Experience The Adventure

After going straight to the hostel, I check in and went the long trek to the acropolis. It was an exhausting block. Alright, so heading up, looking around, and someone goes “Hi Geoff”.

Is that strange or what? Its Mike from the school, small world. The acropolis was amazing and HUGE! I know, people tell me that all the time. I can’t wait to see what it would be like in 50 years, as they are doing restoration projects constantly and quite extensively. They fill in the gaps of broken monuments with a difference consistency marble, may be cement, but rebuild some of it so you can see what it looks like. Much better than a pile of jumbled marble and carving… you can see what it looked like! Also, all these places mention, complain, how its all in British museums. If you want to see the rest of it, go to the british museums.

The school is on Thanksgiving holidays, so yes we are off on the same time, but still a little weird. I was just recounting how nice it is to work in a place that treats people well, anywhere else you won’t get 15 days holidays and many more school breaks. Wish Edmonton was like that. The meals are still priceless! The thanksgiving dinner was great, and everyone else seemed to like the recent lamb curry.

Went back to the hostel and the Americans were organizing a huge thanksgiving dinner for the hostel. There sure were a lot of Americans, and a decent number of Canadians, and the odd other, Irish, mr Brazil…. and more. The food was great.

I wanted to head out to the islands for a couple of days, so I decided to do everything Friday. Everything! Saw the olympic stadium, war museum, acrodelic art museum, up to a look out point with a great view of a never ending city (it ends at the mountains), national archeological museum, one of the main streets, some plazas, the small sites around the acropolis. On my way back I ate at a recommended restaurant, great lamb and spaghetti. As the night fell, i hiked back up to a rock by the entrance to the acropolis, so watch the city in the night. Quite the popular place there, many people. I returned there later at night with some hostelmates after we grabbed some kebabs. Funny how they were Canadians.

Athens did not seem overrun by tourists, the thing that I noticed in most places. Though I’m sure it would not be like this in the summer, it was rather nice. Another thing was that it wasn’t overly pricey like some of the other places. It costs a fortune to drink in Rome, but not here.

Now the plan was to go island hoping. Vancouver (that guy), had his ferry canceled and another one wasn’t coming for two days! A suggested timetable of ferries? what the heck is that? I suggest they run it according to schedule.
Instead I had a short drinking night out.

Saturday, I slept in because whats there to do now. When I got up Vancouver 2 and Ottawa were still there. With a crew along, I decided to go with them to the Temple of Poseidon. The bus ride was a long the oceanfront for the whole 1.5 hours. It was great.

A place with only one restaurant, is a great tourist trap! I got a sandwich, 3 euros, and if you want some ice cream 10 euros! Covered in gold. Got some great pictures of the ocean and sunset, and went to check out the water. I can’t believe that took all day! even though we did leave at 2pm.
I got back and failing to fall asleep went to sample some real food. I was drunk off the wine before the Octopus came, but I think it didn’t have any taste anyways. After dinner, they guy asks, what are you looking for? And before I have the chance to reply, he says… I’ve got women. Pardon? I’ve got well aged women, come take a look. So naturally, you have to take a look and… no, i’m just kidding. Guys find that incident completely more funny than girls. What the girls thought was funny, is that I showed up drunk back at the hostel yelling about prostitutes. I don’t yell when i’m drunk, what are they talking about….

We went out to a bar then a club. The club seemed like normal, but overpacked with guys. I see got bored, and staggered back to my hostel, impressed that I didn’t get lost.

Sunday hangover! Mr Brazil had punched a wall, in the third bar and broke his hand. Went to the port, saw the ferries, had lunch with a great view, saw some stadiums and headed back to the hostel. I bought a new train ticket just to be safe, just so that I would not have any problems, you don’t really need problems where you don’t speak the language and a flight leaving. Turns out it was the wrong ticket, both of them, and I got kicked off the metro. Good thing it was my stop.

Always, ALWAYS leave early for the airport. I have never gotten there according to my schedule. Fittingly enough, I had to wait extra long for a different train. Then it broke down and we had to switch to the above ground. Then we all missed the next one. Somehow I was at the airport early. I found out this time that they do a really bad job patting you down when you set off the metal detector. I have no idea what set it off, but he sent over my security pouch, then went back over my security pouch, then felt it to see what it was, then figured it was ok. I kept waiting for the swat team to show up and surround me.

Maybe i’ll write some more about France later. Amsterdam!

Cheers,

Geoff

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 7th, 2006 at 10:04 am and is filed under London, London Trips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.