Weekend in Athens, "OPA!"

I just spent the most amazing weekend in Athens. To say the least, I did not want to leave. I am really wishing I had the opportunity to study in Greece rather than Italy, but St. Norbert didn't have a program. There are so many reasons why I love Athens, and I will explain them all below!!

The weekend started Friday morning. We hoped on a train at 9am to the Fumincio Airport. When checking into the airport, I had this young Italian lady shoving me out of her way to get in the front of the line. I wasn't having it. She ended up checking in another faster line. I watched as she ran to security. The security lady wouldn't let her go through security because her suitcase was too big. The pushy lady was freaking out and practically on her knees begging to be let through. But the security lady made her go back in line and check her baggage. Hehe. Karma is a bitch.

We boarded our plane at 10:30am. We got to our boarding area just in time. We took Easy Jet, which is a discount airline. So there was free seating. The whole flight consisted of them trying to sell refreshments for a very expensive price. Followed by them trying to sell all kinds of other products. It was really annoying.

We arrived in Athens at 2:15pm. We searched for a place to get our passports stamped, but couldn't find it. Apparently they don't care about the passport unless you are leaving or coming into Europe. We took awhile to figure out the metro system. And the ride to our hostel was really long. A young couple was sitting next to us and the man said that we had to be from the United States. Apparently we screamed American because we were smiling. I thought this was weird at first, but after thinking about it, he is right. No one in Italy ever smiles. Everyone looks like they are pissed off all the time. I guess that was common in Athens too.

We made it to our hostel after 3pm. We stayed at the AthenStyle Hostel which was rate #1 hostel in Greece. The front desk lady was extremely nice and spoke very good English. She said my last name perfectly and I felt this urge to hug her. Our room was just for the four of us. It had two bunk beds and a private bath. Tynisha and I called dibs on bottom bunks. So Bliss and Tim had to be on the top.

Just an interesting fact about Athens, and probably all of Greece. You are not aloud to flush toilet paper down the toilet. Apparently they have a huge problem with clogged toilets. So whenever using the bathroom, toilet paper had to be thrown in the garbage. Gross!

Our first mission in Athens was to find food. We ended up eating at an authentic Greek restaurant. The staff was extremely friendly and not in a creepy, perverted way like in Rome. I ordred pork chops and a caesar salad. It was absolutely amazing. Tynisha ordered a greek salad and introduced me to feta cheese, which I fell in love with. When we were leaving the restaurant, the owner taught me how to carry my purse while in Athens. And explained that pickpockets work together (one shoves you and the other takes your purse).

After lunch/dinner we did some shopping. I quickly discovered Kombolói or worry beads. They are part of the modern Greek culture to relieve stress. They resemble prayer beads, but have no religious significance. I would say it is similar to a worry stone back in the states. They come in every color and design you could think of. There are even shops where you can make your own. I am carrying my worry beads with me right now. They are my new obsession.

Some of the worry beads had the "evil eye" on them. And much of the jewelry just consisted of a blue evil eye. The evil eye is believed to be able to cause injury or bad luck for the person at whom it is directed for reasons of envy or dislike. I would like to believe that it actually worked that way...but unfortunately it probably doesn't.

We were told that the roof of our hostel had a very good view of the Acropolis at night. And boy were they right. There are absolutely no words to descirbe the view. And no picture will ever do it justice.

We decided to get gyros for a night time snack. It was probably the best thing I have ever eaten in my whole life. I could have sat there and ate them until I exploded...which wouldn't be very lady-like, so I decided against it. While we finished eating our gyros, some loud music started in the middle of the square. We wandered over and witnessed some amazing Greek break dancing. I was immediately in love and would have watched for hours. Nothing like that happens in Rome.

The night ended early. None of us felt like going out, so we were all laying in bed by 8:52pm Rome time and 9:52 Athens time. We were being lazy bums. I didn't sleep well at all. I read until about midnight and didn't fall asleep until awhile after that. I didn't bring my sleeping pills because I figured I would be exhausted from traveling. So by the morning, I was tired and crabby.

