Woke up early, showered, hopped on a shuttle to the airport. You have to pass through security to get from the curb to the ticket counters, which I found interesting. Once inside, we read the monitors to find which ticket counter to go to... and fortunately Aegean was the one right in front of us. Casey and I checked in no problems, checking 1 bag each. When the Hendricksons checked in, the attendant informed them that there ticket was good for passengers only and did not include any baggage allotment. They asked if they could purchase one on the spot, but apparently this is not possible. Nora and Randy had to go run off to another part of the airport to buy a new ticket of the type that allows bags. We were also approaching our boarding time, so that was fun. Combined w/ an insufficient amount of sleep (this was now 8am), everyone was in a great mood! Finally we got that resolved and headed toward the passport check + flight security lines. They actually have them back-to-back so you don't have to wait through 2 sets of lines, which was nice. The group in front of us at the passport line (only 1 group) had 3 adults and 2 children from some middle eastern country. They took a long time (8-10 minutes). Casey was wondering why they would ask so many questions for to leave the country as you would expect the inspection to enter a country on the other side would be the place for questions. Finally they let 4 people through, and 1 guy was running back in the other direction. Seemed like they were having a nice morning too :D The other four just chilled out right behind the passport place. We walked up, they stamped our passports, and we were through instantly. Cool. Security had to wand me down and look through my bag, but that only took about 20 seconds, and our gate was the closest gate to security, so we made it with plenty of time to spare.
The Plane
When we first boarded the plane, it was very hot. Shortly afterwards, a whole bunch of gas started coming out of the top and side ceilings of the plane. Randy claimed that it was chilled CO2 for cooling. Well, it worked.
CO2 cooling in cabin
Greece Panorama From Plane Window
Money
After touch down and passport control, we saw a little money exchange window by the baggage claim with no exchange fees. The rates were HORRIBLE, but we used it to exchange our last few Turkish lira (60) for a few euros (20). Unfortunately, Nora exchanged quite a bit of a money at a 12% premium. After we got our bags, all of the customs stuff was closed so we just walked right out, now passing several bank booths with ~2% foreign exchange premiums :/ Casey and I just used ATMs as needed. We got a rate of about +1% in foreign exchange, but our bank is likely going to tack on an extra $5 + 3% since we didn't do enough prep to find a good foreign ATM card before our trip.
The Digs
We paid our AirBnB hostesses to pick us up from the airport and drive us into the city (40 min). They were extra friendly and gave us some tips along the way. We can drink tap water again! Our place is 1/4 mile from the entrance to the Acropolis in the city center. We booked a 5 person, 2 bed, 2 bath, full kitchen + laundry for $136 USD/night. Not too bad. First thing to check.
Ugh! At least the low ping will allow for quick loading of emails and text, but that upload speed is going to require overnight uploads of photos.
Our room; It's pink
Acropolis
Nora was extra exhausted, so she stayed behind for a nap while the other 4 of us went to check out the Acropolis. Nora's parents are leaving tomorrow morning, so we best hit this main attraction up while it is still open. We reached the base of the Acropolis and didn't see any signs in English for an entrance. A little baby train on wheels approached and stop right in front of us. It looked like a toy train for kids like you see at a pumpkin patch, but there were adults on it. We thought maybe this is a free ride from the parking lots to the entrance, so we hopped on. It took us 1/4 mile downhill to the museum, which is not where we wanted to go. At the museum, it stopped and we hopped off to figure out where we should go. A man walked around asking for tickets, so we quickly walked away :D Turns out we went the wrong way, so we climbed back uphill to where we started. Along the way we saw an old theater where they still do night time performances.
Theater we passed by (front)
We purchased tickets (12 euro) and we climbed up the Acropolis, and this is the view of the theater from the other side.
Theater from top of Acropolis (back)
Here are some more shots while climbing up. The entrance is on the East side.
This is the right way
Starting our way up (facing south toward water)
Starting our way up (facing east)
Tall stone wall / Clear blue skies
Beautiful Colors
I wish the HDR function on my iphone worked
Climbing Up Facing East
Climbing Up Facing North
Climbing Up Facing West - The Enterance
Ideal Marble Column Alignment
Don't worry, this column does not support any load overhead
Tada - We have finally made it
A Super Old Marble Column
This support a lot of weight directly over my head. It's doing a great job so far :D
Just through entrance facing East (back from where we just came)
Other than the entrance structure, there are only 2 standing structures: the Parthenon and the Erechtheion. There are also fabulous 360 views of the area and a large Greek flag. Slideshow time!
The Parthenon
The Parthenon
The Parthenon
The Erechtheion
The Erechtheion
Proof she's alive
Flag
The sun was so hot that Casey had to Gekko for shade
The air temp wasn't that high, but the sun was killer.
Yay, caught the breeze just right
Flag
Flag
Flag
Flag
Flag
Flag
Flag gif
becuz why not?
Facing North
Need to panorama these - southwest
South
Ruins & Acropolis Museum
Not sure what this is
View on the way down (East)
View on the way down (East)
After the Acropolis, we went back for Nora and puchased tickets for a 90 minute hop-on / hop-off bus tour of the town
Greek Parliament w/ Guards
Military Planes / museum
Stadium
Greenery next to Stadium
Statue
University of Athens
National Library
Athens University
Athens University
National Archaeological Museum
A Square
A Tall Structure over Randy
Temple of Zues
Gay Rights Activists
A Thing!
Dining Experience
So we stopped at a rooftop restaurant for dinner. A guy comes to take our drink orders, and we just order waters all around. Of course, the guy returns with a bottle of mineral water and promptly leaves. We quickly finish the 1.5L between the 5 of us and ask for free tap water instead of the bottled stuff in the future. Ok no problem. We all place our orders. When finished ordering, he asks if we would like to order any appetizers, perhaps a greek salad to share. We decline. He leaves. A few minutes later an older really Greek dude comes by and says that he will be our waiter for the evening. So what was that other dude? Who knows. 10 minutes later, our waiter returns with a large plate of bread with garlic. Free bread, excellent! It is delicious. 10 minutes later he returns with a bowl of tatziki sauce. He explains that we should eat it with the bread. 10 minutes later her returns and says that he will bring us a nice salad. At this point, we start to suspect that this guy is just like the shady restaurant guys in Turkey, so we decline any further food except for the meal that we ordered. The meals come out and they are tasty.
Lasagna comes with French Fries, naturally
Mixed Meat Plate with Fries, rice, and lime
When the bill comes, of course, they have charged us for all of the things that we did not order. 2.50 euro for the bottled mineral water, 5 euro for the bread, 5 euro for the sauce, along with the 50 euro of food that we did order. Man, all of these Eastern European restaurant owners are shady. This time we even specifically told them no appetizers, and they hit us up for $13 USD worth. We decided just not to tip them anything... I mean, these guys know what they are doing. I think he was a little upset, but we didn't stay around long enough to find out.
nice flag shots
ReplyDeleteThanks! Added a gif just for you.
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