| Ooh, I'm suddenly popular after a long dark ... what's the phrase, tea time of the soul? I suppose all it takes is a quick peek at a classified photograph of yours truly in a German army jacket and Mohegan hairstyle -- I'm sorry to those, by the way, who were scandalised by that. I shall post before/after pictures and the "rest ... of the story" once I get home.
So, this morning I woke up and my mind began scrolling, trying to figure out where the body was. Finally I remembered the insane truth -- oh yes! I'm in a hotel room by myself in Athens, Greece! How random is that? Here's how it happened.
After the disastrously grievous last blown kiss to Rome and my wonderful, amazing, awesome Rome class (at 4:30 AM on the 5th) I finished packing and, about half an hour later, struck out myself for my post-semester wanderings. I caught a train from Rome to fascinating, dilapidated Bari, and thence took a ferry (15.5 hours!) to even more dilapidated Patras, the third-largest city in Greece. From the incredibly tiny and insignificant Patras train station (Greek rail barely exists) I took a noisy, HOT, crowded two-car articulated train that bounced like a cheap circus ride on its small-gauge track. At least the view through the window that WOULD NOT OPEN was fabulous and I got a great look at the Corinthian canal, which is totally awesome.
Finally, after an eternity in that little bouncing oven, I got into Athens Larissa station, which by way of comparison is about the size of Orvieto's rail station. And you thought Italy's railway sucked!? Fortunately, it was but one rail stop away from Plateia Omonia, the square off which I am staying. Hotel Alma turned out to be a marvelous little joint -- very typical Southern European hotel with a good hot shower and, best of all, FREE INTERNET!
So, today I went up to the Akropolis again and then walked around the hills of Athens -- Aereopagus, Hill of the Muses, and Lykabettos, the tallest spot in the whole city. Do, if you ever come here, watch the sunset from Lykabettos. From there one can see the entire, endless, bone-white city spilling in from the hills, up around the base of the Akropolis, and finally reaching the sea in the port of Piraeus, where you can see big ships slowly plying their way in and out of the port. Oh. Yes. There must not be any similar spectacle in the entire world. Save your money and COME HERE!
Tomorrow I'm heading back to the island of Aegina; I should have plenty more time and no curfew, so I can see the temple, etc. I'm very much looking forward to that. Then one last day in Athens and on to Delphi, probably the most beautiful place in the world (yes, despite the last paragraph, it trumps Athens by about 10x. It's genuinely Homeric). Apparently the KTEL bus system is reliable and quick, so that's what I'm taking to get out there. Two nights there, then a mad dash to Eleftherios Venezielos International Airport (say that name many times, it runs off the tongue like honey on Baklava. Eleftherios ... Venezielos ...) where I shall be flying to London Luton, making some kind of arrangements there (i.e. airport bench) and then dashing off to Oxford ... few days there, then dash to London, meet Jamie and whomever else is there, fly to Venice, fly to Rome, and that's that! Then I'm back in Oregon!
So there's my insane remaining week and a half; what are YOU doing? 
I'll see you all later. Fellow Romers, here's my long-distance welcome to the states. I envy you a little, resting up the way you are, but wow ... Greece ... Irvingers, good luck on your finals!!!!
Cheerio, all! |
