Athens

 Thursday, September 14, 2023

C

orinthian, Parthenon, and Acropolis are the cities we plan to explore today.  But before I begin with that story, let me share my observations.

 The Marriott 5 star hotel by American standards falls below expectations.  The toilet and bath space is cramped and there’s hardly any place to put other toiletries.  But the twin beds smelled of fresh laundered linens with its plump pillows and thick blankets.  The view overlooking the city is pleasant and inviting.  The dinner buffet has many selections and the food was surprisingly delicious. 

We are staying here for the next 2 days so Tere and I hand washed some underwear to use in the foreseeable next few days.  Hopefully, it will dry up before we leave the place.

What surprised me about Athens was a keen observation as the bus rolled through the city.  I   did not see any camping tents as often the case in some urban cities like San Francisco.  The “unhoused,” a genteel and kind way of addressing the people who are homeless, are nowhere to be found at least along the roads the bus traversed.

The buildings although a mix of the old and new, do not show any litter unlike perhaps a busy one like New York.  Size wise and population density not aligned for true comparisons (apples to oranges), I cannot help but admire the relatively well kept city streets in Athens.

The roads though are tight and narrow as are most of the vehicles.  The small 2 seater SMART car which I rarely see in the US roads are quite common here.  Everything in America seems to be much bigger, grander like the  outsize family vehicles.  Athens courts it’s own charms and the city is quite beautiful in its own way.

We went to Corinth first to see the ruins then off to a restaurant with a view to the bluest water I have ever seen.  We feasted on seafood - sardines, anchovies, and calamari with freshly baked bread and salad.  It was delicious.

Restaurant with Blue Waters