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Charoits of Rain
Jun. 10th, 2022 06:42 pmWoke up at stupidly early o'clock because we're using a budget airline. There are no sensibly times flights to Athens. Still, got an Uber, managed to get through security reasonably quickly, had breakfast and flew into Athens.
A very long walk out of the airport, because budget airlines use the gates that are furthest away from the main terminal. Still, managed to get a metro to the city. Quite nice trains, and very cheap, and the station was a stones throw from the hotel. Checked in. Flumped.
Didn't really feel like napping so went to the rooftop pool. Nice but cold. Really hot day though so no complaints there. Walked into town through the Google's shortest route,. which involved going through a fairly tatty part of the city, but as soon as we saw a place with outdoor seating looking very much like we were abruptly in the overpiced tourist district.
We ate a hearty meal, then ate a lot of cheese because Flickums is cartoon-mouse.
Wandered through the tourist tat area. Warded off several attempts to give us a "free" flower. Then had a look at a tourist tat shop and had to fend off an overly pushy saleswoman. We just wanted to look!! We're not buying a figurine yet!
After that, it was time for the only thing we'd actually booked. A rooftop play - 4 man show. I think I was a bit too tired to really follow it but it seemed to be a bunch of stories loosely connected through a framing device of a time traveller or something. Despite not really following what the hell was going on or what the plot was I still rather enjoyed it.
Went for cocktails, Then to bed. Then an early wake-up the following morning because we had our road trip!
Olympia - the sire of the ancient Olympics - is a hour drive away, but was one of the main reasons for the visit - really should have gone when we were in Zakynthos since it's a lot closer. We were met by the driver, who seemed very helpful and seemed disappointed when we didn't let him open the door for us.
We took a brief stop at Corinth for a snap of the canal, then some hours later arrive. Went to the restaurant and had too much food , then on to the Olympia Archaeological site. Then it started raining! Fortunately, our very helpful guide found us and gave us umbrellas. We didn't think we needed them but the as the rain got worse we found out we really did.
So this is a UNESCO World Heritage site. These are always worth visiting because UNESCO doesn't give out World Heritage status willy nilly. It's an archaeological site so essentially foundations but with the information boards, geneally possible to have an impression of what these looked like 2000 years ago. Flickums left an offering to Hera which hopefully means that we'll be looked after if we try to find a golden fleece. We walked through the archway, and arrived at the ancient Stadium, where the ancients would run. I have now also run where they ran.
A few other sites of interest. Sadly the Temple of Zeus was roped off. Of course the statue has long since gone so this is close as I'll get to that particular wonder of the world.
By this point, Flick's feet were feeling a bit sore, and time was getting on so we had a quick look around the museum and headed back to Athens
Right, now I need some sleep.
A very long walk out of the airport, because budget airlines use the gates that are furthest away from the main terminal. Still, managed to get a metro to the city. Quite nice trains, and very cheap, and the station was a stones throw from the hotel. Checked in. Flumped.
Didn't really feel like napping so went to the rooftop pool. Nice but cold. Really hot day though so no complaints there. Walked into town through the Google's shortest route,. which involved going through a fairly tatty part of the city, but as soon as we saw a place with outdoor seating looking very much like we were abruptly in the overpiced tourist district.
We ate a hearty meal, then ate a lot of cheese because Flickums is cartoon-mouse.
Wandered through the tourist tat area. Warded off several attempts to give us a "free" flower. Then had a look at a tourist tat shop and had to fend off an overly pushy saleswoman. We just wanted to look!! We're not buying a figurine yet!
After that, it was time for the only thing we'd actually booked. A rooftop play - 4 man show. I think I was a bit too tired to really follow it but it seemed to be a bunch of stories loosely connected through a framing device of a time traveller or something. Despite not really following what the hell was going on or what the plot was I still rather enjoyed it.
Went for cocktails, Then to bed. Then an early wake-up the following morning because we had our road trip!
Olympia - the sire of the ancient Olympics - is a hour drive away, but was one of the main reasons for the visit - really should have gone when we were in Zakynthos since it's a lot closer. We were met by the driver, who seemed very helpful and seemed disappointed when we didn't let him open the door for us.
We took a brief stop at Corinth for a snap of the canal, then some hours later arrive. Went to the restaurant and had too much food , then on to the Olympia Archaeological site. Then it started raining! Fortunately, our very helpful guide found us and gave us umbrellas. We didn't think we needed them but the as the rain got worse we found out we really did.
So this is a UNESCO World Heritage site. These are always worth visiting because UNESCO doesn't give out World Heritage status willy nilly. It's an archaeological site so essentially foundations but with the information boards, geneally possible to have an impression of what these looked like 2000 years ago. Flickums left an offering to Hera which hopefully means that we'll be looked after if we try to find a golden fleece. We walked through the archway, and arrived at the ancient Stadium, where the ancients would run. I have now also run where they ran.
A few other sites of interest. Sadly the Temple of Zeus was roped off. Of course the statue has long since gone so this is close as I'll get to that particular wonder of the world.
By this point, Flick's feet were feeling a bit sore, and time was getting on so we had a quick look around the museum and headed back to Athens
Right, now I need some sleep.
