Arriving at Athens Airport set a whole new standard for circumstances. Fresh, clean, uncrowded; in a word, familiar. That is, I could have been arriving at Canberra Airport. Interactions with officials and information kiosk women were smooth and conducted in flawless English. I had been a little uncertain about arriving and not being met by someone (trained by Egypt) but it was completely unnecessary concern (of course).
I caught the Metro into Sytagma Square ('Central') where I had been told I could acquire a local SIM and a local wireless broadband at a shop called "Public". The information was correct and the transaction, though somewhat protracted, went smoothly. I now have local handheld and laptop Internet connectivity everywhere in Greece!
It was only a short walk from there to my hotel, the Athens Gate. It's an unprepossessing hotel from outside, but it has been recently refurbished so it is very modern, clean and chic inside. I loved it immediately; my kind of hotel. By the time I' checked in it was almost 3pm. I hadn't eaten since breakfast, so the first order of business was food. I was told that the bar on the roof served snacks, so I headed there. I am so glad I did.
This is the view from the rooftop bar/restaurant of my hotel. I really don't need to say anything more.
I felt that I could reach out and touch it! I'm sitting there again writing this, and I still feel that I can just reach over. I don't believe that I could imagine a more extraordinary view to have from your hotel in Athens! Thank you, Kim Glazer; great pick. This is the view out the other side of the hotel from the same bar/restaurant.
I sat on the side overlooking Zeus's temple as they were setting the other side for dinner. The view over Athens was just wonderful.
I ordered a grilled chicken on green salad and when it arrived the food was so well prepared, so fresh, so full of flavour, I was back in heaven! I felt like I ws at home with the excellent food, the excellent service, but clearly not at home with the excellent view! The lovely waitress, Chrissa, reminds me of my friend Pam Giannakakis at home, so I'm feeling even more comfortable. Chrissa patiently tolerates my flirting just as Pam does.
I'm so content there that I sit for four hours, catching up with online stuff, sipping wine and eventually ordering a cheese plate to substitute for dinner. I leave to return to my room at a bit before 8:00pm and the restaurant is still empty. It is custom to eat (much) later in Greece, apparently. 10pm is not an unusual time to sit to dinner. Well, for the Greeks, it's unusual for me, I can tell you.
Here's that view again, at night. I will never tire of it, I feel sure.
I caught the Metro into Sytagma Square ('Central') where I had been told I could acquire a local SIM and a local wireless broadband at a shop called "Public". The information was correct and the transaction, though somewhat protracted, went smoothly. I now have local handheld and laptop Internet connectivity everywhere in Greece!
It was only a short walk from there to my hotel, the Athens Gate. It's an unprepossessing hotel from outside, but it has been recently refurbished so it is very modern, clean and chic inside. I loved it immediately; my kind of hotel. By the time I' checked in it was almost 3pm. I hadn't eaten since breakfast, so the first order of business was food. I was told that the bar on the roof served snacks, so I headed there. I am so glad I did.
This is the view from the rooftop bar/restaurant of my hotel. I really don't need to say anything more.
 |
| OMG! That's the Parthenon on the Acropolis! |
I felt that I could reach out and touch it! I'm sitting there again writing this, and I still feel that I can just reach over. I don't believe that I could imagine a more extraordinary view to have from your hotel in Athens! Thank you, Kim Glazer; great pick. This is the view out the other side of the hotel from the same bar/restaurant.
 |
| The Temple of the Olympian Zeus |
I ordered a grilled chicken on green salad and when it arrived the food was so well prepared, so fresh, so full of flavour, I was back in heaven! I felt like I ws at home with the excellent food, the excellent service, but clearly not at home with the excellent view! The lovely waitress, Chrissa, reminds me of my friend Pam Giannakakis at home, so I'm feeling even more comfortable. Chrissa patiently tolerates my flirting just as Pam does.
I'm so content there that I sit for four hours, catching up with online stuff, sipping wine and eventually ordering a cheese plate to substitute for dinner. I leave to return to my room at a bit before 8:00pm and the restaurant is still empty. It is custom to eat (much) later in Greece, apparently. 10pm is not an unusual time to sit to dinner. Well, for the Greeks, it's unusual for me, I can tell you.
Here's that view again, at night. I will never tire of it, I feel sure.
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