Greece

We arrived at Athens airport and after three trains and a bus we found our way to the hostel. The first advice we received was to take anything valuable out of our back pockets. Apparently, pickpockets are professionals in Athens and their office is a packed bus or subway. They usually work in groups of 2 or 3 and wear nice clothing as deceptive camouflage. But we did arrive to the hostel with our valuables still in hand and headed straight to the roof top bar to sample Mythos Greek beer with a wonderful view of the Acropolis. We met some Aussies, which seem to make up the biggest traveling population in the world, and watched the 6th Century BC structure light up in the night before we headed out for some gyros.

The next day we walked around the town and visited the “flea market” which is really just a bunch of shops selling tourist stuff. However, on the weekend vendors bring their wares so perhaps then it has that flea market feel. We made our way up to the Acropolis, Zeus’s Temple, and finally watched the changing of the guard in front of the Greek Parliament. After a day of wandering we head back to the bar to take in some more beers and views.

In the morning we caught the Nova Ferry out to Aegina, one of the Greek Islands with great seafood, ouzo, and beaches. We found a nice restaurant on the coast and ordered the octopus and a shot of ouzo, not really knowing what to expect, we were pleasantly surprised with the octopus; kind of like calamari, but octopus. The ouzo tasted like black licorice. After consuming our 8 legged friend we walked around the streets taking in the local fish market, fruit stalls, and little shops. Now it was time for the beach. We found a little spot with just a couple of speedos swimming around and dove in. On the way back to the main land we decided on the Flying Dolphin hydrofoil back to Athens to catch our 11 pm flight to Cairo!