Day 24: Drive to Athens

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Another long, boring drive (8hrs total), although we got google maps to direct away from the main motorways so it was much more interesting driving through the back of beyond - proper hillbilly country. We stopped for lunch in a churchuard by the side of the road (it was the only place to pull over in that town) and there were only about 5 surnames on the gravestones. We also decided to mix up the radio a bit and venture from the standard cheesy pop, so we listened to country for a while (ugh, can't make myself like it) and then National Public Radio (their equivalent of the BBC), We were very excited to find it was 'Science Friday', and listened to a whole programme on bacteriophages.

After getting hopelessly lost several times (the ring road here is a nightmare - massive billboards and adverts everwhere, but no actual road signs) we eventually met up with Mikki Haig for supper. Mikki did Biology with Alice (Mumford) at Worcester and also used to live with Alice Lighton's boyfriend Tom. We went to a diner where I had a massive burger and chips; Mikki is now vegan so she had a bean burger and made us feel bad. Even though she's not even been here 2 years yet she has a real American accent, although it faded a bit throughout the meal.

We then followed her back to her apartment to unload our stuff and meet her menagerie: one labrador/terrier cross puppy, Ranger, and two tiny kittens, Lula and Cupcake. She's not meant to keep any pets in the flat, so the cats live in the bathroom and come and sit on your lap while you wee (don't forget to put the lid down afterwards, or they'll fall in). I got very overexcited to see fireflies in the garden so Mikki caught one so I could look at its bum glowing.

I drove us all into town and we met some of Mikki's friends for drinks. Athens apparently has an amazing nightlife, although it's largely dominated by students from the University of Georgia who all follow some unwritten 'frat boy' dress code and look identical.

Afterwards we headed back to bed. Alice slept on the sofa and I shared Mikki's double bed....with the dog too. All fine until 6.30am when he woke me up by licking my face, and then chewing my toes, and then the kittens started mewing from the bathroom...

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Comments

[Pam]

Er...
It sounds a fantastic trip! I am glad you have had this opportunity. I am just mildly wondering though -- what did you tell Balliol you would be learning?

[Beths Pathfinders trip]

My 'project' is all about funding for womens rowing - very academic!!!