Today I left Greece. George and Kristen took me to the airport in the morning. Unfortunately the flight was delayed about 1.5 hours. While I was waiting in the airport, I bought a Greek Easter bread to bring back.
Since I was going to have a 5 hour layover at JFK, I was originally planning on going into NYC. But, because of the delay, I didn't have time. I arrived in Nashville at around 9:30pm, where Osman picked me up and gave me a ride home.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Second to last day in Greece
I didn't do too much today. In the morning, we went to a grocery store to buy some food to bring back. I bought some halva, kinder eggs, and Nescafe (to make frappe).
At the Costco-like place we went to, some guy tried to get George to buy some stolen watches. He ended up giving him some loose change to get him to go away.
For lunch, we had octopus, octopus pasta, feta cheese, and salad.
Dinner was at a restaurant whose owner was a friend of George's father. We had salad, greens, calamari, lobster pasta, fruit, and some other desserts.
Afterwards, we went to a bar in town with some of George's friends.
At the Costco-like place we went to, some guy tried to get George to buy some stolen watches. He ended up giving him some loose change to get him to go away.
For lunch, we had octopus, octopus pasta, feta cheese, and salad.
Dinner was at a restaurant whose owner was a friend of George's father. We had salad, greens, calamari, lobster pasta, fruit, and some other desserts.
Afterwards, we went to a bar in town with some of George's friends.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Mykonos
Leonidas drove us to Rafina where we got on a Flying Cat at 7:15am to take us to Mykonos, a popular island in the Cyclades. We had to run to the boat because we were afraid that we were going to miss it.
We arrived at Mykonos at 10am, and called a taxi to take us into Hora, the main town on Mykonos. After walking around town a bit, we decided to rent a car so that we could visit some of the beaches.
Since it was the offseason, all the beaches (including the well known Super Paradise Beach) were pretty much empty.
After driving around the island to a bunch of empty beaches, we returned to Hora at around 3pm. There were had a lunch that consisted of Mykonian sausages and a seafood platter which had small fish, bigger fish chunks, fried calamari, grilled octopus, and shelled shrimp and crawfish.
We left Mykonos at 6:30 and arrived back in Rafina at around 9pm, were George's father was waiting to take us back home for dinner.
We arrived at Mykonos at 10am, and called a taxi to take us into Hora, the main town on Mykonos. After walking around town a bit, we decided to rent a car so that we could visit some of the beaches.
Since it was the offseason, all the beaches (including the well known Super Paradise Beach) were pretty much empty.
After driving around the island to a bunch of empty beaches, we returned to Hora at around 3pm. There were had a lunch that consisted of Mykonian sausages and a seafood platter which had small fish, bigger fish chunks, fried calamari, grilled octopus, and shelled shrimp and crawfish.
We left Mykonos at 6:30 and arrived back in Rafina at around 9pm, were George's father was waiting to take us back home for dinner.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Second day on Hydra
For breakfast, I snacked on some chocolate-hazelnut filled croissants. After checking out of the hotel, we went to a cafe next to the hotel where I had a frappe and Kristen went to get a gyro.
While we were relaxing, I went to buy some revolutionary flags of Hydra that were used as a war flag during the Greek War of Independence. On it is the quote "I tan i epi tas" which means "with it or on it". This is an ancient Spartan motto which means that you should either come back with your shield victorious, or dead on it.
Since we had some free time to kill after buying tickets to a Flying Dolphin back to Athens, we visited the Historical Archives Museum of Hydra and then took a water taxi to a different part of the island for lunch. Lunch consisted of Greek salad, cold octopus, grilled calamari, zucchini balls, and fish.
At 3:25pm, we left Hydra to go back to Athens. For dinner at George's parent's house, we had goat with potatoes, Greek salad, feta cheese and some other type of cheese, and vegetables, plus dessert.
While we were relaxing, I went to buy some revolutionary flags of Hydra that were used as a war flag during the Greek War of Independence. On it is the quote "I tan i epi tas" which means "with it or on it". This is an ancient Spartan motto which means that you should either come back with your shield victorious, or dead on it.
Since we had some free time to kill after buying tickets to a Flying Dolphin back to Athens, we visited the Historical Archives Museum of Hydra and then took a water taxi to a different part of the island for lunch. Lunch consisted of Greek salad, cold octopus, grilled calamari, zucchini balls, and fish.
