Another nice morning, my homeslices, because it started with me SLEEPING IN. Oh, so glorious! Second day in a row after never EVER doing that for a month and a half... SIGH!
I got up when I felt like getting up...11AM sounds more reasonable, eh?
What did I do next? Teehee... El Starbucks, around el corner, chyeah!
It's a nice little walk:
Heading towards it, I walk down (literally) a hill and reached the Zea Harbour --- 2 minutes max. (2nd biggest harbour in Piraeus), make a left and pass through KFC (yes...), Pizza Hut (yeah...) and the really nice restaurant Lianne and I had gone too with the honking swordfish. Then, I pass a supermarket --- so trippy! I went a couple days ago to get some healthy food (I think a fruit should be in order from time to time eh?!) and this place is three stories high. Do you know how you bring your shopping cart up to the next floor with you??? There are conveyor belts you just roll your cart on and bring yourself with it... holy cow... haha, I thought that was something else! I ended staring at the people doing that... until a lady started telling me to get on with it or she would go in front of me at the checkout register... Oops... Sighnomi, sighnomi!
What's conveniently located right next to this store? El Starbucks <3
What is scary about this is that the minute I walked in, the same lady smiled at me and said,"hello!"
I start saying my schpeel, but today....Aye Dios Mio!
She cut me off with a big smile and said, "Tall hot caramel macchiato!!"
Oh dear God.
Some of you will totally get this and will be laughing your asses off at this very moment, and rolling your eyes. I know. I know. I know.
Not only is this Starbucks location a great one, but the employees are like the ones back in North America --- all smiles, welcoming and they REMEMBER REGULARS.
Have I become a regular in Piraeus, GREECE????
HOLY SKATA!
I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Mr. Schmoozer and a Rose
Today was nice. I slept in until 10:30AM, went for a walk to Starbucks (don't roll your eyes!), read a nice email from my person and chatted to some friends back home who apparently don't sleep!
I stayed in town today and ventured into Athens before meeting up with my friend Melina. I did some tourist shopping in the Plaka, got a frappe and stared at the beautiful Acropolis. When 3:30 kicked around, I took the metro to Monastiraki Station where we had settled to meet --- BUENO! There was Melina!
Being a local, she knew where to catch a nice glimpse of the Acropolis from afar while enjoying (yes, another) COLD frappe in this blistering heat -- even at 4PM. We chatted and gossiped our hearts away for hours until hunger set in.
Monastiraki is beautiful --- but when the sun sets --- MUCHA BELLA! We ate at a taverna, where I had my beloved pastitsio, while Melina had chicken souvlaki. Yes, I also had TZAZIKI and we split a Greek Salad --- POLI KALA!
The owner (I presume he was the owner) kept schmoozing in customers and Melina...It was funny, and cute. I only caught glimpses of the conversations --- he came by our table quite often!
Melina and I talked our hearts away here too and before leaving, the owner gave us both roses. Except, little did I know that Melina had told him that I had a boyfriend --- NOT MY WORDS, but daksi, daksi.
So, apparently, my rose came from my boyfriend... Ha. Ha.
The walk back to the metro station was beautiful --- Athens had come to life:
People were eating at every restaurant, the cobblestone streets were lit up by the shop lights and in the background: the Acropolis, lit up like we've all seen in the postcards... BUT SO MUCH MORE OMORFI!
It was so nice to chill out and hang out with a friend in a foreign country --- I loved it. Melina's such good company and a great person -- -we made plans for tomorrow to add more fun to everything!
Until tomorrow, my homeslices, Kali Nikhta <3
I stayed in town today and ventured into Athens before meeting up with my friend Melina. I did some tourist shopping in the Plaka, got a frappe and stared at the beautiful Acropolis. When 3:30 kicked around, I took the metro to Monastiraki Station where we had settled to meet --- BUENO! There was Melina!
Being a local, she knew where to catch a nice glimpse of the Acropolis from afar while enjoying (yes, another) COLD frappe in this blistering heat -- even at 4PM. We chatted and gossiped our hearts away for hours until hunger set in.
Monastiraki is beautiful --- but when the sun sets --- MUCHA BELLA! We ate at a taverna, where I had my beloved pastitsio, while Melina had chicken souvlaki. Yes, I also had TZAZIKI and we split a Greek Salad --- POLI KALA!
