Monday in Athens

First full day Athens

Well, we’re here and we didn’t get lost (or very lost)…After the 3.5 hour ferry ride to Athens, we asked a couple of people about the metro and made it on there. We had been warned that the first section of the metro was highly dangerous for pick-pockets, so we were extra careful on the ride. It turned out to be very easy to use the metro. Once we got off at our station, we exited the building to a square full of people and street performers, as it was a Sunday night and the locals were out enjoying themselves. It was very busy compared to where we had been. As well, all the shops were locked up and there was street graffiti everywhere - not as picturesque as were used to. Therefore, we were a bit nervous about where we were staying. After finding our hotel and checking in (nice room), we went up to the roof top bar and had a milk shake. The view from the roof was spectacular - to the right was the Acropolis and Parthenon all lit up in bright white, and to the left was Lycabettus Hill all lit up in a multitude of colors. Very nice way to finish the travel day.

During our traveling, we became aware of a broadway style musical opening this week. Therefore, the free internet got lots of use as we researched when and where. We decided not to get tickets on line and to go to the ticket office in the morning. We eventually found the ticket office and are now booked to go to Singin’ in the Rain on Wednesday night. It will be interesting to see how we get home, as the show is scheduled to finish just prior to the last metro for the night. Crossing our fingers that it all works out!!!

When we got up this morning, we went looking for breakfast, as we didn’t get it included in our hotel. On our way to the ‘super market’, we got sidetracked by the smell of souvlaki and stopped for a gyros pita (again…fourth in four days). After finishing off the pita, we made our way to the ‘super market’…not what we were expecting. On the right, there was a block of small market style booths selling mostly fruit or nuts on one side and convenience type stuff on the other. On the left, there was a block long booths of fresh meat (little did we know that was one of three or four rows!!! - including everything from fresh lamb with head still on, full chickens, and rabbits with tail still on…). We got some fruit and drinks for later and headed off for some exploring.
The lonely planet book had a walking tour of Athens, so we worked our way through that. After numerous wrong turns and seeing some very interesting stuff, we finished the one hour walk in three hours… J

When we were done, we were trying to decide if we should go on a one day tour of three islands just south of Athens tomorrow when we walked right by the travel agency Christina had been communicating with from Canada. We couldn’t resist going in to ask about the tour (which we had done three times already) and when we said if we paid cash she would give us a 20% discount, that put the price into our range and we signed up. So tomorrow we embark on tour where we have to be ready to go at 6:45 in the morning and return at 7:30 tomorrow evening (not sure why we keep doing this to our selves…).

On our way back to the hotel, we stopped and viewed the marble stadium that was the site of the first modern day Olympic Games in 1896 and used again in 2004 for archery and the end of the marathon. It was a pretty cool place, with seating for 70,000, all made out of marble. Amazing.

After realizing we wouldn’t get any breakfast or gyros pitas before going on our trip, we once again visited the market (which was mostly closed) and got some supplies for breakfast. After more research on google maps to find our musical, we went for supper on a trendy little area behind the hotel and it was pretty good. Finally, we went to a little café and got a dessert and brought it back to the hotel. Christina just opened it, so I better go. We will provide pictures and tomorrows story later.

Night.

(tried posting pictures, but not working...)