Friday 3rd September

 

3/09/04 Day 62.

So, we didn't awake bleary-eyed, not really knowing where we were. (lots of the outskirts of Athens seemed to go on for ever and consisted of white buildings, car manufacturers, huge billboards and by-the-road fast food outlets. Ah, to be back in the West!)

Never fear, Heather's map reading took us straight to the hostel, which is exceedingly cheap for Athens at 8.16 when we really expected to buy 15+. We didn't even have to fake it that was a kitchen as it was in the lobby area. So we snapped up-two beds in in dorm of 4 (just the right size) with our own toilet, sink and shower (aka bathroom). I think we managed to wake the 2 spaniards who were already asleep in the room (mind you it was 8am although it felt like 5pm to us!). I fell into bed without even the time to hate it and was fast asleep while Brian declared that cladding around the streets of one of Europe's largest cities would be a good idea when he returned at 11.30 I was starving and quite ready for lunch so we set off in search of a McDonalds, but instead found Goodys, which is our new friend. They have air-conditioning, English menus, all the junk food that McDs do but without the greasy chips or watered down coke. They give you china bowls and real glasses. And their mediterranean menu is very special: 3.70 for a buffet salad!

After discussing onions (over money making scheme (The World is Your Oyster Restaurant - not bad, eh?!) we headed off into the modern metropolis of Athens. Was I was under the impression that Athens would be quite dusty and not with Lathes. But in fact it is more like a cross between London, Paris and Milan with shiny skyscrapers, lots of traffic and my mind shops. We walked passedendless take-away coffee shops and the remains of the Olympic souvenirs, towards the largest fish and meat market we've ever seen. We continued on to Monastiraki square from where you could see the acropolis and the parthenon, which wasn't as dominating of the city as we first thought. We went through the flea market which included 2 bead shops which got me very excited! The old town was packed full of cafes and tavernas. Our first - the Ancient Greek ruin came in the shape of Hadrians Library, much of which was ruins but a couple of the columns were still standing which made (or a good introduction to the use of columns - which those Greeks like a lot. A short walk took us passed Hadrians arch and on to the olympic stadium (not the brand spanking new one), which still had all the flags and banners up from the closing ceremony. So we took photos so we could pretend we had been to the 2004 Olympics. A short but very hot and exhausting walk through some tropical gardens took us passed the parliament and into Syntagma square and then passed the observatory, the National theatre and the University, all of which have columns and names which them very grand). By this time we were knackered and in need of an iced coffee which was of course instant and so we sloped back to the youth hostel. When I awoke I was able to go and find dinner. So I trotted off to the over-priced supermarket, having chatted up in Greek by a strange man on the way. We found an item jam-packed program the hostel so had to eat right away for a delicious feast of shop followed by sleeping watching extra on Russian untold we decided to see Athens by night. Not as many shops open late as in

Held first Olympic Games in 1896 (A modern reinvention) fact.Belgrade but the was tavernas and souvenir shops were still going strong. The acropolis looks a lot more dramatic, lit up at night. We almost died of thirst before we found a cheap drink and then we headed back to bed where I had to get to sleep in the stifling heat and lack of air.

I didn't plot around the city, I ticked the complete figure of eight in about 30 minutes. And was then made to do it twice more that day. In between the 2nd and third times it seemed prudent to have a sleep. On being woken to the at least thrice daily moan of 'I'm hungry' I felt it was about time I deserved a break from being the strong 'I'll set it out while you rest' one. having had considerably less sleep and was done twice as much walking. And I wasn't, hungry. So I thought it would be quite safe and within my rights to roll over and go back to sleep while someone else did the shopping for me. As a consequence of this crazy ignorant assumption, I had to put up with a prolonged Heather-Sulk for a large part of the rest of the evening. I guess jealous only write one way in this relationship.

P.S. That is not my idea for my restaurant name, by the way!