ATHENS, AN UNFORGETABLE CITY

ATHENS, AN UNFORGETABLE CITY

The trip was a bit unusual, because one of his colleagues did not show up on time for boarding and the plane doors were already close by, when suddenly appear the other partner; leather jacket, neatly combed hair and a yellow smile, said: yeah .... Traffic was complicated. That said, sat down and started talking to the stewardess about the hand luggage.

Galeao Airport to Frankfurt and then Athens, old airport Ellinikon. We took a taxi and luckily was a driver who had worked embarked on flag Greek ships and knew well the addresses of the shipowners, who would visit in Athens and Piraeus. We come to call him "Sailor", very communicative, was soon talking about the best restaurants, hotels, easier attractions to visit. He drove the taxi by  the coastal avenue towards Athens, Piraeus, as it was mid-September, the summer was coming to an end, despite this, was quite hot, crowded beaches and a splendid blue sky .

We arrived at the hotel, rested a bit and went out to dinner, following Avenue Iron Politechniou we took a cross to Akti Moutsopoulos Avenue, near the various marinas. It is a pleasant boulevard with marinas on one side and the other a dazzling trade, with many shops, malls, mcdonalds, bars and restaurants. Young people, always cheerful talking sitting in cafes, women, well dressed to the nines chose clothes, bags and many ephemeral articles, peculiar to female use.

The next morning day, Sailor, was already waiting on for the first visit of the day. As a psychological issue and not logistics, we decided to make first visits to shipowners located in Piraeus, the city where is the hotel that we were staying. If things did not turn out as planned, we had time to return to base to change plans. Sailor drove and showed the historical sites explaining each. Would not let the cold coffee cup kept on the dashboard, a kind of "coffee shake" local custom, he said, to get always connected.

We visited two offices of shipowners on this first morning, the first visit, it was not very productive, as we were dazzled with ancient buildings contrasting with the modern part of the town and little bit confused with the local summer time zone (+5) hours,  in relation to Brazil. In the following days, the meeting became more routine and productive, we had already acquired the technique and learning regarding to the local business culture. We went for lunch and as we talked, we noticed that someone was watching us. With surprise, was a Brazilian who worked as a "surveyor" expert naval survey for a major world classification society.

We talk about the hospitality of the Greek people, the city of Athens with all its historical and cultural relevances, describes some of Brazil and when he confided to us that in certain Brazilian port, a vessel that had been held back for condition survey, and needed urgently to carry out some structural repairs. We asked the sipowner´s name, He replied that for ethical reasons could not provide us, therefore, we  insist and  agreed only to mention the name of the ship. Next day we called the owner of that ship and  got to schedule a meeting.

We inform to Sailor the address, saying  he had to be fast because it was a very important visit. The man then turned the taxi into a fireball in the streets of Athens. Thank God, we come full to the site. The whole building belonged to the shipowner company, was an imposing company with a large fleet of ships. The impressive reception, wide, with four attendants dressed in company uniforms, always solicitous and smiling. After we walk a long corridor, we entered the immense room director, with a very white skin rug, sinking our feet to be walked on. We talked at length about the service and repair Schedule, finally, He  agreed that we send a cost spreadsheet, for the first leg services.

Leaving glyfada in Athens, returned to Piraeus, quite pleased by the course of business, we take the Av. Posidonos, the seaside, when the driver decided to spend the marina Flysvou to celebrate the success of the meeting. We ate some seafood, greek salad, juice and took a taxi to return.

                             (the author enjoying a late afternoon in Athens under the mediterranean Sun)

Along the way, we were surprised by another feature, taxi drivers in Athens and Piraeus, usually take separate passengers in the same vehicle, provided they agree with each other. At the event, Sailor, stopped at a young lady nodded, he asked if we could take her, half surprised, agreed. Payment of the race is equivalent to kilometers traveled.

The works was about  finishing, we take the a free weekend to visit the Acropolis, we bought a tour package provided by the hotel. Arriving at the headquarters of the tour company, we were introduced to a pleasant atmosphere which reproduced an ancient Greek village. There were settlers in native dress, food, folk dances, such as the traditional dance of breaking plate (Greek Sirtaki) immortalized in the excellent film Zorba the Greek and the odd and masterful performance of Antony Quinn in the role of Zorba.

Elapsed presentations, we got up to the Acropolis, a rocky hill with colossal buildings, such as the Parthenon with its majestic columns, despite the times, gives us a view of the splendor and opulence they lived in the so-called "mythological gods" when contemplating the entire city landscape, through the plateau of this hill that rises about 150 meters above sea level.

To be continued on the next post

Author´s full details:

Paulo Oliveira S.Silvano

lawyer -

Extension in maritime law (shipping, oil & gas, loss and averages, etc.)

"Expertise" in ports - having worked for 10 years in VALE ports.

Maritime repairs and Agency.

email: paulosilvano.juridico@gmail.com

Linkedin: BR.linkedin.com/in/paulosilvano

http://paulosilvano.blogspot.com.br