Athens and Iran (OZ, TK and QR business)

[RooFlyer]

Brekky served 2 hours out of IST (tried several things to get the sideways pic to right itself; can't, sorry):



Arrive IST to a remote stand and bussed in. By the look of it, most of not all arrivals do this, as there was a constant stream of busses arrive at the point where they drop you off to enter the terminal. Massive surge of pax, arrive at transfer/immigration point and long lines, very congested. I spot a 'business fast track' line and join it. It didn't move much, while the main line kept moving. I eventually got through the single business security point at the same time as the lady who was in front of me in the general queue. While we were bunched up at the start, a guy kept appearing with a 'follow me' sign - there is evidently another processing point down the concourse; I was sorely tempted to go there, but by the time I realised the 'fast track' lane was very slow, I was sorta committed to it.

Lost half an hour of lounge time in the arrival security ... I desperately wanted to check out the fabled TK IST lounge. Unfortunately I didn't want to eat or drink at 5 in the morning, having had b'fast on the plane, and didn't have time for a shower, so it was just a rubberneck stay. Pretty OTT:

 

[RooFlyer]

My gate for the next flight: TK from IST to ATH was 702 and I gathered it was a long walk. Boarding for the 7:15 departure was 6:15, which I thought silly, but I headed off. My God, gate 702 is right at the end! Was 15 mins brisk walk. Absolute Siberia out here.



At 6:15 a lady appeared with a lectern and pax were called forward for BPO and passport checks. Slow process - obviously thoroughly done. A DYKWIA type tried to cut into the line but I showed no mercy. Later, she also pushed her way into priority boarding "Business" - but of course she wasn't. When my passport was examined, there seemed to be some sort of problem. A phone torch was brought to bear and some detail on the photo page was examined very closely. Then, smiles, OK.

Bus to a remote stand. Was a A321-200 with 4 rows of 2-2; proper J seats, not 'Eurobusiness' .



Legroom:


Newspapers and decent NC headphones:



Colourful drinks again, then quite a queue on the taxi-way and we lift off abt 10 mins late.

Breakfast menus. I thought they were alternatives, and asked for the special':



Not so much ... it was the lot! I think I know why the sideways look: I had my phone on 'portrait lock' for a while. But anyway ... who can remember Qantas business' 'Café breakfast'? All I can say in my defence was that it was 6 hours since 'first breakfast'





All in all another very good TK business flight.

 

[kermatu]

Now that's a J breakfast!

Subscribed.

 

[RooFlyer]

Plus good coffee, juice and bread. Couldn't fit it all on the table!

 

[RooFlyer]

Arrived Athens airport about 8:30am and it was practically deserted. I was first through immigration; the bags came off quickly, then walked over to the Metro station and a 10 Euro ticket to the city. Service every 30 mins, then 40 minutes to Syntagma Square (Parliament), then 50m walk to the King George Hotel. Too easy!

I'm staying 3 nights at this 4 star rated, "Luxury collection" hotel on SPG/Starwood points. The better Grande Bretagne hotel, also Starwood, and occasional home to amaroo and boomy is right next door, but was going to cost more points than I had, so I'm slumming it down the hill a bit (the white/apricot joint to the left).



Both have 'rooftop' restaurants with views over to the Acropolis, but the GB's is 2 floors higher . Also, the GB gets an armed guard at the entrance together with a green suited doorman; the KG just has only a regularly uniformed doorman. Obviously any assailants will be fought off from the Grande Bretagne and asked to attend the King George, next door.

I checked in at about 8:30am and the room wasn't ready, so I hung around the lobby for a while:





Room is adequate too (but smallest on the floor I noticed on the fire evac plan):






Had dinner at the restaurant; very early (6:30pm) as I was knackered, but it turned out to be a good time, as watched the light fade over the Acropolis, and then the lights come on.

Gazpacho was terrific:



Light fading over the rock -



Lamb noisettes with a side of moussaka was marvellous



As was the view:

 

[Dudditz]

Gearing up for a relatively simple trip, but a bit tricky in booking and execution.

The core is a 15 day small group tour of Iran; JohnM told me over a year ago that he was doing it and I thought that would be a good excuse to go. I hesitated initially as it means foregoing my ESTA to the USA, but I decided that a 'manual' B1/B2 visa to the USA would be OK. I have obtained that visa (not difficult, just time consuming) but obviously have yet to have the pleasure of entering the USA with an Iranian visa in my passport! Hmmm ... I wonder if the Iranians will hassle me for having a USA visa in my passport

Before Iran I decided to have a few days in Athens as I haven't been there before.

This is what the flights will look like (sort of):

View attachment 108404

SYD-ATH was supposed to be on SQ J, using Aeroplan miles, but a bit under a year ago when I was stalking the SQ site day by day counting down to the day when my flights should have been released ... nothing! Nor the next day. &!!@$#!? ! Nothing for it than to go to plan B - that is, the flights that were available on the Aeroplan site for the day I wanted (which, by the way is bloody good for redemptions - it gives lots of Star Alliance options etc).

