The next day we took a bus tour around and saw the achaeological museum. It was big, and kind of unorganized. Incredible, in the scope of things they've saved, but it was a little like taking a tour of your grandmother's house. A lot of stuff that there are short anecdotes about, but you don't really understand why they should be important because it is hard to imagine what belongs behind glass taking part in actual living. The best parts of the museum were the weapons that had deteriorated and the jewelry that hadn't. I mean, besides the amazing bit of pottery that they salvaged and helped recreate. That's cool, the patchwork preservation. I approve of that. It's amazing to see what went where and the sheer scope of the crastsmanship.
The acropolis and museum were free because technically i'm an EU student! :3
The bus tour could have been discounted, but I didnt know to ask until after I was on the bus and read the back of the seat. Of course.
The souvenirs here are as cheap as souvenirs really ahould be. Same with the food.
Sunday we went on a day cruise to see three of the islands. It was beautiful, but according to the taxi cab (also surprisingly cheap) driver I just met, the best islands are the ones tourists don't see. (SHOCK.) Or course, I will forever believe that seeing tourist shit is better than seeing nothing at all. I felt the same about hawaii. If you don't have a car and a gps, get on the tourist bandwagon, coz it's better than telling the story of the shit you didnt do.
Having a hat is amazing. Seriously. I couldn't do sunglasses because perscription vision is a pain in the ass (explain to me again how lasik is elective over years and years of appointments, insurance. Same thing with orthodonture. Fuck you.) And a hat has made all the difference. I got it a little big, apparently, it flew off twice, but I love it, and it and sunscreen worked incredibly well.
I even have a tinybabytan line on my feet! I didnt even know I could do that! My sister's sock-tanline of '02 summer in idaho kicks my tanline's ass, but it's there and it doesn't scrub off!
Athens is covered in graffiti. I mean COVERED. the only building I saw without graffiti were official ones and a whitewashed tattoo parlour. Also there is pee on the widewalks (which Iearned to look for in seattle, so that's hardly REALLY a commentary on the city), and I know most people would call it dirty.
Honestly, though, the city reminds me so much more of a kid's bedroom. There is stuff all over the place, sure, and could probably use a good scrub, but these buildings (and those toys) have been here since birth and just because YOU don't know your way around doesn't mean it's chaotic to anyone else. Because it's THEIRS and you probably don't belong anyway. And I have to say that I like it that way. Getting caught up in the ground is a mistake anyway. If you keep looking at the messy floor you miss the amazing beauty right above you. The plants alone are worth the visit. Thousands of plants merely like the little patios. Hundreds of beautiful flowering trees. A trillion purple blossoms color the sky and litter the tiny churches that make a dozen tiny squares all over the city. Flowers i've never even seen before suddenly invading my sense of smell and making me wish I knew their names so I could see about planting them at home.
And the food. I have not had a single bad meal. Even the crappy cafeteria-style eating on the daycruise was still tasty.
I've only used my pocket camera and phone because it's been hazy and carrying around my big camera seemed like too much of a pain in the ass. But here are a few shota from my phone:
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