The owner (I presume he was the owner) kept schmoozing in customers and Melina...It was funny, and cute. I only caught glimpses of the conversations --- he came by our table quite often!
Melina and I talked our hearts away here too and before leaving, the owner gave us both roses. Except, little did I know that Melina had told him that I had a boyfriend --- NOT MY WORDS, but daksi, daksi.
So, apparently, my rose came from my boyfriend... Ha. Ha.
People were eating at every restaurant, the cobblestone streets were lit up by the shop lights and in the background: the Acropolis, lit up like we've all seen in the postcards... BUT SO MUCH MORE OMORFI!
It was so nice to chill out and hang out with a friend in a foreign country --- I loved it. Melina's such good company and a great person -- -we made plans for tomorrow to add more fun to everything!
Until tomorrow, my homeslices, Kali Nikhta <3
To Delphi!
After our four hour long treck through the sanctuary, we slowly made our way back to the village ... it's only a km but it was so cold --- as gross as this will sound, this day was the day where I sweated the most --- YUCK.
At least, we were walking against the wind, so we got some air... SIGH.
Hunger had set in a long, long time ago and I was ready to eat a freaking elephant. New York had spotted a decently price gyros place on our way to the site so we stopped there for supper.
We walked inside and no one was there... uhm, ok...
A man finally comes out from the back, says, "Please... have a seat!"
That's what I love about Greece, the restaurants or little eateries (which are the best) don't have to look as great from an aesthetics point of view. The Greeks put a whole lot more care into the quality than anything else, and this place was a prime example.
I had a Greek salad -- left the onions and olives alone -- I know, a shame, but I just can't do it --- and a chicken gyros with a COCA COLA. I haven't had a coke in so long and damn, the sugar was welcomed with wide-opened arms.
We toasted to Delphi and left 30 minutes before our bus was scheduled to get here. Right when we paid for supper, which was excellent, the man says, "Wait, my friend!"
Say what?
He pulls out three little shot glasses and says, "Ouzo! Yes?!"
Lianne had told me that this liquor was 'vile' and I hadn't tried it yet... I guess I should at least once before heading back to Canada, eh? He poured a shot for each of us and said, "Just a little bit for me, I'm still working!" Haha, and away we go.
HOLY SKATA.
That was VILE. We laughed and thanked him again and walked out. I was trying to talk to New York and damn! It was burning and I burped a few times... EESH.
We waited a little bit for the bus -- which was fine since the view is OUT OF THIS WORLD. I spotted the tail bit of the Gulf of Corinth and next thing you know: the bus for Athens came around the bend.
In all it was a good day, my homeslices! Once we got into Athens, we said adios and I cabbed back to my hotel where I talked to my little momeyh for a bit, wrote an email to my new favourite person and chatted with my Pylos bait master where I had a few good laughs... and then I called it a night.
BUENO!
At least, we were walking against the wind, so we got some air... SIGH.
Hunger had set in a long, long time ago and I was ready to eat a freaking elephant. New York had spotted a decently price gyros place on our way to the site so we stopped there for supper.
We walked inside and no one was there... uhm, ok...
A man finally comes out from the back, says, "Please... have a seat!"
That's what I love about Greece, the restaurants or little eateries (which are the best) don't have to look as great from an aesthetics point of view. The Greeks put a whole lot more care into the quality than anything else, and this place was a prime example.
I had a Greek salad -- left the onions and olives alone -- I know, a shame, but I just can't do it --- and a chicken gyros with a COCA COLA. I haven't had a coke in so long and damn, the sugar was welcomed with wide-opened arms.
We toasted to Delphi and left 30 minutes before our bus was scheduled to get here. Right when we paid for supper, which was excellent, the man says, "Wait, my friend!"
Say what?
He pulls out three little shot glasses and says, "Ouzo! Yes?!"
Lianne had told me that this liquor was 'vile' and I hadn't tried it yet... I guess I should at least once before heading back to Canada, eh? He poured a shot for each of us and said, "Just a little bit for me, I'm still working!" Haha, and away we go.
HOLY SKATA.
That was VILE. We laughed and thanked him again and walked out. I was trying to talk to New York and damn! It was burning and I burped a few times... EESH.
We waited a little bit for the bus -- which was fine since the view is OUT OF THIS WORLD. I spotted the tail bit of the Gulf of Corinth and next thing you know: the bus for Athens came around the bend.
