You are so kind to have sent me all of this information. We do indeed arrive in Athens at 4:30 am on Thursday, May 18 and we shall do as you say. If we miss our plane, we will go directly to Piraeus and catch the catamaran We will be in Greece until June 4 when we depart via London to Boston again.

We usually stay at the Grand Bretagne when we are in Athens (always for one night only as we are addicted to the islands) -- Can you recommend another hotel, near that area -- perhaps not quite as expensive and much smaller? (we always stay in rented rooms or persions in the islands)

We have been to your fabulous country five times for the past 6 years -- only going to Corsica last year-- because of the war and so much anti-American sentiment in Athens at that time. We have visited the mainland, Athens, Sounion, Delphi and the islands of Samos, Patmos, Paros, Naxos, Santinorini, Crete, Rhodes, Karpathos, Ios, Folegandros and Sifnos (...our favorites being Folegandros, Sifnos and Karpathos - though it's very hard to pick favorites -- we love each of them for their individuality and beauty) We always come in May -- when the people are not rushed and have time to be with us, when all of the beautiful wild flowers are in bloom, when the geraniums and bougenvilla are hanging from window boxes, and we stay in rented rooms overlooking the beautiful Aegean!! How fabulous it all is! We are so lucky to be able to do this! We are hikers and especially liked hiking in Karpathos and Sifnos! (The beaches that one has to hike to are exquisite!)

This year we are starting on Naxos and hope to visit her outer islands, then on to Amorgos and Astypalaia. Do you know Amorgos or Astypalia?

We would love to get together with you in Athens for a drink or perhaps dinner if you'd like. Thank you so much again! Your information is very helpful. We are so excited to again return to Greece!!! Regards, Susie Kaplan Newton, MA