Air Canada and Star Alliance

I just returned from an arduous flight to and from Athens Greece from Vancouver.  I'd just like to thank Air Canada and it's staff for the excellent service.  I flew Aegean and Lufthansa as well. I believe this is part of the whole Star Alliance program.  Air Canada check in staff were gracious, friendly and helpful on the flight out.  They were extremely helpful with my connections in Montreal and Frankfurt. Everything on the way out was superb with great service on board the jets and excellent pilotting and landing.  A joy to be a traveller with this kind of service.
On the way back Aegean Airlines book my luggage through to Vancouver. The flight from Athens to Munich was without a hitch.  Great stewardess and a delightful flight in a marvellous airplane.  In Frankfurt the Lufthansa carrier was hit with a horrible snow storm that had us delayed an hour.  We had to wait in line for de icing and yet through out the pilot was cordial and informative  Despite some bumpiness initially the flight was a delight with great service.
Due to the slowness at Security, change of staff, and Heathrow Airport problems I didn't make the connection for my airplane.  I was infuriated but the Air Canada staff at Heathrow were simply amazing. Understanding my frustration at missing a plane by minutes, they set to finding me alternative arrangements to get me back to Canada.  I wasn't going to arrive at 5 pm as planned but they were able to get me back to Vancouver by 1 am the next morning This would allow me to keep my clinic obligations and cause limitted disruption in my work schedule.  Naturally it would be a hassle and extra strain but it was a solution that I was extremely thankful for. It was clear too that the Air Canada staff were there for me wanting to help me in every way possible and understanding of my tiredness, frustration and desire to meet my obligations by getting back as soon as possible.
In Vancouver 1 30 am I was without my luggage as somehow it got caught up in Customs without me being there to collect it when it arrived and I didn't.  Again the baggage staff were excellent, kindly taking information, offering solicitous remarks, tolerating my peevishness after 30 plus hours of flight and travel. The trouble was that I'd forgotten to take my car keys out of the luggage so now couldn't pick up my car in long term parking. Further there were no taxis at the domestic airlines terminal but fortunately there were at the International.
The next day my luggage was found by Air Canada. They were again extremely helpful and shipped my luggage to me by courier as I wasn't able to 'drive' out and pick it up. With my car keys I was able then to taxi to the airport and retrieve my car.
Travelling internationally with several airplane carriers and all the various personnel is a huge achievement.  The airlines are truly amazing in what they have accomplished for passengers and communications worldwide.  Air Canada outdid itself to help me personally and I'm extremely thankful for their assistance.  The airlines were all star for me in this Star Alliance. Air Canada shone the brightest of all with it's helpful personnel in the airports, in booking and on the flights.  Thank you Air Canada!

Nicholas Gysis Exhibition -Theocarakis Foundation, Athens, Greece, Dec. 2012

I just happened on this wonderful art gallery walking along Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, a place of museums and diplomatic buildings. Nicholas Gyzis, great painter, 1842 to 1901. He was born in Tinos Greece but died in Munich where he studied and taught painting. "Throughout my life I dreamed." N. Gyzis "Gysis was particularly drawn to music and poetry and had expressed a wish to become a musician or poet if he was ever born again" Dr. N. Misirli

Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens, Greece, Dec.10,12

The Museum of Cycladic Art is one of the most elegant and refined museums I've been in. It's not large but has a lovely cafe where I am right now and a book store with high end jewelry and art. The museum has 4 floors with the first devoted to Cycladic Art. Early cycladic cultures dates (3200 to 2000 BC). The exhibit has stone, marble, clay and metal object and obsidian cores and blade. The marble figurines, mostly female are outstanding. . Hunter or warrior. The second floor is devoted to Ancient Greek Art, a history in images. This is a synthetic approach extending from 2000 BC to 400 ad. On the third floor is Cyprus, ancient art and culture. It extends from 4000 BC to the 18th century AD. On the 4th floor there are Scenes from Daily Life in Antiquity. Here photographs serve as background to artefacts and movies depict the life of the day. It's reminiscent for me of the trend in museums I saw in Washingtong DC, making them much more comprehensible especially for students. Everywhere the artifacts were accompanied by writing in several languages including English describing the artifact

St. Paul's Anglican Church, Athens, Greece, Dec. 2012

Yesterday I was happiest to make it to St. Paul's Anglican Church thanks to the helpful desk staff at the Alassia Hotel. They wrote out directions and I took the Metro underground to Syntagma. I proceeded to go the opposite direction right off. An English speaking Cretan man I asked told me where I'd made a wrong turn and offered to walk along with me to ensure I got to church on time. With his kind help I did indeed. After church I was invited to the church bazaar in a grand building behind the church, fronted by a carousel. There I had coffee and a sandwich and enjoyed a choir singing carols. The second advent candle has been lit. I almost felt a bit like Christmas. In the church there was much evidence of donations to the church from the families or members of the British military. No doubt this stemmed from their service in wWIi in Greece. I had the sense of a very British enclave here with this church as a kind of oasis. I've attended other Anglican churches around the world and always feel welcome and at home. I generally feel at home in any church but there's an orderliness about Anglicans that gives it a little extra for my personal taste.

Acropolis Museum, Athens, Greece, Dec. 2012

It's not open Monday so I missed seeing it when I climbed the Acropolis last Monday. I came here on Sunday when lots of students were attending interesting tours. I was impressed by the building which looked out on the Acropolis itself. The third floor appears like a replica of the Parthenon with friezes and sculptures protected inside. The Caryatids are here too. I was delighted to see them. I couldn't take a picture of them or the exhibits on the first and second floor. Camera and video are only allowed on the third floor. I enjoyed the informative film presentation which explained what was going, the mythical war with the centaurs and the war with the lapiths. There is also the procession for Athena.