Greece Day 2- – Arrival in Athens

The Athens airport was your standard issue airport, except in Greek! Everything was well labeled, and our baggage came quickly.

Here is where our adventure officially began- the trip from the airport to the center of the city. Most tourists in a foreign city would immediately hail a taxi to whisk them away to their hotels. Not us, the anti-tourists! We schlepped our luggage to the Metro terminal which was in the parking garage across the street from the airport and were soon on our way to Syntagma Square. Total cost: 10 Euros

Soon we arrived at the Syntagma stop. The interesting thing about the Athens subway system is that when they upgraded the stations in preparation for the Olympics in 2004, they discovered all sorts of ancient ruins nearby. (Not really surprising as the Italians found the same thing when they upgraded their metro system) The Athenians made “mini museums” in several stops around the city where, when one exits the train, the walkway leads the traveler over the ruins and through the exhibit. Some forced history lessons that Americans could use (if we had a plethora of artifacts to display).

The Athenian heat was sweltering as we dragged our luggage through the square and down the street to our hotel. Mary E.B. had recommended the Hotel Omiros to us as that is where she stayed during part of her studies. Mom and I checked in and fell across our beds exhausted. Not for long, though, as soon Mary E.B. arrived and announced that it was time for dinner.

Mary E.B. escorted us to a place where she had frequented during her time in Greece. Being an anti-tourist herself, we did not go to a fancy tavern where for 15 Euro we could get some sub-standard food from an English menu. Instead, we went to the equivalent of the mini cafeteria where we feasted on pork souvlaki on a pita. The pork had been grilled on a skewer and then placed in a grilled pita with lettuce, tomato, onions, and tzatziki sauce. Tzatziki sauce is made with yogurt, shredded cucumber, dill and spices. Think of it as Greek tartar sauce. Mary E.B. shared several of her Greek adventures with us over dinner and then gave us a quick tour of the neighborhood before we went off to bed.