My first full day

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  Athens, Greece
Sunday, May 25, 2008

I woke up this morning feeling really sick - not a good start!!! I had planned to go and check out the archaeological museum and the Plaka area, and started walking the 10 minute trip through the streets. Within 50m of the hostel i was stopped by an older irish couple who were trying to find the train station i had come from only yesterday. they were amazed that i had only been here a day but already knew my way around the sidestreets. thats my mapping skills kicking in! haha. They followed me and i took them to the right street as i as headed in the same direction anyway.

The weather here in Athens is beautiful, but im not used to all this heat! when i got to the museum I was still feeling quite ill, so i sat on the huge marble front steps for a while and cooled down in the shade. The National Archaeological Museum is one of the most important museums in the world when it comes to what they display. Its almost entirely devoted to housing ancient greek art. it was amazing to see pieces of artwork from the 10th century BC - huge big marble statues and ceramic vases with amazing patterns. Not many of the pieces are fully intact, especially ones of people as they tend to loose their arms (and penises...) - anything that sticks out. But they are beautiful all the same,.

In the centre of the museum is a small garden with a cafe. The gardens were very typical greek style; silvery leafed trees and big marble stone pavers. there was even a tortoise roaming around and eating the grass. Very bizarre! i bought a toasted sandwich from the cafe - my first real meal since arriving in Athens apart from a couple of dry biscuits and some milk i had bought last night (thats right, i found some milk supplies... yay!!!). i think my brain was still trying to to get around the fact i was in a completely different country and timezone, it hadnt even had time to think about food!

After my sandwich i was feeling alot better, so i finished off looking through the museum and started heading back to the hostel to check into my new room. The secret to hostelling is getting into your room as early as possible to ensure that you get prime pick of the bedding arrangements ie. a bottom bunk. The dorm i am in now is an 8 bed, with only one other person in there when i arrived, meaning i got an awesome bed away from the door right next to a power point.

I chilled out on my bed and watched a couple of episodes on my pod, then walked up to the train station and bought my 80c ticket to get to the Plaka area of Athens, where there are some really good flea markets. This area is right next to the Acropolis, so it is really touristy and cleaner than where i am staying. The area is full of cafes and tiny shops. There are also people who spread out sheets on the edge of the roads with fake designer handbags, purses and sunglasses. I spent an hour exploring the market and brought a spinach pastry for my dinner (the Greeks are crazy about their pastry - they make the best) and headed back home. So far, my 2 main food groups have been pastry and Lipton peach flavoured ice tea. Its the only bottle i can read in greek cause of the pictures! hahaha.

I have had a couple of encounters with the greek men today. It seems that they all congregate in the streets (you never see any women) and they will stare at you as they walk past. its fun to stare back as most will look away straight away, but its more sleezy than scary. its better to ignore them as most are harmless. Though i had one today try to start talking to me as i walked down the street, asking me where i was from and what i did as a job. He ended up trying to follow me to the hostel offering to buy me coffee but you just have to be firm with them and say no, and he ended up leaving me alone.

Tomorrow hopefully i am off on a walking tour to see all the ancient ruins around Athens.

P.S. please keep making comments and sending me emails, i like keeping up to date with what is going on at home, i love to hear from you guys!!!!

Also, dont get confused if i make an entry which might be a day or 2 old - i write everything down in my diary when i have spare time, and when a computer is free i type it up on my blog. its easier as these computers are always busy!!!!

xoxoxoxox

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