Greetings from Greece
Trip Start
Sep 15, 2008
1
12
50
Trip End
Dec 21, 2008
Athens,
Attica,
Greece
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Two exciting steps and one not so exciting. Since 1975 there has been work being done on the Acropolis and unfortunately that means scaffolding and cranes are placed throughout. The Parthenon is still beautiful though. Such a magnificant structure. I mentioned from London that I was not sure how I felt about the debate over the friezes and other statues being returned to Athens. Now I know! I think all of those items should be returned here! This is their rightful home and it seems wrong for them to be separated from their original home thousands of years ago! They are in the process of completing a New Acropolis Museum and are even saving space for their hopeful eventual repatriation.
Back to Italy for a moment...
From Praiano it was quite a journey to arrive here in Greece which started on Saturday morning with another exhilarating ride on the cliff hugging road of the Amalfi Coast. This time with a driver who really needed to take a couple of very deep cleansing breaths. I was a little concerned for our well being as passengers! He had a case of road rage and was running behind schedule which was very apparent when he gave a traffic attendent an earfull none of which I could understand (probably a good thing, haha). We were totally full and he passed unexpecting passengers at other stops several times as they stared after us shocked. When we finally arrived in Sorrento he lit up a cigarette while still driving through the town! Craziness! Smoking is EVERYWHERE in Italy, but its NOT supposed to be on the buses! FINALLY...it was off the bus and onto the Circumvesuviana train to Napoli. This part of the trip was, thankfully, uneventful althought the amount of grafitti along the tracks is more than outrageous. I have never seen SO much. It took about an hour to arrive at the train station where I quickly got my ticket to Bari and boarded another local time train for a stop in Caserta. It was a small station with nothing to do and not an English book to be found (I REALLY needed to find a book to read). Finally at 18:15 my last train of the day arrived into the port town of Bari, Italy.
If I had to plan this again perhaps I would not have spent the night in Bari, but it is just another story to add to my collection, right!? The Bari Belle Camere (beautiful rooms?) was not so wonderful. I knew I was taking a bit of a risk because Hostelworld.com didn't have any reviews, but it was a lot less expensive than any other option and basically the only reasonable option. I spent the night in one of several rooms in Francesco's flat. He was a very nice Italian man, but it was a very interesting situation. The bathroom...not clean...at all. This was the communal bathroom for the probably 4 people there. Although, I felt ok about the whole thing because when I arrived the mother of one of the girls living there let me in. I hadn't called Francesco (remember I do not have a phone anymore!) and he was asleep when I arrived. He let me use the computer, made some tea, and told me about Egypt having lived and worked there which was very nice...while smoking multiple cigarettes (not so nice) although the room I was in didn't really smell of smoke. I must say, I was very glad I had a boat to catch in the morning and was out early!
Blue Star Ferries took me the 16 hour journey from Bari to Patra, Greece. It was actually a fun trip! I met some other great backpackers on their way to the port on the bus that morning and then more on the boat later. Two cousins, Hillary and Melissa, Sarah traveling allone, and Josh, Kevin, and Evan all Canadian. And Brigitta from Australia who got off in Igumenitsa, our one stop. We had lunch...talked...napped...had dinner...talked...went to sleep. That was about all there was to do, but my deck of cards has finally been opened! My airplane style seat (they all either had beds or deck passage) allowed better sleep than my actual airplane seat to London at least!
Interesting fact about Canadian travelers: They are told to put the Canadian flag on their bags (which most of them have done several times over) and it has something to do with being differentiated from the Americans. You don't want to be mistaken for one you know! Although, I was told by this group that I did not fit the typical American traveler stereotype of being arrogant and self-centered! Yes!
Off the boat and onto another local train then another metro-like train and finally we arrived in Athens!! After all of us had made this passage together we all went our separate ways. Backpacking is a great way to meet people you will probably never see again after spending a day or even less together, but that is the magic of Facebook! I have some new international friends now! :-)
The subway system here is quite easy to navigate even in the very foreign Greek language because they put it in English characters as well as the Greek and very new in some parts because of the Olympics 4 years ago.
Saw the humorous changing of the Pom Pom-ed (their shoes have pom poms!) yesterday. Although I know it is their tradition and very meaningful, it was a bit funny to watch. Then went on a walking tour and saw some of Athens the city. Another city with the same issues as other cities...dirty in parts, smelly in parts, busy all over. It was so cool to walk up to the Acropolis this morning and think of what the city once was! (Probably all of those things...dirty, smelly, and busy! haha) I walked up on the hills with fabulous views of the Acropolis this afternoon and really enjoyed just walking. It is finally warm on my trip! Sleeveless shirt today and even a bit of sunburn on my shoulders. I'll have to remember the lotion tomorrow when I head to the island of Aegina. Hard to believe, but I ran into Hillary and Melissa from the ferry today and we are going to go to the island together tomorrow! I was so happy when I parted from them today it put a smile on my face! So glad to have company on a little day trip excursion.
The view from the roof of the hostel I am at for last night and tonight is marvelous! The Acropolis is so well lit at night and with the sun setting when I went up last night it was gorgeous. I will have to go enjoy the view for a while and maybe read my book for a break from the heat and the walking. (I finally found an English book when I arrived yesterday...for 11euros!)
All my love and greetings from Greece!
Ali / Althea
Comments
What a lovely blog
Ali,
I have just read your entire blog finally. I am so impressed with your ability to 'travel the world' & make the best of all your experiences. I look forward to reading more of your entries & I will keep you in my prayers.
Anne