Xαίρε Αθήνα !

Home for not quite two weeks from the U.S., we are out again, this time for a six-day research trip to Athens/Greece. Don't know how many times we've visited Athens - starting in the early 1980ies as students of archeology, and returned quite often, later for our guide books. The city has changed considerably in the course of time, it is much cleaner and more attractive now. Even the riots and the economical crises a couple of years ago seems to be over, or at least isn't as obvious anymore.

It's not really been our day. First, we needed to visit the medical services at Munich Airport because of Peter's eye infection (which had become worse again, plus, he had forgotten to bring his antibiotics). Our flight with Aegean was smooth (pics above taken over the Alps and before landing in Athens), and, we even got a hot meal during the 2:15 hour-flight! Then we had to wait about 1/2 hour for the train into town and, in total, it took us about 2 hours from touch-down to the hotel (not much less than in NYC!). Second mishap was, that we would almost have been robbed on the train, while exiting. Nobody could say, we aren't travel-savvy, but we were distracted by a not-working door, and, to make a long story short: Peter was stolen his little cardholder (credit cards/I.D., no money), but an elderly gent (not sure whether he was involved in this whole group action or not) gave it back to us when the train was about to depart; we didn't even notice before. My purse was open, too, but nothing missing. Lucky us!!!

Checked into the Ibis Styles Athens Routes, just open since August, brandnew and comfy, with great service. A little out of downtown, though, in the Neos Kosmos neighborhood, but by subway and with a 5-day-ticket for 9 Euro, not a big deal.

Checked in and went out again to explore old town, though it got dark briefly after 5 pm. Amazed about all the Xmas decoration (usually Greeks don't celebrate our classical Christmas, but celebrate on Jan. 6), we walked the loop around the Acropolis and its fantastic museum by night (pics) and through the Plaka (pic below) before we ended up in our fav souvlaki place and had dinner for 20 Euro in total.

Walked about 8 miles in 3 hours and are tired now.