June 22, 2009. First full day in Athens. My travel companions were busy preparing for their conference in the morning, so I set out exploring the marketplace! I saw some sights and sought out the famous poet-sandal maker, got a gyro on souvlaki row...so good.
Later, I went to the International folk narrative research conference cocktail party, where Jeana and her friends met up with a professor friend.
Our hostel was right near the brand new Acropolis Museum, where they put on a great light show at night, animated smiling Kore...
Athens is a very interesting city. It reminded me of a very ancient LA...it has a lot of secrets.
I went out of central Athens to find the National Arccheologial Museum, very neat and crowded with Italian tour groups. The I drank some gritty Greek coffee, got lost (reading bus signs in Greek is not an easy task), and met up with Jeana to do some last minute shopping before running off to the airport.
My flight was delayed, and I met some nice Canadian guys while waiting around, and I ended up showing them around Rome the next day! But that is another adventure.
Later, really cheap yummy gyros on Souvlaki Row
Then the hike up to the Acropolis! It was amazing, you could see all of Athens sprawling out...
For dinner, a great place Rick Steves recommended, 12 shared dishes, ouzo and dessert.
No cars on the island, only donkies!
After a lovely lovely day, back to Athens to explore the Plaka and have dinner with everyone.
Later, I went to the International folk narrative research conference cocktail party, where Jeana and her friends met up with a professor friend.
Our hostel was right near the brand new Acropolis Museum, where they put on a great light show at night, animated smiling Kore...
Athens is a very interesting city. It reminded me of a very ancient LA...it has a lot of secrets.
