GREECE TRAVEL LOG - DAY ONE

After a two and a half year delay my canceled Greece trip is finally happening! My layover in Philly did not allow enough time for a Philly Cheesesteak, so that will have to wait. But at least I made my connecting flight easily. I loved seeing a few signs in the Philly airport with the Ukraine flag, showing support for them.

Even though I had a middle seat on the plane to Greece, I was close enough to get a view from the window. When I saw the Aegen Sea below, the coastline and a few scattered islands, I got tears in my eyes. I finally made it!

A yellow taxi took me to my hotel. It was quite a ride. The driver did not speak English, but for some reason wanted to talk the whole way to Athens Center. I only know a few Greek words and phrases, but am not conversational. So he would talk Greek into his phone and then hold up the phone screen to the back seat for me to read it in English. That would have been great except he kept doing it while driving too fast on the highway, cutting in and out of cars, tailgating etc.  I kept pretty quiet and just hung on, cause I felt like I was in a Fast and Furious movie. But he got me to Central Hotel safely. 

My room was ready early! It's a nice hotel. Small room. With toiletries that are infused with Olive Oil. 

I showered and cleaned up just in time for lunch. The rooftop bar and restaurant has a breathtaking view of the Acropolis. When I walked up and saw it I lost my breathe for a moment and thought WOW! There it was. The iconic image that is known world over to represent Athens, Greece. I could not stop gazing at it. That was the thing I wanted to see most, so I decided to do it first. 

The front desk said it was a 15 min walk to the base. It's warm, mid-eighties. Dry heat. Sunny out and nice. So off I went. The 15 minute walk was mostly on an incline and with steps too. By the time I got to the base I was hot and wiped out, already tired, but I had to go up. So I did! Steps and slopes all the way. I passed by the arena, Odeon Of Herodes Atticus. (Basically a stone Roman theater but amazing). I was already getting worn out, but I kept going. I got to the top to see the Parthenon, which was the Temple of Athena. Athena! The Goddess that the city of Athens was named after. The climb up was so worth it. When I think of Ancient Greece and how old these works of beauty are I am in complete awe.  I also saw the six maiden columns on the Erechtheion. The Temple of Athena Nike too. It was quite a climb and much of the marble path has been worn so much from footsteps over so many years they are as slick as ice. I saw a couple people slip and I did once too. No harm done. But next hike I will slip on my sketchers. This path needs shoes with treads for sure, not sandals like I wore.

 ( they have an elevator for people with disabilities, but that looked terrifying. It goes straight up the side of the cliff. )

Coming down was easier of course. I stopped afterward and had a Greek Salad and Lemon tea at a restaurant called Veranda. I rested there feeling glad I avoided heat exhaustion and a heart attack on that climb. No wonder they say you must be in good health in order to do it. I barely made it. Lol.

On my way back to the hotel, I saw the Roman Agoura. Which was a marketplace. An open market. Quite differently used than the Ancient Agoura of the Greeks. The Greek Agoura was a community gathering place to hear current events. Politics, religion, philosophy and even legal matters. I hope to see that sometime this week. 

After showering and changing I went out late afternoon to the Plaka and window shopped. Picked up souvenirs, stopped and had a fresh squeezed Orange Juice.  Got a bit lost on the way back, but found myself at this beautiful Byzantine Church. It was Greek Orthodox and so ornate inside with gold and silver ornamentation dripping off everything. And exquisite rich colored paintings. It made the Catholic Church look plain and simple.  I caught a few minutes inside and the chanting they were doing was beautiful. 

Back at my hotel I showered once again. Tried to decide whether to go to bed at eight or have dinner up top, with a night view. I am so tired. And it's only one day in.

But I know not to skip dinner when I travel. It's no fun waking up at 2am hungry, with nothing to fill your tummy but trail mix or an energy bar. So I had dinner up top with a gorgeous view of Acropolis and the ruins all lit up. The host, who also became my waiter, was so friendly and happy. His name was Aposolos. His parents named him after the Apostles. Such an old world name. I had shrimp and seasoned barley. It was very, very good and filling! And bottled water.

Then I got to bed early. I rise at 5am tomorrow to catch the ferry on time. As I fall asleep I think, Wow! I saw the Parthenon! ..........;