Athens, Greece – Made It!!

After running into the unexpected, but expected varied traveling bumps that always happen no matter how prepared I am, I’m in Athens, Greece!

When I arrived, it was smooth sailing through customs and gathering my luggage….to then discover the taxis were on strike today!  So, taking the Metro I was!

With a map included in the House Guide I had with me of what line to take and where to get off from the very prepared hostess of the Airbnb apartment, I was on my way! Milan and Paris taught me how to navigate these city trains. I felt like an experienced traveler ready to tackle this Metro system!

Taking the train allowed me to see some of the countryside…filled with what look to be olive trees!!!  🙂

One detail of the landscape that surprised me…is how brown it is.  It’s like this combination of desert and temperate/greenery terrain.

Like Paris, there were buskers on the train.  Unlike Paris, the buskers were children.  See the girl playing accordion with the young girl in the pink t-shirt ahead of her? They are a team.  One plays the music.  The other asked for money. Young pink t-shirt was very aggressive with asking for money.  She tapped me with the cup, looked me straight in the eye while shaking the cup at me.  I declined.  I wasn’t in the mood for it.

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I had to transfer from one train to another…..knowing the Airbnb apartment manager would need me at the station, close to the apartment.  His name is Gashem.  He’s a very tall, over 6 feet high Sudanese man, not easily missed in a crowd!  I gratefully handed over one of my suitcases to him as he led the way to my home here in Athens for the next 11 days.

A picture of one of the streets in the neighborhood!

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Coffee shop on the corner that will be my breakfast hangout!  The cappuccino was delicious!!!!

A pastry shop up the road where I bought ham and cheese quiches! And a traditional dessert pastry I had to try right away!!! I don’t remember the name of the pastry, yet…but will report back because I will for sure be buying this again.  Here is a moment by moment play back of eating this delectable pastry!!!

  • soft and melty at the same time with a syrup that flowed, just a bit….
  • with a flaky crunch
  • sweet but not too much
  • one of the best pastries I’ve ever tasted (even over Paris pastry!)

There are lots of little curious shops on the streets in this neighborhood!  I discovered one is a drama school. They’re performing their end of year exam performances for free!  Starting at 8:00pm each night this week is a theatre play of their final work for the year!  I’ve been awake for almost 24 hours!  I think that will be tomorrow evening!!!

Graffiti is everywhere on all the buildings.  Here is the graffiti tag I look for to know I’m at the right building!

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Here is a view from the balcony!

This is the view from the kitchen window of the steps leading up to the roof!  Will discover the roof tomorrow!!

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That’s it for now!!!  I’m an exhausted, happy traveler!!!

S, xo

2 Comments Add yours

  1. mama says:

    Nice picture as you approach Athens in the plane. Enjoy your first day in Athens Greece 😎😍🤗

    1. Thanks mama!!! It’s been a busy day, but not too much!! xoxo

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