At 3:25pm, we left Hydra to go back to Athens. For dinner at George's parent's house, we had goat with potatoes, Greek salad, feta cheese and some other type of cheese, and vegetables, plus dessert.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Hydra
I checked out of my hotel at 8:30am and took my luggage with me on the metro. Leonidas picked me up at the station and took me to his parent's house.
After dropping off my luggage, George, Kristen, Leonidas, and I took the metro to Piraeus where we met Leonidas's girlfriend, Chrysoula, and took a Flying Dolphin hydrofoil to the Saronic Gulf Island of Hydra.
After checking in to the Hotel Argo, everyone but me go into bathing suits and headed to a cement "beach". The water was cold, but George and Leonidas went swimming. We also went to a cafe where I had a frappe, and Kristen and George had hamburgers since she was hungry. After relaxing for a while, we wandered around Hydra town.
Dinner was at around 9pm. I had pork with manouri cheese, grilled tomato, and french fries. After dinner, we went to a bar that was initially playing reggae music.
After dropping off my luggage, George, Kristen, Leonidas, and I took the metro to Piraeus where we met Leonidas's girlfriend, Chrysoula, and took a Flying Dolphin hydrofoil to the Saronic Gulf Island of Hydra.
After checking in to the Hotel Argo, everyone but me go into bathing suits and headed to a cement "beach". The water was cold, but George and Leonidas went swimming. We also went to a cafe where I had a frappe, and Kristen and George had hamburgers since she was hungry. After relaxing for a while, we wandered around Hydra town.
Dinner was at around 9pm. I had pork with manouri cheese, grilled tomato, and french fries. After dinner, we went to a bar that was initially playing reggae music.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Walking around Athens
In the morning, I walked to the New Acropolis Museum near my hotel to see the opening. Unfortunately, there wasn't much to see. The first floor was open, but there were no visible exhibits outside of the excavations that were visible beneath the glass floor.
Afterwards, I walked around Plaka and Monastiraki to do a little shopping.
At 1:30pm, I took to Metro to go to George's parent's house for lunch. We had soup and 2 large fish. I also tried some ouzo. It was quite tasty and had a licorice flavor.
Later, we left for Syntagma Square. There, I went to see the changing of the guard outside of Parliament while Kristen and George went shopping.
After meeting in Plaka, we went to Lykavittos Hill to see the excellent nighttime view of the city from there.
Afterwards, I walked around Plaka and Monastiraki to do a little shopping.
At 1:30pm, I took to Metro to go to George's parent's house for lunch. We had soup and 2 large fish. I also tried some ouzo. It was quite tasty and had a licorice flavor.
Later, we left for Syntagma Square. There, I went to see the changing of the guard outside of Parliament while Kristen and George went shopping.
After meeting in Plaka, we went to Lykavittos Hill to see the excellent nighttime view of the city from there.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Day trip to Delphi
In the morning, I took the Metro to the station nearest George's parent's house. He picked me up, and then we went home to pickup Kristen.
At around 10am, we left for Delphi and arrived at around 12:30.
We left Delphi at around 2:30pm and drove to Moni Osios Loukas (Monastery of Holy Luke). We had a really difficult time trying to find it. The church contained a body inside of a glass coffin. It's fingers were visible beneath its robes.
We left the monastery at around 4:30pm, and arrived in Chalkida at around 5:50pm. Between the mainland and the island of Evia, the tidal current is very noticeable. After walking along the waterfront, we had some ice cream and tiramisu at a cafe.
Dinner was at George's parent's house. It consisted of salad, cheese, feta cheese pastry, and orzo with leftover lamb.
At around 10am, we left for Delphi and arrived at around 12:30.
We left Delphi at around 2:30pm and drove to Moni Osios Loukas (Monastery of Holy Luke). We had a really difficult time trying to find it. The church contained a body inside of a glass coffin. It's fingers were visible beneath its robes.
We left the monastery at around 4:30pm, and arrived in Chalkida at around 5:50pm. Between the mainland and the island of Evia, the tidal current is very noticeable. After walking along the waterfront, we had some ice cream and tiramisu at a cafe.
Dinner was at George's parent's house. It consisted of salad, cheese, feta cheese pastry, and orzo with leftover lamb.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Day 3 in Greece
I met Kristen and George outside of the Akropoli Metro station. From there, we walked to the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch.
Then, we walked to the Panathenaic Stadium and on to the National Art Gallery. After we left the gallery, we took the metro to Omonia station and walked to the National Archaeological Museum.
At around 3pm, we took the metro to Doukissis Plakentias station and walked to George's car. George then drove us to the Cape of Sounion where we visited the Temple of Poseidon.