In all it was a good day, my homeslices! Once we got into Athens, we said adios and I cabbed back to my hotel where I talked to my little momeyh for a bit, wrote an email to my new favourite person and chatted with my Pylos bait master where I had a few good laughs... and then I called it a night.
BUENO!
The Sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi
I went into an info centre and found no help there... I wasn't surprised: the old mand was funny, but helpful like a prickly tack. So I walked out and was about to head towards the ancient site when I saw New York, "Hey, New York! You going to Delphi?"
And as easy as that, I made a friend for the day and we walked to the site. We visited the museum first since it was closing earlier than the actual site. It was really cool: the tall sphinx statue, freizes from the temples, the bronze charioteer... I even bumped into on of my dig's supervisors (again)... What a small freaking world, Man!
New York and I climbed to the site afterwards and we had fun figuring out which ruin was what according to his out-dated map. We finally reached the temple of Apollo.
And as easy as that, I made a friend for the day and we walked to the site. We visited the museum first since it was closing earlier than the actual site. It was really cool: the tall sphinx statue, freizes from the temples, the bronze charioteer... I even bumped into on of my dig's supervisors (again)... What a small freaking world, Man!
New York and I climbed to the site afterwards and we had fun figuring out which ruin was what according to his out-dated map. We finally reached the temple of Apollo.
Later, we reached the theater which was still in use until the early 1900's and then we trecked up to the stadium. It was blistering hot, but so worth it! The stadium, much more well preserved than the one at Olympia, had the stands and fountains still standing. Then, turn around and the view is impeccable...
I spotted the famous temple of Athena down, down, down below... So we climbed back down and walked and walked and walked until we reached the ancient gymnasium and lo and behold --- THE TEMPLE OF ATHENA.
Yes, I was picture happy and got some good shots out my day.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Just a Little Note...
Yiu sas my homeslices!
I would love to post pictures with my posts, but now that I do not have access to Lianne's lovely Mac... it's not that simple. The stories are just as good... just not as colourful...although I think I still do a good job describing my days.
Stay tuned for the pictures though, because as soon as I get back to Canada, I will post a special one with much delayed pictures.
Love, love, love!
I would love to post pictures with my posts, but now that I do not have access to Lianne's lovely Mac... it's not that simple. The stories are just as good... just not as colourful...although I think I still do a good job describing my days.
Stay tuned for the pictures though, because as soon as I get back to Canada, I will post a special one with much delayed pictures.
Love, love, love!
Switch it Back!
And so today's big adventure was to visit the ancient site of Delphi where lays the Temple of Apollo, the Treasury of the Athenians, and the famous Tholos at the santuary of Athena Pronaia.
I really wanted to make a trip up to Delphi and in all honesty, I was a little skeptical. I wasn't sure how this was going to pan-out, but I just went with it and I knew things would work themselves out.
The ride was great --- I had a window seat and the view... Holy Cow.
Once we reached Livadeia, the mountains started to show themselves and OH THEE MU was it ever beautiful! So many memories from my trip to the Rockies came back to mind -- except these mountains didn't have any snow on their peaks... which was weird.
We were doing switch backs after switch backs. I'm so impressed with what these Greek coach busses can do: up and down steep MOUNTAINS, drive through the skinniest streets I've ever seen in my life and make the sickest turns on roads I thought would be impossible --- I suppose all of the above do seem impossible if you are not Greek...!
The drive took three hours and a half and I loved it. I listened to my music on my iPod, which consisted of a playlist I had dedicated to my brother: Tech Nine's 'Worldwide Choppers', 'So Lonely'; Travis Barker's smashing CD, T.I, Busta, Eminem and Chris Brown's 'Beautiful People'. On the other hand, I had a playlist dedicated to my favourite songs and hit singles, coincidently, loads of them had played all night long on that famous last night in Pylos --- It brought back good memories.
Anyway, we finally arrived at the modern town of Delphi, which is right at the bottom of MT. PARNASSUS. Glorious moment --- seeing that mountain was on the top of my list homeslices!
I got off the bus and had until 6PM to venture in Apollo's domain. Let the fun begin!
I really wanted to make a trip up to Delphi and in all honesty, I was a little skeptical. I wasn't sure how this was going to pan-out, but I just went with it and I knew things would work themselves out.
The ride was great --- I had a window seat and the view... Holy Cow.
