We got back yesterday from a week in Athens - visiting Del's friend Kylie and her husband and two beautiful girls, and having a look around "the old stuff" (Jack's words). We had such a wonderful time - the weather was wonderful (only one day and two evenings of rain - one of which we got drenched in!), it was great to spend time with Kylie and her family, the food is fantastic, and Athens just has an energy about it that is wonderful.
The trip started in a rush for me (Andrew) - just landed, picked up at the airport, then left Delanie to check in while I was whisked away for an afternoon and evening experiencing Greek food, Greek coffee, Dutch beer, and football Pirareus style - watching the local team Ethnicos play. A great experience - chanting, yelling at the ref, fireworks, streamers thrown onto the pitch, having to go outside the stadium beside the road to have a leak because there were no toilets open inside the stadium, and flares and hugs from the guy next door to you when Ethnicos scored! I am now a diehard Enthnicos fan - they're second in the league and playing this Sunday. I need to find a way to find out the results here in Dubai....
Below is the view from our hotel balcony. The Acropolis looms over you when in central Athens - and is an awesome thing to see.
Jack and Jaime on the steps outside the hotel. The weather was coolish, but only really cold at night. After 11 months in Dubai it was kind of cool to rug up at night. Delanie wore shoes (not sandals) for the first time in about 10 months!
On Day two Kylie and her family took us on a trip across to Aegina - an island close to Athens. The weather again was very kind. There are some very beautiful spots even this close to the mainland - as you can see below.
When we arrived at Aegina we were greeted with the most beautiful village - the colours and architecture just about made me stand still. Even in late November the place was buzzing - it must be crazy during summer.
A friend of Kylie's husband's has a holiday home there - with the most amazing outlook, as you can see in the picture below. The water is breathtakingly clear - and at this time of year breathtakingly cold!
But - as you can see below, we just had to have a swim. Jaime handled it pretty well. Jack developed a mild case of hypothermia - well you would think that from the way that he carried on! I had no swimming gear, so asked to borrow something. Got given the tiny tight little things you can see below....couldn't really say no. Then had it pointed out to me that I should be feeling very good about wearing them - they were PRADA! Probably cost more than all the clothing I left sitting back at the house. First and last time I will wear Prada I reckon. First and last time I will wear togs that small as well....
After the swim we wandered into the township for a (very) leisurely lunch. Fantastic - the Greeks know how to live. Plates of food just kept coming - fish, calamari, octopus, spinach-like stuff (can't pronounce it), beetroot salad, fried cheese, amazing Greek salad..... fussy pants Delanie even ate some!
Actually Delanie was very good with the food - she loved Tzatziki, Greek salad, their wonderful potato salad, and souvlaki. She found a local cafe the first evening with Kylie in the Plaka, and we must have gone back to eat there 7 or 8 times. I don't think it had anything to do with the fake Prada and Guess handbags in the market just outside.... although a few of those did join us in the suitcase on the way home.
Next day we wandered around a bit and then went up the Acropolis. It is an amazing place, and we were lucky to see it on a day when the weather was just gorgeous. It's not too much of a hike up there, but if I had a dollar for every time Jaime complained about being tired, we could've stayed for another week!
That night I had a real treat. Kylie's husband is a good friend of Marc Anthony - yep Marc Anthony who is Jennifer Lopez's husband! So - I was able to meet Marc at the hotel where he was staying in the Penthouse Suite, go backstage at the concert then spend a bit of time in the dressing room afterwards before he got on the private plane back to LA. Watched videos of his kids on his Blackberry. Nice dude. Then went to coolest club in Athens where I was the oldest ugliest and poorest guy in the room. A really amazing evening - thanks to Kylie's husband.
Needless to say, the next morning I was quite fragile.... and even after Delanie kindly took the kids out for the morning I wasn't too keen on the planned trip to a Monastery/Church that Delanie had been to when in Athens with Ian and Viv as a child. A few hundred steps to the start of the cable car to the top just about did for me, but after that I started to feel more human. Below you can see the walking path to the top - which Delanie remembers from more than 20 years ago when she was there.
We did a bus tour of Athens for two days and saw lots of old things. It was nice to see some fat people again also.... as in Dubai everyone is skinny.
On our last morning we walked to Thessio and had a look at the Temple of Fire it was stunning. It looks like the Partheon. We then sat in the sun and had a drink each, actually Jaime didn't have a drink so just 3 drinks ordered and it cost over $50 Kiwi. Lucky it was nice sitting in the sun. Why is the Euro so damned strong!
All in all a great place, and we had so much fun. Every one of us wants to go back soon.