Saturday we started the day off at 9:30am. We first went to Ancient Agora. The other three were walking in front of me, but decided that none of them wanted to be the first to go in. Frustrated, I pushed past them and told the guy at the counter that I needed a ticket. He was probably the rudest guy I have met since being abroad. He wasn't much older then me. When I was reading the price list, he started snapping his fingers at me and saying "Look at me. Look at me." I didn't hide my digust and looked at him with a not so nice face. I finally was able to get a student priced ticket.

I came to realize that no one is ever going to take me serious because I am a little blond American girl. Which started to make me really mad as I was realizing this. I am probably ten times more educated than the rude guy at the ticket counter, but I will never be treated that way. It makes me wonder whether or not getting my Ph.D. will matter in life.

Well back to Athens. Tim, Tynisha, and Bliss are not ones to take intiative. They stand around looking at one another until the other makes a move. For example, when searching for the place to get our passport stamped, Tim came up with the idea that we should go ask someone. He said that all there was to it was to show them your passport and ask "where can I get a stamp." It is as easy as that. I looked at him and said, "Well if you have it all figured out, why don't you go ask." Which of course he wouldn't. They all like to stand around saying lets do this or that and wait for me to finally do something about it. It has become a pet-peeve of mine. I am always the one who has to step up and lead the way.

As we were walking through Ancient Agora, I started to wonder how the Romans (in particular) and the Greeks went from believing in hundreds if not thousands of different gods to believing in one god. It just doesn't make sense to me.

We were starving so we ended up back at the gyro place from the night before. As I sat eating my gyro, I noticed the both the men and women in Greece are much more attractive then those in Rome. I have not found one attractive guy in Rome. Not that I am looking or anything, but it is something that isn't hard to notice.

Now for the trek up to the Acropolis. It was one hell of a hike. By the time I reached the top, I was drenched in sweat and dying for some water. Unfortunately we couldn't find any place that sold any up there. The entrance to the Acropolis was free on Saturday. I am guessing it was because of the recent strike. There was a coach bus filled with police officers on top of the Acropolis. I am guessing it was due to the strike that apparently happened, that I didn't see.

The Acroplis was amazing. Not as gorgeous as it looks at night time, but it was still spectacular. However, it was extremely hot way up on the hill. So we headed back down to get some water before we all passed out. We also had lunch too. We couldn't decide where to eat, and as we were passing a restaurant, one of the waiters said that "Here is the best." I looked at him and said, "well if here is the best, then I want to eat here!" Soooo that is where we ate. And it was to die for. I got some feta cheese and a traditional Souvlaki shish kebap. The food was mouth watering.

I was beginning to wish that I studied abroad in Athens instead of Rome. I wish I had more time to do some island hoping throughout Greece. I can't even tell you how much I loved Athens.

To end our day on Saturday, we went to the 2004 Olympic stadium. I was really disappointed. Yes it was a beatutiful set up, but it wasn't taken care of. It was completely deserted and rundown. There was graffiti all over everything. We weren't able to go inside anything. It was not worth the three different metros we had to take to get there. I couldn't believe how much money they put into it and now it was just sitting there.

We ended up having dinner at the gyro place. I had donner pork with feta cheese. We initially had a Greek waiter, but an English speaking waitress took over for him. Since he was really confused.

Sunday morning we had to check out of the hostel at 10am. We were able to leave our suitcases at the hostel. Which was great because I really wasn't looking forward to dragging them around. We did a little bit of shopping and got some food. Ohhh and the break dancers performed again right before we had to leave. I got a lot of it on video :)

We made it home around 4pm. I took a three hour nap, at dinner, and went right back to sleep. I was really tired since I couldn't fall asleep in the hostel.

I am sad to be back in Rome. Back to all the rude people. I am looking forward to our next weekend trip to Germany!!