Stavros gave me a ride to the ferry and the hotel owner gave me a good-bye gift–a cloth tote bag. The ferry ride from Naxos to Athens was in the very large Blue Star ferry. Even with this gigantic boat, you could feel the waves. The Special Olympics start on Saturday and their are some large delegations traveling in Groups. The South Korean one was on our ferry. I splurged for a seat on the 5 hr ride and rode comfortably in a large, airplane-type seat.
I wanted to sleep but there was a loud Good Morning Greece type show on the TV in front of me. Since I don’t understand a word, I should have been able to tune it out, but frequently I would hear George Clooney, Catherine Zeta Jones, Michael Douglas or Ben Affleck’s voice for a movie promotion and I’d be drawn in. Then the news came on. Again, I don’t understand a word until the British or German finance ministers give their quotes. Immediately, the men in my section haul out their worry beads and start them in motion. They don’t look happy.
The port is teeming with people and is rather confusing. I had a Ricky Steves map, but our ferry came into a different dock than scheduled so I was disoriented. I found someone from my hotel that was on the boat and knew the city and she pointed me to the metro train. I had heard pickpockets worked the route and I could see why. Hot, crowded and very smelly beyond belief. I managed to find a seat where I could have all my zippered bags facing me. The train didn’t stop at my stop and some nice lady explained that they were fixing stuff and that the train would reverse in a minute. OK. When I exited the Metro train, I looked up and saw the Acropolis. It’s like the Eiffel Tower or the Sydney Harbor bridge–you can’t quit looking at it. However, you could be run over if you aren’t careful.
First impression of Athens: The government can solve the financial crisis by taxing the sales of spray paint cans. I have never seen so much graffiti in my whole life. The traffic is insane and getting across the street the 4 blocks to my hotel was a challenge. I suspect that the contrast from Naxos is emphasizing these observations! This is a very big city. I am about a mile or two from the square in front of the Parliament and don’t see anything scary. (Scott: I know Fox News says tear gas, rocks, and general anarchy, but they may have never been to Athens before and are confused–or lying.)
My room is comfortable and I’ll use it to plot my strategy for the end of my visit. Two days and an evening in Rome and a day trip to Delphi and then my trek to the airport.
But wait! As rumored, the announcement for a general strike for Jun 28 and Jun 29 has been made. The good news–it won’t impact my sightseeing plans. the annoying news–I will need to take a taxi to the airport instead of taking public transportation. The bad news–there is a chance if the air traffic controllers strike that my flight won’t go. AND there is a strike planned in London on the 30th. The web sites say that decision will be made on Saturday. The Hotel Attalos desk promises to help me navigate through this and says “just politics”. So far, only the news of the strikes have marred my trip. I haven’t yet been inconvenienced (or scared) one moment because of them in nearly 3 weeks.
I venture out of my hotel after 7 and stroll part of the city walk toward some restaurants under the Acropolis. I’m very close to the Agora, the Plaka and the Acropolis. I spot the Roman Forum and this little Cycladian village in the middle of Athens. I grabbed dinner on a restaurant with a view of the city. Rome it isn’t! I think it is because the many, many smaller Greek Orthodox churches don’t pierce the skyline like all the Roman Catholic ones do in Rome. It was a nice sunset and I found my bearings a bit. Again, I am overlooking the centers of protest and I see nothing.
I walked back around 10 pm through the Plaka and the streets are full of people. Admittedly, I am in a tourist area, but I mean jammed pack full of diners, walkers, cars, taxis and scooters. One of those scooters sneaks up behind me on the sidewalk and nearly runs me over. The Old Plaka or market is very charming lit up after dark and OMG there is a Starbucks! I haven’t been drinking coffee much, so I doubt that I will visit. But I continue to be amazed at how they get these prime locations. There is a roof-top bar overlooking the illuminated Acropolis, but I’ll check it another night. The guidebooks say 2 days in Athens and I see their reasoning. I will definitely take the day trip to Delphi. Tomorrow is art and archeology day for me.
