach with sand, see-beds, sol-umbrellas, etc.

On which floor was your room?
Maybe I can ask for rooms in the highest floors, from where the traffic noise maybe isn't so much disturbing.

Well,
I'll be on the same flight as Mike and Dave.
Plan B sounds the best!
and as for the swim on the way back...awesome!

I can't believe how much work you are putting into this for us!

It's soooo appreciated!

Frank,

Plan B is abandoned, so we follow Plan A.

We will be staying in the hotel on the first night after we arrive.

Vagelis,
Pencil me in for a single room please.
Many Thanks,

Vagelis,
Pencil me in for a single room please.

OK Michael. Done.

yes, me also, we'll all be arriving fairly late, so I'm not sure what we'll be doing afterwards that night.

yes, me also

OK Dave. Done.

Vagelis,

No worries - no infection - foots fine.
I stayed on the 4th floor but to be honest I can't see any floor making any difference to noise levels - it's just the way it is. Athens is a noisy city wether at 4.00pm or am.

Michael, if I was you I'd bunk down with someone in your group. Your only going to be staying in the hotel one short night - may as well save some Euros, after all when you reach Mt Parnon if you stay in the refuge you could be bunking with 30, or even in a tent with at least two. But its not a problemo.

BTW - Vagelis snores so avoid 'im (Kiriakee can attest).
No offence Vagelis I probably kept you up all night snoring too..... :oops:

Sorry!
I missed that.
A single room for me also so please!

Thanks.

...me also...

OK Frank. Done.
What about Dave Grennan?
Dave, I have sent a PM and an e-mail to you.

Athens is a noisy city wether at 4.00pm or am.

Right.

BTW - Vagelis snores so avoid 'im (Kiriakee can attest).
No offence Vagelis I probably kept you up all night snoring too..... :oops:

OK, I admit it, I snore, but Kyriakee says my snoring sounds like music to her ears
And you remember Parnon Rule Nr 1: "Kyriakee is ALWAYS right!"
You don't really snore, John. And no matter how hard you try, you won't ever snore as melodically as I can!

Parnon Rule Nr 1: "Kyriakee is ALWAYS right!"

:roll: No doubts! :roll: (Who dares not to agree a?)

Vagelis,
Women are always right, even when they are wrong.
This doesn't just apply to Mt. Parnon - it applies everywhere.
I'm surprised you haven't learned this already!
:wink:

Oh, yes :wink:

BTW, what's the story with toilet facilities?
Do we look for the nearest bush?

What about Dave Grennan?
Dave, I have sent a PM and an e-mail to you.

Hi Vagelis. Sorry about the late reply as I have been out all day.

My flights are booked. Same flights as the other guys.

AER LINGUS EI442
non-stop Dublin
14:30 Wed 02 Jul 2008 Athens
20:30 Wed 02 Jul 2008 Economy
AER LINGUS EI443
non-stop Athens
21:30 Sun 06 Jul 2008 Dublin
23:55 Sun 06 Jul 2008 Economy

Vagelis, I would like to stay in a single room in the hotel on the first night if that is possible.

Thanks again and I look forward to seeing you in July.

Given the size of the tent (skinny - greek for tent) I brought, I didn't want to put people off. My tent was quite small and whereas Dave Grennan might have found it adequate

Oi!!!! Who are you calling shorty??