The first day I got in around 10:00am, found the train that goes from the airport to the city, asked this dude to confirm that it was headed in the Athens direction (signs in Greek only) and he did just that. He got on with me and we chatted on the way and it turned out he was from Santa Ana (north of San Diego). He was meeting a couple of friends who were coming from Detroit for a trip that would begin in Athens but mostly be in the islands. So, being that we were getting along pretty well and I was planning on wandering aimlessly, I got off at the central metro stop with him and helped him find his hotel (he is a doctor... not really a map reader). The place was way too nice for me so I went off to the wrong side of town to find something cheaper, but arranged to come back to meet him to see the National Archaelogical Museum (which his friends wouldn't want to see, he thought). I found a reasonable little dump and checked in. A local guy I talked to would later tell me that the sort of place I'm in is basically used for one night stands. Otherwise, it's been fine. I mean, there's a bed and a sink... shared crappy bathrooms, but I'm not all that fancy myself. Oh, I did see a guy taking a dump on the sidewalk about half a block from the place last night, but that was the first real "incident."
So anyway, I went back a couple of hours later, picked up Dhani (the American dude), went to the museum, got some cool photos, then we wandered back towards his hotel to see if his friends were in yet. They came separately from Detroit, and we beat them there by a few minutes. They showed up shortly after us and we chatted for a bit - another cool couple of guys, then headed out to grab a meal. Had a pretty tasty bite at some touristy restaurant, then walked around until close to midnight. I somehow managed to sleep for most of the 10 hour flight, so I was just about on Greek time already. I went home to sleep that night and arrange to meet up with them to hit the Acropolis the next day before they would be taking off for the islands. I showed up at 8am (their request) and they had major jet lag problems. Two were out cold and Dhani and I waited around for a bit, then went up to their hotel's awesome free breakfast (bacon included). After that we hit some shops and waited for the guys to get up, then eventually we all went up to the Acropolis. I won't pretend to have new insights about the Acropolis, but hopefully I'll get some photos up before too long. After that we found a cheap gyros place that was serving up the best food I'd had so far, then went back to the hotel to snooze. I passed out in their lobby for an hour, then we went back out for another meal and decided to look for bars afterwards. We found them all right... They stay open until 6am in Athens, at the very least. We went to several of them in this one district that's basically dedicated to them and were even refused entry to a couple of gay bars. Not that we knew, but as soon as we found out that we couldn't get in we had to at least argue with the door man a little. No luck though. So, we stayed out until 4:30 or so, chatted up some of the local Greek women (there's a surplus of really hot looking girls here - not sure why), then headed back towards their hotel again. We got more gyros (the Greek version of late night Mexican food or pizza) on the way, then parted ways at the hotel. They wanted me to go to the islands with them the next day, which would've been great, but I had my project to do and didn't want to go until Ian came in, so I had to pass. So, that night I walked home to my crappy neighborhood at 5am and had no problems at all. What's so bad about Omonia Square anyway? Drug dealers, I'm told... but maybe they were all in bed by then. The next day I was told I had to switch rooms within the hotel for some reason, but that ended up scoring me some A/C. I went back to bed afterwards and rose late, then started my project at Syntagma Square with some drawings and photos and such. More wandering around in the evening, but that was pretty much it. I got some reading in that night, which was awesome. I haven't read for fun for a while now. The Lonely Planet books are rad (thanks, Lacy!). The next day I went to find Dionysiou Aeropagitou, which is a street that connects the major monuments in the city. More photography and stuff.. it was fun. After that I was headed home along a major pedestrian / tourist shop avenue when this old Greek guy started walking with me and chattering away in Greek. He thought I was local... when he realized his mistake he wanted me to take off my sunglasses so he could see my eyes, then started speaking English and telling me all about his kid in Houston and whatever else passed briefly in front of his brain. So all of a sudden he wants to keep talking and have a drink. Strange, I know, but it was broad daylight, he was much smaller than I, and I knew exactly where I was. So, let's see where it goes, I thought. He lead me a few blocks away to a bar and we went in and had a seat at the bar itself (which was pretty tiny). I ordered a rum and coke and he got an ouzo (local drink that tastes like black licorice), and we kept chatting. The two female bartenders appeared and introduced themselves and suddenly wanted to talk to us. The English broad focused on me and asked me if she could have a drink with me. I said 'sure.' So she did... she asked if she could have another about two minutes later. Uhh... sure. And then another. So she's apparently had three in the time that I've had a quarter of mine. Mine was very strong so I was sipping cautiously. Not ten minutes into the whole thing they hand me a bill for 85 euros. That's 10 for my drink and 75 for the three she had. That's about $130 for the readers at home. Uhhh.... no. A big fat bar owner dude moved into position to block my exit as they handed it to me, apparently hoping to secure payment. I stood up, put by day pack back on, and told them there was no way I was paying for the bartender's drink. Fatty got argumentative right away and started patting my shorts looking for money, of which I told him I had none. I showed him a 2 euro coin and said I'd need to go outside to an ATM, but he didn't like that either. So he's poking me hoping to find money and his last poke lands on my stomach, which is tensed at this point and notably more firm than his own. I think he really questioned his chances at that point. I pushed past him and left without giving up a dime. Of all the pathetic tricks... The old Greek guy was in on the whole thing, of course. He got a bill for the same amount, which was designed to make me think these were standards prices. Uhh.... no.
So, first misadventure averted. Good story though, huh? :-)
The next day I went to the Olympic Stadium complex, which was eerily silent. Nice architecture but it's not being used for squat. More photos on that at some point too. I have to figure out how to get one of these cafe machines to download some photos and not all... I have 500 something already. Oops. After that I came back into town and checked email, then met up with a local guy from couch surfing to grab a drink. He turned out to be pretty cool, so we chatted for a while, he showed me a place to get some cheap food, then we parted ways after a couple of hours. He suggested I check out this island called Hydra, which is where I'm going to try to head this afternoon. I think there are only two ferries a day, so I could totally miss it... who knows. If nothing else I'll be in Piraeus, so look for me there if I never post again. Good times... I got out of the dump hotel this morning, had a pastry, and now I'm hitting the internet. Sweet, sweet internet. Until next time... Paul Harvey. Good day.
posted by Matthew MacLeod @ 2:21 AM
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