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Published: January 23rd 2010
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The camera and I are in love once more
Temple of Olympian Zeus behind me. Far off in the distance is the Acropolis. Day 55: Wednesday, January 20, 2010.
Athens, Greece.
Today was spent wandering a few different locations. First was the
Temple of Olympian Zeus with
Arch of Hadrian being nearby. I was pretty much the only tourist there so I had to do the "aim the camera at yourself" type pictures, so hence the off center 😊 I just can't get over how tall these columns are- my pictures can't seem to capture that. After that, I walk over to Panathinaiko Stadium which is the first Olympic Stadium (first game held there in 1896). I then wandered back up thru the National Gardens (didn't stop at the turtle pond because I don't think I can take it) and then climbed another flight of stairs that would make Rocky Balboa proud. The point of climbing these stairs was to get to the tram that would take me to the top of
Lycabettus Hill and to see
St. George Chapel. I'm amused that the music playing on this old tram is Scorpion's "Wind of Change" A beautiful view from up there but I picked the wrong time of day because the sun was behind the Acropolis so you couldn't really see anything on that side (and that's where most of the
"amazing places" were.) I take the tram back down half the hill and the steps the rest of the way and my legs inform me that they don't appreciate my sudden discovery of stairs again. Hopefully this will kick start them because I imagine I'm going to be doing a lot of walking in Egypt.
I wander back thru the
Monastiraki neighborhood, ready to give it another try. I think I just was wandering at the wrong time on Sunday because today it is bustling with people, including many tourists, and I don't get the freaked out feeling I got the first two days. I find the area where the flea market is and while it is fun to look at, none of the stalls do it for me. I'm doing my "I'm listening to music and can't hear you" bit but finally give up when one guy just falls into step with me and keeps talking and looking at me to respond. I take out my earbuds and say "Sorry, I couldn't hear you, what?" And he starts asking where I'm from and what do I think of Athens and how long am I here... I give very short
answers and part of me feels bad, maybe he's just a local that is saying hi to the tourist and trying to be friendly. But, 75% of me is sure that that's not the case and I should just get away from him. I then interrupt him by acting like we're at my street so I tell him to have a good day and turn. A few minutes later, he's back. He suggests a few other sites I should see while I'm there and offers to take me to them. I say no thank you and turn away again and this time he listens. From what i hear, it's going to be 100 times worse in Egypt. Hopefully I'll be with my other tour members so I won't feel so attacked.
I stop by the grocery store again and grab a cheap dinner for the night.
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Chris
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You competed in a pentathalon?
Keep a couple of dogs handy at the flea market for protection.