Youre always a little nervous walking into a new country, not sure what to expect from it. This trip was no different. For months before we heard stories about how the Greeks hated the Americans because of past wars and grudges. We also heard about pickpockets and crazy drivers, and don’t make it too obvious you are a tourist. So far its nothing like that. After 15 hours of being in 3 different airports and 2 different planes with no sleep anywhere in the mix, I was still ready for an adventure. The plan was originally to take a cab from the airport to where we were staying for our two days in Athens. The hotel was roughly an hour away so a cab was a good idea…. Until we realized that cabs are only 4 door sedans and we are a group of 6 with luggage. Being the adventurous ones we are we decided we could take the city metro to the hotel for a bit cheaper than one cab would have been. The metro was very clean and efficient and easy to find where you were going. The suburb names were a bit hard at first. It was all Greek to us… heh. We got off at the correct stop and then got ourselves lost a few times trying to get the 4 blocks to the right hotel. The streets were jam packed with all kinds of crazy people either hawking their wares, sitting begging on the sidewalk, or just hanging out smoking and drinking coffee in the middle of the day. We realized very quickly that people had nowhere important to be at any point in the day and every big city is the same. By this point I was just ready to relax and maybe even take a nap since I hadnt slept in over a day. We found the hotel ok, got settled in and shortly after decided to head out around the neighborhood for an early dinner. It was easy for us to find a place because most of the shops were food related and the Greeks eat all their meals about 2 hours later than the rest of us. 10pm was official dinner time and then was followed by drinking, partying and much smoking. Until now I had forgot what it was like to have that second hand smoke everywhere. God bless those upity Americans who couldn’t be bothered with smoke. I actually appreciate it now.
Day two began refreshed with a bit of breakfast and then off heading to all the touristy sites in Greece. We took the Metro to the stop to Akrapoli which Im sure you can guess was just down the street from the Acropolis and Parthenon. It was like a day at Disney with the rest of Europe. That place was packed with retards who stopped and stared at everything holding up the rest of the group trying to just get another few steps closer. The sites were amazing of course and we took many different pictures. We spotted a place we would later return for dinner that night which was on a rooftop looking up to the Parthenon. The lit the Acropolis up at night so it was a perfect way to end our trip to Athens. Dinner was great eventhough uncle John spilled and broke wine and glasses and had to move to 3 different tables. It started the night off with a laugh. Just as we were beginning to become familiar with our route to the subway and around Athens and its shopkeepers, it was time to leave.
The next morning we had to get up super early to catch our plane to Rhodes. I was told we would be riding a prop plane but when you don’t feel so good to begin with, nothing can prepare you for that “oh shit” thought going through your head the moment they let you off the bus onto the tarmac, climbing in the back of this tiny two engine prop. Im a bit nervous of hights and flying upon occasion. By the time we got in the air I was great. The plan was a little loud and you felt the drops a little more but man what a view and a much better ride than the big boys. We flew at about 15k ft so we could see all the islands and their towns as we flew. It was a quick 50min hop to Rhodes where we got our van and ventured for the new hotel. This one was right inside the old city walls and right next to all the touristy streets. We walked around the city and all the shops being beckoned this way and that by restaraunteurs who wanted us to dine with them in the worst way. We met our neighbor who owned a shop which used to be his grandmothers house. He was half Greek, half Egyptian and named Joseph. The shop looked liked it was probably all his grandmothers old things when she passed 60 years ago so he was very friendly and anxious to have anyone come inside and at least talk to him or let him talk to you. He quickly became our friend and we continued to stop by every morning and afternoon on our way to and from our room to say hi. He invited us in for Egyptian coffee and stories of his family as rug makers. He was a very interesting guy to say the least. We spent a total of 4 days in Rhodes venturing out all over the small island to different castles, beaches, old cities and even a winery. This winery was the biggest and most popular on the island, maybe even the country however they only produced 10k cases a year which is one of the smallest in the states. We experienced one of their 20 or so days of rain a year. Its amazing how little it rains there and yet they can still grow crops. Its really a wonder why these people just let their cats and dogs run amuck all over the city at any given time and no one seems to care. They all look to be strays because you can see the same animals in the same strange spots everyday. People put their old food or leftovers out on their steps for the animals and the dogs just lay around the populated areas watching everyone all day. By the last day we had felt we had seen it all and were ready to move along to the next place. We made some grood friends and contacts for futures visitors and knew where to get a good meal and where to stay clear of. Our new recipe was for a crepe containing Nutella, bananas, chocolate syrup and a couple scoops of ice cream. Wicked lunch let me tell you! We are off to the British Pub tonight for dinner in hopes of something different than Greek Salads, Gyros, Kebabs, and Souvlaki. Give me some fish and chips!
