Day 7 : Athens - culture vulture
Decided to make it a cultural day today and visit the archaeological museum. So I walked there, had a “Café Freddo” first and then bought my ticket having first tried to get in without one - innocently of course. Lots of statues and vases and bits of crockery and busts and ornaments and I suppose once you’ve seen one piece of marble or pottery you’ve seen ‘em all. Still I now know a bit more about the Neolithic period and also the Minoan and Maecean civilisations in 6000 - 3800 BC. How do they know, that’s what amazes me. I mean how can they look at a piece of rock or marble and say that this is a head from the Minoan period, probably from Crete, dated 5500- 5449 BC, and probably of a young man born to a wealthy family who probably died from falling off his horse which was probably called Perseus…. etc. By the way have you ever noticed how these statues have nearly always lost their noses and their arms? Oh and usually their willies as well.
On leaving the museum I am accosted by a girl doing a survey - yes OK I’ve got 5 minutes. Turns out she is trying to correlate personality characteristics with the way we walk around museums. So, if you are extrovert and outgoing, do you walk round in a lateral way studying evey exhibit in turn or do you randomly jump from one to another. Seems pretty obvious to me , but also what does it mean anyway ?
Well, that was Athens. Not the most attractive or fascinating of capital cities but worth a stop. It’s certainly a busy noisy place with traffic driving as if it was in the Monaco GP, and loads of motorbikes and scooters, most of which ride on the pavement. There’s a hint of arab culture about the place in the way they dress and talk to each other. Why do all the shopkeepers stand in the doorways of their shops and why do they try and talk you into going into their restaurant - “Ello, ello, come inside, come inside, eat, fresh fish, very nice, you like…..”. But to be fair they don’t bother you that much and do at least understand when you say “no” you mean “no”.
So I’m off to the airport now, by Metro ( in the right direction of course), leaving Western civilisation behind and not seeing it again until I reach the USA on Day whatever it is. Cairo next which will probably be even busier, noisier, dirtier, and dustier than Athens- it will certainly be more Arabian !
Just realised I’m on Day 8, one week and a tenth of the way round !
Passe Partout
pp Phileas Fogg
April 5th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Michael - As you head east into the desert here in Sheffield it’s cold and wet, and Katie & I are heading to Bramall Lane to see the “mighty Blades” play Leicester City this afternoon - still think we’d rather be with you!!!
By the way it’s the Blades v Owls derby on Tuesday night - day 10? I’ll make sure you get the result promptly - bound to be a major part of your day???
Life here is less culturally & historically influenced than Athens & Venice I guess!
April 5th, 2008 at 7:14 am
One museum is much like another I think. Although the ones in Cairo are a little dustier! kate and I are off to the Tourbiere to listen to the frogs in the fantastic sunshine. Not nearly as exotic but thats all thats available for us lesser mortals. Jx
April 5th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Hi Mike we are missing you at backgammon, check out the Egyptian way in Cairo. Keep on trucking. Jim .
April 5th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
keep on MIKE +++ graet +++
April 6th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Hi Mike, I’m sure it’s on your schedule, but the Tutenkhamen (sp?) exhibition at the Cairo museum is WELL worth the visit, just fabbo. When you hit Luxor, make sure you do the third world ferry ride instead of the sanitised LONG taxi ride over the new bridge to visit the Valley of the Kings. Enjoy! C n Gx
April 8th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Hello Mike
You sound good. Enjoying reading your blogings. What is it like being on your own and not seeing people that you know? A week plus has gone past now and home, I imagine, must be feeling further and further away especially now you have left Europe.
Weather here you won’t be missing! The sun has disappeared again and it is cold.
Bon exotica and a healthy tummy too,
Guy
April 8th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
It’s a draw - Blades 2 - Owls 2!!
April 9th, 2008 at 2:09 am
Great to see how the trip is developing. We were in Cairo this time last year - its manic; worse drivers in the world. Once you’ve seen the Pyramids and the big museum in the centre of town I’d head south for Luxor and the Nile Valley (if you can). Its more impressive, in a less frantic way. Presume there’ll be an obligatory camel ride somewhere on route. I think you’ve just missed the trans Sahara marathon…..probably just as well eh?
April 10th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Just caught up all your entries now back from the slopes. Keep at it Mikey, will follow some more when there is more to follow.
Love you
xxx