For dinner, we ate at a restaurant with an excellent view of the temple. We had about 1kg of fish, a Greek salad, some cold little fish appetizer, fried cheese, french fries, and a grilled octopus tentacle.
Then, we walked to the Panathenaic Stadium and on to the National Art Gallery. After we left the gallery, we took the metro to Omonia station and walked to the National Archaeological Museum.
At around 3pm, we took the metro to Doukissis Plakentias station and walked to George's car. George then drove us to the Cape of Sounion where we visited the Temple of Poseidon.
For dinner, we ate at a restaurant with an excellent view of the temple. We had about 1kg of fish, a Greek salad, some cold little fish appetizer, fried cheese, french fries, and a grilled octopus tentacle.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Ancient Athens
Sometime after 10am, I headed out from the hotel and walked to Filopappou Hill. I climbed the hill to the Monument of Filoppapos where there is an excellent view of the Acropolis.
At around 1pm, I entered the Acropolis. Kristen and George were late due a Metro strike, so they had to take a bus into the city. Eventually, I met them at the front of the Parthenon at around 3pm.
Together, we went to the Ancient Agora and made a quick stop at Keramikos Cemetary.
Then, we met up with George's brother, Leonidas, and Leonidas's girlfriend, Chrysoula, and went to see Hadrian's Library, the Roman Agora, and the Tower of the Winds.
For dinner, we went to a restaurant that served souvlaki on pitas (aka gyros).
After dinner, I headed back to the hotel. Since the internet wasn't working in the hotel, I left around 10pm and took the Metro to Syntagma Square since the square has free wifi. I left to go back to the hotel at around 11:20pm.
At around 1pm, I entered the Acropolis. Kristen and George were late due a Metro strike, so they had to take a bus into the city. Eventually, I met them at the front of the Parthenon at around 3pm.
Together, we went to the Ancient Agora and made a quick stop at Keramikos Cemetary.
Then, we met up with George's brother, Leonidas, and Leonidas's girlfriend, Chrysoula, and went to see Hadrian's Library, the Roman Agora, and the Tower of the Winds.
For dinner, we went to a restaurant that served souvlaki on pitas (aka gyros).
After dinner, I headed back to the hotel. Since the internet wasn't working in the hotel, I left around 10pm and took the Metro to Syntagma Square since the square has free wifi. I left to go back to the hotel at around 11:20pm.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Arrived in Athens, Greece
Yesterday, I got a ride to the airport from Ioana, and then flew to Athens, Greece, via JFK.
My plane arrived in Athens today 1 hour early. After getting my luggage and exchanging some money, I bought a Cosmote SIM card for 5 Euros with an additional 10 Euros of airtime.
George and Kristen picked me up at the airport, and we went to George's parent's house for some teas, sweet bread, and cookies. Since it was still to early for me to check in at my hotel, we went to the grocery store to do some shopping.
A little after noon, we left for the center of the city so that I could check into the Airotel Parthenon. After I checked in, we headed back to the house.
George's father, Dimitrios, and brother, Leonidas, had already started roasting a full lamb on a spit. We took turns turning the lamb.
Since it would take many hours for it to be done, we had lunch which consisted of stuffed vegetables (tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini) with rice and feta cheese. We also had some snails.
About 20 of George's friends showed up for dinner after 8pm. Besides the roast lamb, we also had pork, sausages, and spinach in phyllo. George also had a birthday cake.
Afterwards, one of George's friends took me back to the hotel.
My plane arrived in Athens today 1 hour early. After getting my luggage and exchanging some money, I bought a Cosmote SIM card for 5 Euros with an additional 10 Euros of airtime.
George and Kristen picked me up at the airport, and we went to George's parent's house for some teas, sweet bread, and cookies. Since it was still to early for me to check in at my hotel, we went to the grocery store to do some shopping.
A little after noon, we left for the center of the city so that I could check into the Airotel Parthenon. After I checked in, we headed back to the house.
George's father, Dimitrios, and brother, Leonidas, had already started roasting a full lamb on a spit. We took turns turning the lamb.
Since it would take many hours for it to be done, we had lunch which consisted of stuffed vegetables (tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini) with rice and feta cheese. We also had some snails.
About 20 of George's friends showed up for dinner after 8pm. Besides the roast lamb, we also had pork, sausages, and spinach in phyllo. George also had a birthday cake.
Afterwards, one of George's friends took me back to the hotel.
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