So, it ended up being :

SYD-ICN on Asiana J (my first flight on Asiana and through ICN)
ICN-xIST-ATH on Turkish J (first time on TK J, and IST J lounge)

3 nights in Athens in the Royal George Hotel on Starwood points redemption (I couldn't muster boomy's and amaroo's favourite digs, its sister the Grande Bretagne next door , but it looks like it has the same views from the rooftop restaurant)

ATH-DOH-IKA on QR J using QFF points. Thanks to QR having to fly around Saudi airspace, this now has a tight connection in DOH. If I don't make it, there is another flight a few hours later.

15 days in Iran:

View attachment 108411

Yes, you have seen that map before - JohnM posted it in his current TR We were supposed to be on the same flights in and out of IKA (Tehran), but due to QRs little problem with the Gulf States, he had to change his flights, so now arrives earlier than me.

We are both getting visas on arrival, facilitated by the tour organiser. You now get a sort of VoA 'pre-authorisation' PDF and fees are paid in advance, so hopefully the process will be quicker - insha allah.

Then its IKA-DOH-MEL on QR J again using QFF points.

I can't wait. (off next Monday)

I still look back at my two week visit in November 2015 as one of my favourite trips. Don't worry about the B1/B2 us issue I've had no problems despite many visits since. Some incredible sites and even more wonderful hospitality and people in Iran you will not regret visiting.

I did a similar itinerary except a visit to Mashad instead of Kerman. Also incredibly easy to travel independently with VIP buses, flights and even the odd overnight train. Have a wonderful trip and look forward to reading your thoughts on the country.

 

[RooFlyer]

Naturally first item of business is the Acropolis. Fortunately its not difficult to find and a modest stroll from the hotel.

As with most monuments these days, its under refurbishment and repair, so the west side is heavily obscured:



As to the rest, ... well ....







Capital shot, that:

 

[RooFlyer]

I love the details and contrasts:




All the above are of the Parthenon, completed 438 BC and dedicated to Athena, the patron of the city.

Nearby is the Erectheidon, marking the spot where the two gods, Poseidon and Athena, competed to see who would be patron. Poseidon struck his trident on this spot and produced water and Athena planted an olive tree. Athena was judged to be the better.



This is the porch of the Caryatids. One of these got carted off to Britain by Lord Elgin and is in the British Museum. The 5 remaining original sculptures are in the Acropolis Museum - these are plaster replicas.

 

[Denali]

Your photos remind me of my awesome father in law, that passed last November. Thanks for the photos!

 

[OZDUCK]

Naturally first item of business is the Acropolis. Fortunately its not difficult to find and a modest stroll from the hotel.


Capital shot, that:

Being made about an Ancient Greek monument, you deserve to be ostracised for that pun.

 

[amaroo]

I hope you checked out my TR and had lunch close by

 

[RooFlyer]

I hope you checked out my TR and had lunch close by

Did indeed work off your TR, but I don't usually 'eat out' much when I'm travelling my myself, as during the day I am too busy hauling my cough around as much as possible, often covering a dozen or so km on foot and in the evening I'm often too stuffed after all that walking! (Plus solo diners usually get the worst tables and bad service.)

But after your post I decided I should live a bit, so yes, went to Strofi for dinner (another brisk 20 min walk from the hotel ...), where I got the table inside at the end, next to the fridge and, absent half bottles of wine or decent wines by the glass, suffered the house red, straight out of the fridge! Never mind, I enjoyed seeing Athens by night (Friday night) and, deciding to do some more sightseeing, got in another 4 km on the hoof .

 

[RooFlyer]

More of the Acropolis .. the Temple of Nike, recently finished restoration:



Looking down to the Ancient Agora (more of that later)



I entered the Acropolis area about 8:45, and was at the top about 9:15. The crowds then were not great; no tour groups. By about 10:30 when I started to make my way back down, the way up was chokkers.



Late morning, the light was then better at the several theatres that are on the slopes of the Acropolis

 

[RooFlyer]

And that's where the TR will pause for a while.

Checking out today, then ATH-DOH then DOH-IKA (Tehran) on Qatar Airways. Tight connection in Doha. Visa on arrival in Tehran. What could possibly go wrong?

Also, there's Greece's National Day parade, with official viewing daises' right over the metro station I'm going to use to go to the airport. 8am and already police and military everywhere. They say the metro won't close, but ...

 

[I love to travel]

Don't stay away too long and good luck with the trip to the airport

 

[RooFlyer]

Check in/ out queue; it's going to be a long day.

 

[cgichard]

A little late to ask this, but did you need to get a visa for Turkey when you were just briefly in transit at IST?

 

[RooFlyer]

Transit only in IST.

Arrived DOH on time and scooted through the airport (including re-clearing security) and was on the plane enjoying a pre departure Champers with 20 minutes to spare!!

 

[Denali]

.....View attachment 109216
....

The red scarfs are the uniform of the tour group?

I think the general rule is before 10 and after 3.30 is usually tour bus free

 

[snabbu]

At 6:15 a lady appeared with a lectern and pax were called forward for BPO and passport checks. Slow process - obviously thoroughly done. A DYKWIA type tried to cut into the line but I showed no mercy. Later, she also pushed her way into priority boarding "Business" - but of course she wasn't.

Bravo good sir