Relaxed in Athens

  Athens, Attica, Greece
Thursday, November 20, 2008

Athens:
Ernie and I have had a great time just doing as we please here in Athens. Mind you, it is NOT cheap here. Its been a bit pricey just for us to eat, but we have thoroughly enjoyed our rest. The weather today was perfect. It has been a bit cloudy and rainy over the past 2 days, but today the heavens opened up and Ernie and I had a great time just climbing and circling the Acropolis (it took us 2 days to do it, but we got around to seeing the Acropolis).
We knew today was going to be good for 2 reasons: 1. The weather was great (even at 8am) 2. We had a personal tour guide waiting for us right outside our hotel.

Tour guide: He was a little scruffy and we weren't sure what he really wanted. We offered to feed him, but he didn't seem interested. We, at first, tried to shoo him away, but he was persistent. He led us through our path towards the Acropolis, patiently waiting as we stopped numerous times to take pictures and just sit and enjoy the view. Talk about patient!! When we got to the entrance and paid our fare, we were sure that he would go his own way, but he didn't. He followed us right up to the Acropolis steps. It was there that he decided to join another tour group and let us be.

Little Ernie at the Temple of Athena Nike

We had gotten used to him, but we knew that he was probably tired of us so we happily said good bye to him. Later in the day, as Ernie and I walked through town, window-shopping, guess who we saw? It was our tour guide. Granted, this time, he did not lead us, but rather, he followed us. It was such a coincidence that we met up again. What are the chances? He happily greeted us and acquiesced to be seen with us for a bit longer. A local laughingly told us that he must like us to follow us around so. We liked to think so. But alas, our tour guide had other things to do and other people to see that day so he bid us adieu, and walked away. Its not everyday that a four legged friend actually meets you at your hotel door, walks you up to the Acropolis and meets up with you back in town, just to show you the sights.

Looking on at the Parthenon

It was so sweet and Ernie and I felt like we had our very own personal guardian angel in the form of that doggy.

Our tour guide

Our doggy friend really did a lot to make our day that much more special. Doggies are so great. It was funny, because he would look at us with those doggy eyes and kind of just smile (I swear that dog was soulful). Then he would proceed to bark right at some people, like he was clearing a path for us to walk or something because everytime he barked, he looked back at us to kind of say, "Ugh, some people!!" It was such a tickle.
In any case, the sunny, nippy, breezy weather today did much to cool us off as we walked A LOT.

The street of our hotel in Plaka

Where we are in Athens (Plaka) is small, with narrow winding streets, small shops; quaint. There are so many jewelry stores here! I mean, there are about 5-6 jewelry stores for every block, each containing loads of jewelry, mostly hand-made here in Greece. But it is a bit overwhelming.

-A

By the way, we have great free Internet in our hotel that allows us to post pictures, so many new pictures have been posted for Tanzania, Zanzibar, and Egypt, as well as Greece. So check them out if you haven't already.

Also, just as a quick plug, tomorrow is the opening of Disney's "Bolt"! Since this was my life for the last couple years, I just want to say congratulations to everyone who worked on it, sorry I missed the Wrap Party.

Everyone go out and see it! It's a really fun movie. We hope to see it in New Zealand.

-E