Traveling on Easter Sunday through the traditionally Catholic Italy is inconvenient to say the least. To make my 12:15 flight (and be the required two hours early) from Milan to Athens, Greece, I needed to get to Milano Centrale by 9 at the latest to take a one hour bus ride from there to the airport, which on a traffic filled day could take hours. Because of the holiday schedule, the only train ride that would put me into Milan on time was a train leaving from Campo di Marte (one of Florence’s lesser traveled rail-stations) at 1:47 am Saturday night. Instead of the usual 2.5-3 hour train ride to Milan, this train passed through Bologna, (get out at 2:40 am to wait an hour for your 4:15 am train to Milan) The ride itself took from 1:47-7:05. Then add an hour bus to the airport, two hours waiting for the check in to open, and two and a half hours (the plane was late) to board the plane. Once in Athens, after waiting on baggage and a bus, and an hour bus ride to my hotel, I was somewhat pooped- but determined to see what I could in the few hours I had in Athens. Well, the bus dropped me off near my street, but on the 30 block instead of the 140 block. A kind Greek man helped me find my way to the street, and as I followed him, one wheel on my rolley-duffel broke, and scraping, burning plastic followed me down the streets. I’d booked the best hotel I could (with the best reviews) near the port in Piraeus as I am taking a 7:30 am ferry in the morning to Paros. Unfortunately, Piraeus (or at least how I got to my hotel) is not in the most comfortable part of town. The street is dark and somewhat deserted (except for the locals who hang out at the dingy looking cafes. Because of the recent labor strike, trash, broken glass, and rubbage litter some parts of the street. Sweaty and embarrassed (this broken wheel makes quite the dragging racket), I was relieved to finally arrive at the Faros Hotel.
Assigned a room on the second floor (though I know I’d requested a higher floor), I was too worn out to protest (and the lady was just too nice!) After my experience in Venice and Verona, I expected a hotel of much lower quality than I’ve been used to. However, I was pleasantly surprised to enter a room with lovely tiled floors, pretty wooden furniture and a nice bathroom. This hotel – labeled a two star – was much better than the “four star” in Venice (a four star my foot!) I splashed some water on my face, unloaded my gear, and hopped back down the stairs to ask where I might go to see some sights after 6 pm on a Sunday. As it is not a holiday here, (the Greek Orthadox Church celebrates easter in April) I did not have the transportation issues that abound in Florence today.
Attempting to find the metro (and walking in the entirely wrong direction!) a sweet bus driver drove me to the metro for free. For only 70 euro cents, I could ride to the Acropolis and walk down the streets lined with restaurants and shops for tourists. Typical Greek music trickled out of doorways, and Greek men stood ready to authoritatively lure people into their restaurants. I stopped for a quick gyro – and was it ever tasty! A testament to Greek food. And so much cheaper than in Florence!! A gyro in Athens, the most expensive place I am staying, is 1.80. Or a gyro and coke light is 3.10 – while in Florence, just the gyro is atleast 3.50. On the way home, I even saw a few priests! Dressed just like the Pharisees in Jesus Christ Superstar - black robes, tall hats and all!!
While I haven’t even scratched the surface of Athens, I will be heading off to Paros for two days, and Santorini for three, then back to Athens on Saturday night (11:30 pm) and only having until 12 or so to look around here on Sunday. But! I can’t wait to see these islands!!
PS: I now absolutely understand the phrase “It’s all Greek to me!” Very little here is written in English (and what is, was from the remodeling all over the city prior to the Olympics) and most people I pass by are speaking Greek – though many of the tourists are jabbering in their native tongue. The written language is nothing like English! So forget trying to understand! Some students asked the bus driver on the way to their hotel how to say “do you speak English?” And it was so hard to say, I doubt they’ll ever remember!! But what an experience! I am thrilled to be here!
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