Day 4 Tone Here: Best Tourist Day Ever.

After enjoying a nice and slow morning, Tone and I awoke to the streets of Athens covered in snow.  (I use the term covered very sarcastically for those of you who were actually covered in snow this winter – sorry) 

I decided before Tone arrived that I wanted a tourist day.  I wanted to get tickets to ride the stupid big red buses and I wanted to take tons of pictures obnoxiously and buy tourists goods.  Today was the day.  The sun began to shine and warm the air up and off we went on our tourist adventure.  I wore my new rain jacket in case of rain to creep back over Athens and Tone looked lovely in her new coat from home (jealous).

We were off!  We had to go into Syntagma Square to catch the Hop On Hop Off red obnoxious bus.  We got one and the tickets were about 15 euro for the whole day.  It stopped every 30 minutes at every stop and we could hop on and hop off whenever we wanted (hence the clever title).  We got on our bus and took the ride around once to begin our day.  We decided that our first hop off would be the Acropolis – the weather was behaving and I didn’t want to miss out on that.  The ride around was a lot of fun and gave us a chance to see the city.  I, even being here for months, saw things that I haven’t even seen.

Stop 1 – The Acropolis and the Acropolis Museum

After that we hopped back on and rode around for basically the rest of the day.  Hopping off here and there to get coffee or see something.

We were waiting for sunset to climb Lykavittos and had tons of fun around the city while doing so.  Then it was time – and we set off on our adventure.  It was a treck up but quite beautiful.

We had some photo fun on our way down. 

I also fell – hard – on our way down.  New Toms + marble steps = me on my butt.  So I was a bit reluctant on some of the steps near the end – after basically being carried by Tone the whole way down.

It was too cold to stay on the top of Lykavittos for sunset so as soon as we got back into Pangrati we went to the Centre to catch it from the roof – it was amazing.

After sunset, Tone and I went to this amazing little place for dinner that I had seen exploring one day.  It was off of a side street from the main square near our apartment.  We have an early early early wake up for Santorini tomorrow so a nice dinner and then crashing to sleep seemed like a good plan.

Day 3 Tone Here: Rainy Days in Athens call for Shopping!

Tone and I awoke to snow falling from the Athenian sky.  It was very exciting for me to finally see snow and extremely unexpected.  We took a walk to the grocery store for some goodies and stopped to catch some snowflakes!  

Once we got home Aileen, Gabby and the two of us set out for a shopping adventure. 

The snow quickly turned into the usual Athens rain so after trying out a HUGE department store they have here – Attica (not that great… interesting though because instead of being a department store like we have it is like 100 different stores with employees from each in one building) – it was off to let Tone try the best hot chocolate in the world.

After hot chocolate we set off on my continued adventure of finding a rain jacket and we had some GREAT success.  I got a 12 euro, very pretty, red rain jacket.  After that we returned home to discover that kitty Jack Paros had passed away – so Tone and I paid our respects and buried him in the flowerpot outside of our apartments.  We all decided to have dinner together – so brushetta it was!

After dinner Tone and I had our show to go to!  

 I was very excited about it and had no idea what to expect.  The snow had returned when we left so we decided to live rich and take a cab to the theater.   

We arrived for our show “Heroes” with no expectations. 

The Athens Centre had recommended it to me but we weren’t sure about whether it was going to be in English or Greek or what.  While waiting for seating, I took a stop into the bathroom and saw some interesting wallpaper which made me feel a bit more optimistic for the show.

We took our seats and waited for it to begin.

It was hilarious.  About 20 people attended.  Basically completely in Greek.  Did not understand any of it.  But it was great.  Afterwards we taxied down to Psiri for crepes like promised and then returned for the evening.  Tomorrow is all of the sights of Athens – I waited for the weather so that it wouldn’t be an awful experience for Tone.  Lets hope for the best!

Day 2 Toni Here: Clean Monday

So today was a National Holiday!!! Clean Monday is the day after what we call Fat Tuesday.  Confusing yes – but what it means is that everything is basically closed (except cafes and tavernas) and everyone flies kites.  So we began the day early and rested.  I cooked up some breakfast that we both enjoyed – cooking it on my NEW pan delivered from home, amazing… simply amazing.  Then we were off.  

We took a stop at the Athens Centre so I could show her school and the view.

Then it was off to Fillapappou Hill.  Apparently this is the place to go to fly kites.  We got our kite – an Eagle, like a true American – and set off simply following the masses.  We got up there and there were kites flying and live music and tons of people.  It is important to note that I have never flown a kite so this was an experience.  With our struggles apparently obvious a little old Greek man came over to help.  With is assistance we were able to make the Eagle fly.  Here are some photos!

After that adventure it was off to walk around the city.  We walked everywhere – stopped in some tourists’ shops that were open here and there.  I made sure Tone had her first Gyro… so good.

But eventually hot chocolate was a must.  Since the amazing place was closed, we went to a place I had been to previously for lunch, it will act as a good comparison for her.  We will get the hot chocolate tomorrow.  

And apparently in the afternoon, it is okay to serve us some cherry liquor with our hot chocolate that Tone liked to call – cherry cough syrup.  It was a fun experience.  Then we did a bit more walking and went back home.  One our way we got to see the changing of the guards at the unknown grave.

We also saw a lot of lines of caterpillars and debated the possible end of the world.

I cooked dinner for the group after yet another nap and then we all talked and listen to music for the night.  The rain had ceased our crepe plan but it will be reinstated tomorrow.  Tomorrow is going to be a windy day in Athens, which calls for shopping and a show in the evening that I had bought tickets for, yay!

Day 1 Toni Here: Calamari and Jet Lag

So I basically woke up obsessively checking Tone’s flight statuses.  We had discussed that no news is good news, so I was also checking my study abroad facebook.  Everything looked in order so I set off to go get the bus to get to her.  I tried to do some school reading along the way but I couldn’t stop tapping my feet and smiling.  I probably looked ridiculous but I was just so excited.  The bus finally got to the airport and I was off!  I found where she would be coming in, got a phone card so she could call her parents, used the WC, and waited.  The doors open and I saw her – it was so exciting.  She still had to wait for her – I mean my – bag at the baggage claim.  Once she had it, it was like a Hollywood film for real.  We hugged and screamed and then got back on the bus to go home.  We met a guy traveling from Canada and he was a nice gentleman.  And he took our picture!!!!

Once we got into Syntagma, we walked a little and then hopped in a cab to get to my apartment.  We relaxed a bit here.  I unpacked the suitcase and got excited about everything.  My clothes all smelled like home and my Toms and Reese’s Cups made my life.

We got ready for dinner and then set off to my favorite place locally for Calamari!!!

After our nice 2+ hour Greek dinner, we returned home where a small group came back from a short adventure.  They brought a kitten they found.  I take no responsibility.  Everyone was exhausted.  Tone and I laid down for a nap and basically slept through the night.  It was much needed.  I don’t care about anything that we do.  We leave for Santorini on Thursday – until then I just want to spend time with my BFFF.