Woke up at 6am local time. I started the day off by looking out onto the street from window at people sitting in front of Rich Market and Coffee house. I was wondering what happened in their lives, what it would be like to live their life. An exercise they give to creative writers is to sit in a railway station and ponder upon the experiences of strangers. I have always done it. Some of us do.
I cleared up why the bathroom light wasn’t coming on last night and I had to do everything last night and this morning with the torch on my phone. You had to insert your card. The pretty receptionist told me (my friends have told me not to describe anyone as pretty in my writing but I also describe men as handsome, so I’m not going to stop doing it).
Breakfast of apricot and strawberry marmalade on slices of white bread and then banana bread with fresh fruits, pistachios and a fruit coulis. The breakfast bar had a huge clothespin as a seat. I ate the breakfast in solitude which will be a feature of this trip, I guess. A young lady came in while my food was being prepared and then sat herself down hidden in the corner to be joined by an older lady, which somewhat heightened the isolation.
As I waited for my tour guide, I saw a cat sitting out the front door. Watched it stretching itself as it got up. Cats are running all around the place. It is a city of cats.
I was lounging around on this plush green sofa that they had. Waiting for my tour of the Acropolis and the Acropolis museum. Suddenly, this beautiful blonde woman Eva that looked like what you’d imagine a Greek goddess looked like came and recognised me as her client straight away.
We had a great conversation from the first as I know a lot about Ancient Greece and Athens. I studied Ancient Greek at school in lunchtimes and did Classical Civilisation and Ancient History for ‘A’ Levels. All ‘A’ grades. Eva had trained as an archaeologist.
There were so many things we talked about four hours. Women in Athens, past and modern. Slaves. Construction methods. Life in contemporary Athens. The cats in the city. We started off at Hadrian’s library, the second largest library in the Ancient world, the Agora and Monasteraki.
First ticketed stop was the museum of the Acropolis. Ostentatiously new and very clean and organised inside, with the gallery attendants shouting at visitors not to take photos, which I found quite amusing. We spoke about Medusa, Poisedon, Athena, Hephaestus, Hermes, Zeus. Eva was telling me mythological stories and I was telling her my personal interpretations.
The Acropolis next after the Roman concert hall and my first Roman Amphitheatre. We spoke about the drama contests and our favourites from Sophocles, Aeschylus, Aristophanes and Aeschylus. Eva’s was Sophocles. Mine? Aeschylus. For the poetry. Aeschylus is closer to the epics. And like myself, he comes from the warrior culture. He fought the Persians. Eva took photos of me at the Acropolis, talking about Nero and Alexander the Great. My observation was that the Acropolis has always been a propaganda piece throughout its history. Nowadays for Greek nationalism.
Said goodbye to Eva after tipping her ten euros and dropping the coins from the envelope everywhere as the Englishman throwing money around. Two cops helped us pick up the coins. Said my goodbyes as Eva told me to make sure I ate lots (which is what my mum says!) and she directed me to the way to Philopappos Hill (also known as the Hill of the Muses), a green, 147-meter-high hill located directly southwest of the Acropolis of Athens. A great climb with some kind of hippy flower ceremony at the top with a striking Greek lady in traditional dress. She reminded me of someone. Fantastic views at the top of the mountains, the city and the sea. Great photos too.
Walked down into a flea market (Monasteraki flea market?). Massive. Great to see this stuff and all the beautiful people in Athens. I bought some great little statues of the goddesses. Why not? On my mother’s side, we worship the Mother Goddess. Two Aphrodites (I’m named after the Hindu god of love, she is my counterpart), and Diana the goddess of the hunt. A few fridge magnets in relief including a Caryatis, Aphrodite and an unknown female figure.
Thissio hotel for lunch. A ham, cheese and tomato toastie with tap water. Later tried a Visto sour cherry soda and a Gulliver chocolate trio. The ice cream was cheap and great and the soda was okay too. Looked about the stoa renovation and the Roman agora as well.
Home for a thirty minute nap then the Athens National Gardens. Beautiful and refreshing. I’ve been to the best gardens in Athens, Paris, London and Washington DC now. Botanical labels on trees such as the Flame tree and the Mediterranean Cyprus. The trip reminded me of a boat ride me and my girlfriend did in nature.
Walked out of the gardens by coincidence straight into the Olympic park museum! Last time I did the 400m it was as an Athenian on sports day. We had houses at school and mine was Athens. I’m a time of about 70 s. I was about seventeen.
Today, I ran in the original Olympics stadium in Athens! Afterwards I jogged around and did the 400 m in 2 minutes and 18 seconds (in jeans and a blazer fully loaded up in the pockets!).
Dinner in the KFC on the way home. Because I tipped Eva, I took cheaper options on the dinner and ice cream to make it up for myself. I don’t need to budget but I’ve been raised by poor people. It’s hard to be completely free with money. I enjoyed the cheaper options anyway. No loss.
At the KFC, the server called out my order number half in Greek and half in English -Seventy-Penthe. Just like always, when I needed it, suddenly I could understand Greek. It’s how my mind works.
Got back to the hotel and called my girlfriend. Then headed out for a walk. I ended up in an Abyssinian dance and music event behind Misifir Agora. Fun watching the kids and ladies dancing and fun to see diversity in action on my trip to Greece.
Walked through a great big Halloween display again. It is truly massive. Neon lights everywhere. Great fun.
Said goodnight to friendly Sophia on reception for the last time. She taught me the Greek: Kalenikee.
Listening to some guy snoring through the wall right now before I get to sleep.