Once we reached Livadeia, the mountains started to show themselves and OH THEE MU was it ever beautiful! So many memories from my trip to the Rockies came back to mind -- except these mountains didn't have any snow on their peaks... which was weird.
We were doing switch backs after switch backs. I'm so impressed with what these Greek coach busses can do: up and down steep MOUNTAINS, drive through the skinniest streets I've ever seen in my life and make the sickest turns on roads I thought would be impossible --- I suppose all of the above do seem impossible if you are not Greek...!
The drive took three hours and a half and I loved it. I listened to my music on my iPod, which consisted of a playlist I had dedicated to my brother: Tech Nine's 'Worldwide Choppers', 'So Lonely'; Travis Barker's smashing CD, T.I, Busta, Eminem and Chris Brown's 'Beautiful People'. On the other hand, I had a playlist dedicated to my favourite songs and hit singles, coincidently, loads of them had played all night long on that famous last night in Pylos --- It brought back good memories.
Anyway, we finally arrived at the modern town of Delphi, which is right at the bottom of MT. PARNASSUS. Glorious moment --- seeing that mountain was on the top of my list homeslices!
I got off the bus and had until 6PM to venture in Apollo's domain. Let the fun begin!
Mr. Cool and New York
Starting fresh this morning, I tackled another idea I've had simmering in my head for a while. I asked the lovely desk lady to call a cab for me and headed towards another intercity bus station (the equivalent of the Greyhounds, back home).
The cab driver looks at me within the first few seconds after I got in and says, "Where are you from?!"
"CANADA!"
"Ah! Canada! Beautiful country!"
(To skero! Hahaa, I know!)
"My friend went there for a week and loved it... But he didn't know English and his friend who invited him didn't bring him to visit places...."
That sucks. We chatted all the way and he was very cool. He was pointing out some national monuments here and there, let me know when the Acropolis was in distant site of the highway, and talked about his city in general. He told me that for the Olympic Games in '04 that the city got re-vamped -- totally cleaned up and that it was beautiful. It makes sense.
Anyway, as we reached the station, he turns to me and explains that when I come back tonight from my day-trip (which you will know in due time my homeslices) that the driver should start the meter and should give me a receipt. He was so considerate and concerned for my safety that it made me love Greece even more: I've dealt with nothing with great people from the get-go.
I went in the station and bought my ticket and the waiting game began. I got there well in advance, just in case, because depending on the day, my destination is not available on the day of...makes sense?
I walked over to the actual bus 15 minutes before it was supposed to leave and sat on one of the benches. A minute goes by and the guy sitting next to me asks, "Have you been to Delphi before?"
I turn towards him and say, "No...! I haven't, you?"
He hadn't either.
It's such a damn small world --- he's from upstate New York --- Say what?! That's only about nine hours from Ottawa! Holy Skata! Small world, indeed. We start talking a little bit and next thing you know --- it's time to go.
NEXT STOP: DELPHI!
The cab driver looks at me within the first few seconds after I got in and says, "Where are you from?!"
"CANADA!"
"Ah! Canada! Beautiful country!"
(To skero! Hahaa, I know!)
"My friend went there for a week and loved it... But he didn't know English and his friend who invited him didn't bring him to visit places...."
That sucks. We chatted all the way and he was very cool. He was pointing out some national monuments here and there, let me know when the Acropolis was in distant site of the highway, and talked about his city in general. He told me that for the Olympic Games in '04 that the city got re-vamped -- totally cleaned up and that it was beautiful. It makes sense.
Anyway, as we reached the station, he turns to me and explains that when I come back tonight from my day-trip (which you will know in due time my homeslices) that the driver should start the meter and should give me a receipt. He was so considerate and concerned for my safety that it made me love Greece even more: I've dealt with nothing with great people from the get-go.
I went in the station and bought my ticket and the waiting game began. I got there well in advance, just in case, because depending on the day, my destination is not available on the day of...makes sense?
I walked over to the actual bus 15 minutes before it was supposed to leave and sat on one of the benches. A minute goes by and the guy sitting next to me asks, "Have you been to Delphi before?"
I turn towards him and say, "No...! I haven't, you?"
He hadn't either.
It's such a damn small world --- he's from upstate New York --- Say what?! That's only about nine hours from Ottawa! Holy Skata! Small world, indeed. We start talking a little bit and next thing you know --- it's time to go.
NEXT STOP: DELPHI!
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