Day 127: Athens, Greece

Well, we came to experience other cultures not just the sights and restaurants. Today we got quite a bit more than we bargained for. Having grabbed a quick breakfast to go, we crossed the crazy traffic around Omonia Square (which is only filled with sketchy people doing sketchy things or yelling or watching people either to eat them or to rob them, hard to tell because the look is so similar) to eat our sandwiches. Moments after we sat down, two men crossed the square and pissed in the bushes (sorta, they didn’t really try to hide). Immediately after, some other guy goes into a nearby area of the same bushes and digs around in some trash on the ground. And immediately following that, the air is filled not only with the now all too familiar smell of piss but also, mysteriously, of shit. We’re both totally disgusted and simultaneously got up and headed off the square. Read the rest of this entry »

Day 126: Athens, Greece

It’s more than a perfect day. The sky is clear blue, the sun is shining pleasantly, the air is warm with a slight breeze and we are clamoring all over the ancient ruins scattered with overgrown grass and wild brilliantly red poppies streaking the landscape in fiery bursts. Even the air smells like summer. It feels like late May in Indiana today, characteristic for Greece but a nice reminder of the changing seasons we’re missing at home.

Poppies and the ruins

Day 125: Athens, Greece

Few times since we left on our RTW adventure has Saben’s perpetual tardiness (I bet he heard that a lot in grade school) presented a problem. This morning we were late for our flight. Then we got to the airport and went to the wrong gate. A 15 minute shuttle bus ride later, we were finally in the right terminal but couldn’t find the gate. No one at the ”Information” (ha! now that’s a joke!) desk would help but finally 4 electronic screens and 2 useless staff members later, we spotted the specific gate (turns out ”HJK” is a building, NOT a gate! Thanks ticket printing people!). Read the rest of this entry »