Greece - The rest of the story

Day 4 - Pam, Ted, Joe and I all met up at the lounge for breakfast and tour planning.  The weather is gorgeous, and other than the one day of torrential rains, the weather was spectacular the rest of the week, ranging from high 70's to low 80's.  We decide to head for the Acropolis and Parthenon first.  Pam and I (seeing how we are now quite expert at getting to the metro and to the stops needed) lead the men onward. Of course men being men...... who don't like not being in the lead for long..... once we arrive at the Acropolis they take over as 'tour guides', which is perfectly fine with Pam and I.

It takes a good 45 minutes to walk up the very rough terrain of the Acropolis to reach the top where the Parthenon proudly sits.  And of course of all the days for me to decide to be 'fashionable'....... was trying to 'represent' for my youngest fashionista daughter Lauren..... I wore wedges with my summer dress instead of flat sandals.  So Pam with her bursitis hip and me on wedges.... we hold on to each other and help each other up the hill, which had to be a funny site!  LOL  But we made it to the top and then WOW, WOW, WOWZERS!!!!!  Such a stunning site to see.

We spent a good hour at the Parthenon just looking at the site, taking photo's and enjoying the gorgeous weather.  From there we traverse down to town and happened upon this really quaint side street that was built on the side of the hill and stop for a nice lunch.  Delish-ee-o-so!  Was the perfect spot to stop for a squat and refueling the tummies.

After lunch we continue to meander down the hill and walk into the market, where we started to shop for christmas gifts, which we were quite successful in our finds.  However..... at one market shop, I felt like I was molested!  Boy that guys hands were fast!  Pam and I are strolling together, the fellas are just a couple steps in front.  We are strolling slowly and just gazing at the wares on the street and in the windows when this Greek fella reaches out and drags both Pam and I into the shop wanting to show us hundreds of business cards of Greeks who have gone to America to work.  After asking us where we are actually from, he finds business cards from the cities we live in.  I grab Joe to come see..... hoping he will save me...... but nope..... the guys high tail it out of there and leave both Pam and I in this store trying to get out.  Mr. Greek hands both Pam and I a 'lucky' greek penny..... he places the penny in Pam's hand, then places a penny in my hand and then reaches both his hand and mine deep inside my pocket on my dress....... I'm thinking...... WHAT are you doing!!!! and before I can recover from that Mr. Greek has my backpack purse off my shoulders and my sweater off my body before I can say WAIT!!!!  I'm looking at Pam who was tossed my stuff to hold with a plea in my eye of 'help me!!!', we are both thinking...... what the heck is going on here and trying to get out of there.  Mr. Greek was trying to sell me a woman's blouse to make me look Greek.  Pam says she wants a shirt for her grandson, I grab my stuff and bail outta there.  That guy had the quickest hands I have ever seen.... he literally had me undressed in 3 seconds flat before I had a clue what the heck he was doing.  Pam and I have been cracking up ever since!

After that episode, we continue through the market.....me staying clear of any other doorways.  The boys decide they are done with 'shopping' and spot a table near by to grab a beer.  They tell us to shop at our leisure and join them when we are done.... which we do..... and as we sat there you wouldn't believe how many street vendors come up to push their wares on you, children gypsies playing instruments, mothers selling packets of tissues with their infants in their arms, all begging.  It is sooooo sad and pulls on your hearts strings, but...... it is a big racket and the police are patrolling the area to shoo them all off.  Plus the street people work in groups, those to distract and play on your pity, while the others pickpocket.  You just can't help feeling your heartstrings being pulled tho.

We head on back to the metro and hotel after the beer stop and get ready to head out to dinner.  We all meet up at the lounge for a beverage before heading out to dinner and while we are in the lounge, in walks our newlywed friends (Vincent and Liz).  Pam and I make the introductions to our husbands, we chat with them for a few minutes and then we all head out to our separate dinners.  Dinner was just a short walk from the hotel, and out of all the meals we had, this was my least favorite.  It was 'ok' and edible but that's about it.

After dinner, we walk back to the hotel and back up to the lounge for a 'final final'.... which means one more drink before we retire for the evening.  The night was gorgeous, so we head out to the balcony to enjoy both the view and the fresh air.  As we are sitting there laughing and talking, in walk Vincent and Liz and ask to join us, which we gladly accepted.  What a great time we all had..... til we got kicked out because the lounge closed.  Vincent and Liz reminded me soooo much of my daughter Jessica and her husband Winston, who are also newlyweds.  It was a very lovely evening.

Day 5 - We all gather once again at the lounge for breakfast (for the last time) before our planned bus tour excursion for the day.  We decided to go out to the coast to see the Temple of Athena, which is very similar to the Parthenon, except this one is on a hill overlooking the bluff of the seaside.  It is just sooooo incredible to see these spectacular views.  It was a bit of a wiggy ride up to the site because the bus driver didn't turn the air on til the very end, the roads were hilly and curvy and the woman sitting in front of me was wearing this horrendous heavy perfume.  But the drive back was much better because the air was cooler and it was dark outside so you didn't see the windy curves of the road.

We were the first ones on the bus on the journey to the site, thus we were on the bus for an hour and a half before the tour even began.  As we are picking up other passengers on the way, we notice how close we are to the Plaka and the metro and we decide to jump off the bus on the way back at the Plaka for dinner.  GOOD MOVE!!!!!  We meandered down the side streets and find another quaint little restaurant in the open air and settle in for a nice meal.  Not only did this place have delish food, but it had live music and Greek dancers.  I can't think of a more perfect way to end our trip than having dinner at this place.

After dinner, we bid adieu to each other and head up to pack for the long journey home in the morning that begins at 3:30am.  Yep...... we were up at 3:30 to head out for the airport.  We had a connector flight in Paris and let me tell you...... Charles De Gaulle airport is horrendous!!!  OMGOSH..... our flight was delayed just trying to get all of us from the landing plane onto the Cincinnati plane.  The flights were bearable and long, but we made it home again, home again, jiggity jig, safe and sound and extremely exhausted after being up for over 30 hours.  When we hit the bed at 9:00pm I don't think either Joe or I moved all night.

And that...... is the rest of the story!  The End!  LOL

Yamis