Athens!

I was wrong, there are regular computers here. Win!

Athens and I got off on the wrong foot, but things have definitely improved. First, I didn't read the directions to my hostel right, so I ended up taking a bus (took over an hour) instead of the metro (which is cheaper, and would have taken half as long). The bus let me off one metro stop away from where I needed to be, so I had to take the metro anyways... and ended up hopping on the wrong one. I finally got turned around, got where I needed to be, and got checked in. It was a bit after 7:30 at that point, so I got settled in and spent the rest of the night chilling.

Oh, one nice bit about the first day though: Greece definitely takes the lead for easiest customs to clear. There were four different doors, two for EU citizens and two for US/other citizens. All four of them lead directly to the airport exit; apparently there is a guy there who can stamp your passport, but I missed him. Maybe on the way back through I can get that.

As the postcards will imply when they start showing up, yesterday was the big day. Had a quick breakfast at the hostel (not great, but free) and set out for the Acropolis. It's only about a 15 minute walk from my hostel but that's pretty much all uphill, so I definitely got in my workout. Got some great pictures of the Parthenon from multiple sides, but they really don't do it justice... that place is amazing. I think it would be impressive no matter where it was, but set up on a hill where you can see it from miles away makes it even more so. I also went around the base of the Acropolis and got to see a few of the old "sacred caves," as well as the theaters of Dionysus and Herod Atticus.

From there it was down through the Agora, the old political and commercial center of Athens. Most of it is completely in ruins now, but out along the edge of it is the Temple of Haphaestus which was mostly intact. One thing I didn't like though: grafitti. It was all over the place in Rome and Venice as well, but for the most part people kept it away from the historical sites. Not so much here. I didn't see any up on the Acropolis, but there was some scattered around the Agora. Really, people? It's bad enough that you spraypaint everywhere else, do you have no respect for your country's history?

After that it was time for a lunch break. I ended up at some little place along the road outside the Agora, with what is apparently a traditional meal of meatballs. They were actually more like meat blobs, but they were reasonably priced and pretty dang good... a well seasoned mix of beef, pork and lamb. And unlike Venice, they didn't charge an arm and a leg for water. When I finished, the manager was really helpful in getting me pointed towards my next destination: Pnyx and Philopappou Hills, home to some of the early settlements around Athens. Mostly they just provided some more great views, but Philopappou Hill is supposedly the site of Socrates' prison cell; I got a picture just in case it actually was.

Spent last night up on the rooftop bar of the hostel, trying to get some good pictures of the Parthenon (I'll need to try again tonight, they came out blurry) and drinking a bit too much beer with an Israeli guy and an Irish girl. Good times were had, but I regretted it a bit this morning... think I'll be taking it easy tonight.

Tomorrow is Lycabettus Hill, the highest point in Athens. I'm assuming that will pretty much wear me out, but I may wander through the flea market as well before coming back to the hostel to rest up, make sure everything is charged, and get ready for Rhodes. It seems strange that my trip is almost over (six nights left: 2 here, 3 on Rhodes, and one in London because I couldn't get my flights lined up properly), but I'm definitely ready to be home. I'm getting worn out, and I miss people, I miss my computer, and I miss actually understanding most of what's going on around me. I'm glad I did this though; if you ever get the chance, you should as well.

Pictures!