Athens

[Thunderblaster]

Greetings to all from Athens. I'm currently staying in the Aristotles Hotel in the city and today, I had a look at the flea market in the Plaka/Monastiraki district, chilled out on Syntagma Square and took a look at the 1896 Olympic Stadium. The place is really the crossroads between East and West in terms of culture. The night porter at the hotel is one helluva funny character and we all got a laugh. I met up with a group of Faroese and they are similar to the Irish, they love to have a good time. Last night outside the hotel, the Faroese group started to sing the Wild Rover, which was quite bizarre. Another weird scene was a motorcyclist carrying a dog. I'm here till Saturday and the plan is to visit the Acropolis.
What has been your experience??

[Thunderblaster]

Well, well, well!! Following my post, I visited the Acropolis, going back 2,500 years and walked around the Ancient Agora. I climbed Lybacettus Hill and tell you one thing, it is one helluva steep climb!! Ideal for pre-season training!! There is a good view on top with a small church and restaurant. Tuesday, I fed a few pidgeons on Syntagma Square for €5 and a photograph. Also, I took in the changing of the guard and I went to the Pnynx. Wednesday was a trip to Aegina Island. It is not a commercialised island and it is 40 minutes on the Flying Dolphin and 1Hr05 minutes on the conventional Hellenic Seaways ferry. The local beach wasn't clean and there was a boy cycling around on a bike without tyres on its wheels. Thursday was a trip to Kifissia and I went to a place called Mobi Manger and I was not happy with the conduct of a waiter. I got a sausage roll and sat down at a table. The waiter came up and told me that I could not sit there, I could sit only on another set of tables or out side. I went out and finished off and I went back in and lodged a complaint with the manageress. She told me that there was alaw dictating where customers sit and if the police came in, she would be marched off to the station and pay a €5,000 fine. I argued that if such a system was in place, it should be clearly designated as such (a designated area for takeaway food and a sit down that is clearly signed as such). She compared this law to the drink driving laws and asked me how she could help me? I told her she couldn't. I rambled around the posh suburb and then I visited the grounds of the modern Olympic Stadium. Friday, I went back to Aegina Island and got caught in a terrific thunderstorm while dining al fresco!! Did some shopping on the Friday and the Saturday in Athens before coming home. Places I recommend to eat are Mouses in the Monastiraki district and Specialitas on Acharion.