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I knew that this was going to be one of the highlights of my traveling days. I told my self a couple of years ago that after I've visited Europe I'll be content and just stay home and save my money to buy useful things that grown men should be accumulating. Like properties, cars, and stocks. But I also said that years ago about the States and still I kept on travelling. So we'll see! I was travelling alone as usual. Europe is very expensive for most Filipinos who rely on a working man's salary like me. And that's most of the people that I know so I already knew I was gonna have to do this alone so I didn't mind. Even I wasn't sure if I could afford it but I just went anyway. I don't have very good self control over money when it comes to travelling.
I barely had an hour to make the connecting flight in Singapore so I ran from the plane to the gate. Although it was a ten hour flight from Singapore to Athens, Scoot airline did not have free onboard entertainment! But it was cheap so can't complain.
Google maps was
not as helpful as it usually is when I got out of the airport. It was showing me text written in Greek! I didn't know I should have studied a bit of the Greek letters before coming to Greece. I had to compare the characters on Google Maps with what was written on the screen inside the bus to know where I was. I arrived in the morning so had plenty of time time and energy to start seeing Greece on my very first day there. Hostel was in a perfect location near the Acropolis!
It was late winter but it was a very sunny day. I was already at the Agora when I decided to go back to my hostel to leave my jacket get my hat because it was way too hot. Truth be told I did not know what I was looking at. There was the Temple of Hephaistos, some rubble, and a museum. I thought I bought the 30 Euro pass and panicked when I couldn't find my ticket because I was going to use that for the Acropolis. I didn't check the receipt when I paid. But apparently I only paid for the 4
Euro ticket for the Agora. So much energy wasted on being pissed at myself. Maybe that's why I didn't enjoy the place so much! Haha!
I expected food to be exorbitant but I found a restaurant near the Acropolis where I only paid 8 Euros for a Dolmades. It's grape leaves stuffed with rice, nuts, and herbs.I can't say that it's my favorite but it was so Greek!
It was quite a hike going up the Acropolis but my excitement got me through. There was no way I was going to miss the Acropolis. I thought it was too important although I didn't know too much about it. Entrace was 14 Euros which I thought was cheap for such a significant part of world history. I was blown away right when I stepped into the Propylaea. I couldn't believe I was there! I still get that feeling as I write this now. My heart was so full! After I've walked around the Parthenon I suddenly remembered my father. We were not very close because he and my mother were always too busy. But the best moments that I had with him was whenever I opened the encyclopedia and
my books about ancient civilizations and prehistoric era. He bought many for me and for him. I was very fascinated by the photos of ruins of Egypt, Greece, Rome, Machu Picchu, and many others; and he'd talk to me passionately about them. My father loved history. I shared that love so it was one of the very few things, or probably the only thing that we bonded over. I thought he would have loved to see this place. And he would have been so proud of me just for seeing it in person. I suddenly realized why I loved to travel. I was raised to crave it. In my mind I screamed "Dad! Dad! Look I'm here! I made it!" And the tears began to flow and wouldn't stop so I put my shades on.
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Ake Och Emma
Ake Dahllof and Emma Holmbro
Really nice photo
It was fun to read your story about your visit to Athens, Greece. I was there myself last year. I took a wonderful picture of the Evzones, the presidential guard. If you care to have a look at it the blog entry has number 986663. /Åke