| Submitted by: Mark NowakUnited States |
| Submission Date: 10 February 2005 |
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Most people left today. I got up to say see Luz off on to the express bus to the airport. She was going to fly to Rome and tour more of Europe. Janet, Mary Jane, Audrey and I were there at 7:00 or so. I later took the same taxi to the airport with Nick, Mary Jane and Audrey after saying goodbye to Janet, Carol and Barb. Nick explained to the driver that I was in search of a Hard Rock Cafe in Athens and to keep driving until I gave up. We said our goodbyes and I drove on. It wasn't long before I gave up. I came to the conclusion that if there had been a Hard Rock Cafe, it closed with the closing of the military base because it wasn't in the nightlife guide and the concierge had no clue -- neither did the driver.
With some difficulty I managed to take a bus to Eleusis where a mysterious cult came to worship and discuss the secrets of life and death as handled down by Demeter. The secrets were just that and to this day no one knows waht they were because the penalty for revealing them was death. It was 2:45 when I finally stepped through the gate. I was promptly told they were closed and I had to come back tomorrow. I managed to take one picture of what ruins I could see before I left with one of the security guards who showed me where the bus station was.
His name was Spiros, and he spoke English fairly well. He may have been in his early twenties. He told me that he had been in the States in California and liked it a lot. When I told him I was born in Poland, he confessed that he felt Americans take for granted what they have and aren't as family oriented. Americans are more stressed out while Greeks are more laid back. In fact, one of the hotel clerks at the Grand Hotel had asked me if I was born in the US. When I told him I wasn't, he said he didn't think so. I asked him why, and he said that for one thing I was calmer than the other Americans.
Spiros also said that when Polish people come to Greece, they work very hard. He told me that he had studied computer science, had to do a mandatory stint in the military -- 18 or 19 months for him, and was training for his first marathon. He had a hard time finding a job, but he landed the one at the museum on contract. I had run three marathons, the last in the early part of June, so we had plenty to talk about. He was worried about being able to finish, but when he told me how he trained, I had no doubt he would finish and finish well. After the bus stopped at the station, he walked me to Omonia Square just to make sure I made it back okay.
I ate at my first three-level Wendy's. The second level was even split into two more. I've never been to a Wendy's with an elevator before. Alone and in Athens, I did a walking tour at my own pace. I went through the Plaka, went by the Acropolis, watched the changing of the guard again, returned for dinner at the hotel, read a little and then went out one last time to see the city at night. I even caught the changing of the guard again at midnight. I had one last iced coffee at the Neon and went to bed only to be woken up by a wake-up call at 4:00 AM.
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I checked out, and the clerk brought me a breakfast tray in the lobby. I very much appreciated it. My extra night at the Grand hotel cost 8000 drachma (about $35). For that I got an air conditioned single room, dinner and breakfast -- not bad. It was still dark when I walked over to the express bus stop for the airport at 5:00. It was the same spot I got off the bus in Athens some three weeks ago. In 30 minutes, I was on my way. I checked in, but I didn't have time to wait in line to change my money before getting on my 7:30 AM flight to Rome -- Alitalia flight 487. That was a shame because changing money back at O'Hare airport in Chicago was costly. In Rome, I had about 90 minutes. I took Alitalia flight 664 to Chicago at 10:00 AM. I ended up sitting next to a guy who had spent a week in Italy on business. We talked quite a bit and he wanted to know how the women of Greece compared to the women of Italy. It must be a Mediterranean thing because they tend to have a very natural beauty. For example, you just don't see them overdosing on makeup or sporting complicated hair styles, waves or perms or Honestly, they just don't need them. The movies were 'Untamed Heart' and 'Groundhog Day.'
When I got home, I found I had lost a couple of pounds probably due to all the hiking we did. In three weeks I had gone through 9 and 1/2 rolls of film. I can't say enough about Greece. Throughout my stay I kept thinking how glad I was to be there. I highly recommend a stay of some significant amout of time in Greece to enjoy not just the beaches and nightlife but also the history, culture and people as well. Feel free to write me if you have any questions or comments at markn@ssd.comm.mot.com.
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