Day two began refreshed with a bit of breakfast and then off heading to all the touristy sites in Greece. We took the Metro to the stop to Akrapoli which Im sure you can guess was just down the street from the Acropolis and Parthenon. It was like a day at Disney with the rest of Europe. That place was packed with retards who stopped and stared at everything holding up the rest of the group trying to just get another few steps closer. The sites were amazing of course and we took many different pictures. We spotted a place we would later return for dinner that night which was on a rooftop looking up to the Parthenon. The lit the Acropolis up at night so it was a perfect way to end our trip to Athens. Dinner was great eventhough uncle John spilled and broke wine and glasses and had to move to 3 different tables. It started the night off with a laugh. Just as we were beginning to become familiar with our route to the subway and around Athens and its shopkeepers, it was time to leave.
The next morning we had to get up super early to catch our plane to Rhodes. I was told we would be riding a prop plane but when you don’t feel so good to begin with, nothing can prepare you for that “oh shit” thought going through your head the moment they let you off the bus onto the tarmac, climbing in the back of this tiny two engine prop. Im a bit nervous of hights and flying upon occasion. By the time we got in the air I was great. The plan was a little loud and you felt the drops a little more but man what a view and a much better ride than the big boys. We flew at about 15k ft so we could see all the islands and their towns as we flew. It was a quick 50min hop to Rhodes where we got our van and ventured for the new hotel. This one was right inside the old city walls and right next to all the touristy streets. We walked around the city and all the shops being beckoned this way and that by restaraunteurs who wanted us to dine with them in the worst way. We met our neighbor who owned a shop which used to be his grandmothers house. He was half Greek, half Egyptian and named Joseph. The shop looked liked it was probably all his grandmothers old things when she passed 60 years ago so he was very friendly and anxious to have anyone come inside and at least talk to him or let him talk to you. He quickly became our friend and we continued to stop by every morning and afternoon on our way to and from our room to say hi. He invited us in for Egyptian coffee and stories of his family as rug makers. He was a very interesting guy to say the least. We spent a total of 4 days in Rhodes venturing out all over the small island to different castles, beaches, old cities and even a winery. This winery was the biggest and most popular on the island, maybe even the country however they only produced 10k cases a year which is one of the smallest in the states. We experienced one of their 20 or so days of rain a year. Its amazing how little it rains there and yet they can still grow crops. Its really a wonder why these people just let their cats and dogs run amuck all over the city at any given time and no one seems to care. They all look to be strays because you can see the same animals in the same strange spots everyday. People put their old food or leftovers out on their steps for the animals and the dogs just lay around the populated areas watching everyone all day. By the last day we had felt we had seen it all and were ready to move along to the next place. We made some grood friends and contacts for futures visitors and knew where to get a good meal and where to stay clear of. Our new recipe was for a crepe containing Nutella, bananas, chocolate syrup and a couple scoops of ice cream. Wicked lunch let me tell you! We are off to the British Pub tonight for dinner in hopes of something different than Greek Salads, Gyros, Kebabs, and Souvlaki. Give me some fish and chips!
2 comments:
You think the Greeks hate Americans? You should see how much the Persians hate the Greeks. Trust me. We're still bitter. I can't believe you're already tired of Kebab. Fish and Chips over Kebab and Rice and a lovely grilled tomato on the side? You disappoint me McKeebe.
Too bad you took Latin instead of Greek. Bet you're regretting that about now.
Why do the Persians still hate the Greeks? Wasnt that war before Christ or was there something else? Not so good on the history. Kebab was still good, they just use different spices and when thats all you eat for every mean for two weeks, it gets a bit old. I could so go for a Gyros right now!
Post a Comment