A photo that was taken by mistake when Jacq was handing me back my camera - but I like it!
I am going to toot my own horn for a second and lay claim to one of the best El Presidente decisions of all time. When it’s not a social situation in regards to finding bars as a drink is still a drink, being the President in a tourist sense is far more volatile. Generally you are allowed a longer reign as usually, your ‘people’ haven’t been to the area either. Being left in charge for longer puts more pressure on to deliver & also far bigger chance of being exiled if your leadership turns sour and takes you miles off course...!!
El Presidente y his public...!
There I was, El Presidente and leading his entire country of 9 on a mission to find lunch... Not too hard you say...? But consider this, we were smack bang in tourist land, just off the Acropolis where you have to be naturally suspicious that each vender will sell you a sub standard meal at an exorbitant price. Add on to that we had Wishy & Jacq who were working to backpackers budgets – no bad and actually quite a wise way to travel for even the richest holiday maker, Lynda & Toni – quite fussy vegetarian’s and for all the wrong reasons, then there were the Argy’s who refuse to eat red meat anywhere else in the world unless it’s cooked in Argentina – they truly do believe that they cook steak the best!!
Jacq shoots her mouth off in this cool little market district!
We’d stop at this menu on display and then the next... I’d stay back & hover, comfortable in the fact that I was easy to feed. I’d hear a displeased whisper or a groan and then move the ‘country’ onwards. Then the danger signs started to creep in... cries of being hungry, parched for thirst... As the people gathered around yet another menu, I perused one for a place just around the corner and up a hill slightly... There were tables in the shade and the man was most enthusiastic to get us to sit down... He mentioned that his was not a tourist place, that his prices were fair and his servings good (standard lines) and then he offered 10% discount... There was a call from the People as to what I was doing and I made to leave, fully intending to bring everyone to me but hoping that what did happen would happen... Upon seeing how many people were in my group, I was offered 15% discount and a free beverage for myself – all of which he wrote on one of his business cards!!
The Wiggles Dance on approach to the Top Of The Acrop!
I got to admit, my selling point to the People was going to be the discount if the meal was crap but the food was gold!! Really generous portions with every party satisfied and it was also a genuine 15% off the menu – it wasn’t made up for with surprise hidden extras etc. I immediately resigned my Presidency once the bill was settled, quite proud of the fact that not a scrap of food was left on the table, a true measure as to the success of the G9 Summit – Gastronomic 9!!
The Temple Of Zues The Olympian!
Another great thing about having a week in Athens was I got to ‘Get Lost’!! I can’t remember if I’ve written about them before but when ever I’m travelling and in a new city & the timeframe allows, I like to just put the headphones on and go walking. No destination in mind, just a whole day ahead of me, usually always without a map, to walk around and get away from the destinations & hotspots and actually see the other side, the real side to a city. The rules are, you can’t catch a cab and public transport is a last resort and only used if there are timelines involved eg. a show. I was lucky on this particular day that there were no time ties of any kind and so off I set.
Me thrashing Dan to the finish @ The Temple Of Zues The Olympian!
By doing these explorations I create a soundtrack to the city that is far more of a memory trigger than any one photo. Sometimes months later, I’ll have my music playing and a song will come on and then halfway through this vivid memory of a certain area, a coffee, kids playing in the street, a certain view will come flooding back. It’s quite tangible and reminds me of things that I probably wouldn’t have otherwise.
Dan y I envoke the Gods at the Parthenon!
On this little adventure the highlight was definitely this huge graveyard I found. It was massive and I actually became stuck in there for a good half hour when trying to find an exit! Where about it is in Athens I have no idea, all I know is that I set out at just after 10am and found the graveyard at around 130pm..!!
By about 530pm I was getting pretty tired and looking to find my way home, actually, I had been looking to find my way home for about the last hour!! I will freely admit, I was well & truly lost! Probably more lost than I have ever been before – which is the whole aim of the exercise but it’s always good to be back, nearly on track by mid afternoon or at least have an idea as to which way ‘home’ is... I clearly did not!! Toni & Lynda rang though saying they were heading out for dinner if I wanted to join them. I did but I had no idea where the meeting point (which I knew) was in relation to my present position and it was now starting to get dark which changes the landscape ten fold and makes you miss landmarks you could easily identify in daylight!!
At about 715pm I came up on the opposite side of The Temple Of The Olympian Zeus, knew where I was and quickly made my way to Toni and Lynda, slightly late but in need of a drink!!
Huzzah!
Yet another turtle... who obviously can't read Greek or English!
The streets are littered with these tiny kiosks. All 3 walls facing the streets are like this & they're usually accompainied by drinks fridges. Each one stocks different stuff. Shop around and you'll find your beverage of choice!
On the Rock Of The Acropolis - not sure what's just come out of my nose but I hadn't sneezed...! In all serious, as a weird side note to travel - everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere, commercial airliners leave behind a 'tail'. In both warm & cold weather. That doesn't happen in the Southern Hemisphere and no one can explain to me why...!!
This guy and a mate do their own 'Changing Of The Guard' and it's quite a cute little procession - especially as they have pom-poms on their shoes. The process of finishing the sequence and entering the shade of their litle guard huts is quite entertaining!
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