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Published: October 13th 2013
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This day was my last day in Santorini. Last chance to see the Akrotiri ruins. On this trip anyway. So after breakfast at the hotel, I took the bus to Akrotiri and arrived just before my motion sickness got really bad. I was turning a bit green on those curvy roads. I'm sure all that sambuka I had last night had nothing to do with it.
The ruins at Akrotiri are completely covered and protected from the elements. Excavation continues, but the site is so impressive. At 5 euros, it is well worth a visit. Akrotiri is a Minoan settlement from the Bronze Age. It was destroyed in a volcanic eruption in 1500 BC and covered in ash, like Pompei in Italy. The ash actually preserved a lot of frescoes and mosaics and other works of art, as well as pottery. Excavation began in 1967 and a lot of progress has been made.
From Akrotiri it is an easy walk to Red Beach. So I did. I didn't make the trek down the hill to the beach because of time, but there is a viewpoint where you can see the entire beach. I'd like to come back here the
next time I visit. Sooner rather than later...
Back at my hotel I showered and got ready to leave even though I was not at all ready to leave. But I had to. My flight to Athens was quick and I arrived in Athens around 8:30. I took a bus from the airport to Syntagma Square, which was a mistake. The metro would have taken me straight to my hotel, but did I follow the directions from the guy at my hotel? No. I thought the bus would give me the same result. So at Syntagma I had to get on the metro and go all of one stop. It was now 10:00 pm and Athens is rocking at night. There were people everywhere, mostly young Greek men. The last time I was in Athens, I walked alone a couple of times and got hassled mercilessly, and followed. I did not want that to happen again. I memorized my directions, walked off the metro like I lived there, and just went for it. No one bothered me, although the neighborhood looked a little dodgy.
I booked this hotel at the last minute, but I scored big. It is
a great deal. It's called Hotel Tempi and it's at the Monastiraki metro stop, just one block from there. I got a room with shared bath since I was only there for a few hours and it was 25 euros I think. My room was clean, comfortable and it had a sink and mirror, which is so great when you're using a shared bathroom. The shower was clean, although I wouldn't go barefoot in it but that's just a 'thing' I have. The toilet is separate from the shower and was also clean. I was a happy camper, although I recommend a backpack instead of a rolling bag. There is no elevator and I had to climb six flights with a rolling bag.
The next morning I got up at 7:00am because I wanted to walk around and take pictures. I knew I was close to the Acropolis, but I'd been there before. I just wanted to walk around and see the neighborhood. I got some coffee and spanikopita for breakfast and walked around, got lost, found Syntagma Square by accident, and took the metro back to my neighborhood. Took more pictures. Did a bit of shopping. Had one
last frappe. And then it was time to go. I was so sad. I was excited that in three days I would be in Tucson to see the progress on my home renovation, but so sad to leave Greece.
I really must learn how to make those frappes.
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