Its all (going to be) Greek to me

 

In search of knowledge we head off to perhaps its birthplace. Launching this next instalment of the blog from the luxury of the T5 BA Club Lounge. Feel remarkably at home here it must be said, treated to a bloody mary, english breakfast, prosecco, fruit and yoghurt breakfast, coffee, toast and butter breakfast, and an american whiskey, breakfast had finished ... midday!

Bryn took us up the airport in his new car, the joys of both our adult kids driving means a family chauffeur both ways.  Obviously slightly concerned as to the technical merits of his new car, but he proudly insisted he was now in the AA.  I reflected he might want to add that professional membership to his burgeoning Linkedin profile.

We enjoyed those trappings and trimmings stretching the credulity of many we are trying to convince this is a backpacking adventure.  I am using my rucksack that was last put to the test 29 years ago in my year traipsing around Australia and the Far East. Filling up all those compartments as part of the packing experience was a nostalgic experience in its own right.  Like riding a bike, packing a rucksack, you never forget.

Anyway, the back of a Garuda Indonesia flight having a fag swapped to the front of a BA Airbus quaffing champers, juicy prawns and reflecting on a slightly different approach to travel.  I think its fair to say we are comfortable with either but is nice to be looked after. A 3 hr flight meant we did appreciate the space and service, and I could also really enjoy the view.

Athens airport far less frenetic than Heathrow and whilst the temperature was 30+ degrees it was manageable even with all our bags.  I noted my rucksack did not come off with the priority luggage, clearly BA sets thresholds for its Executive members! We loaded up and Chrissi had found us a metro to take us into the centre of Athens, so we scrunched our way into town with the locals.

Our directions to the hotel was come out of the Metro and head upwards, which we did for around half a kilometre until we reached our hotel Acropolis Hill.  I reckon my core will get a good workout on this trip if I can maintain a good upright posture with the rucksack weighing me down. Won't be quite the SAS on the Beacons though I can assure you of that!

Lovely welcome in our hotel, not least with air conditioning, and a room that will be our base for a few nights. Also told a couple of bottles of wine awaited us as VIP guests. Got quite excited until I saw the size of the bottles, the gin miniatures we'd smuggled off the plane were almost as big!

Our balcony view was looking inwards at the hotel and the swimming pool. However the hotel balcony, one floor up pretty much had us squarely confronting the Acropolis and the Parthenon atop. 2500 year old architecture staring us in the face, built to honour Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom. I've recalled in the past my love of Norse Mythology, but only second to that is Greek Mythology. My Dungeons and Dragons chums will recall how we dipped our toes regularly into polytheism.  That and polyhedral dice.

Having had 2 full meals courtesy of BA and wine courtesy of VIP Expedia, we dropped back down a street or 2 to find a couple of snacks and some mythos beer so we could see the night out on the balcony of the hotel, soaking in the history. Discovered some wonderful vegetable pastries, Spanakopita; spinach, potato, cheese and leek. Delish. Who needs Greggs. https://www.facebook.com/tzatzosbakery/

Started to build a 48 hr plan for our time here, big hill next to the Acropolis looks like a hike of interest, and I hear, whisper it carefully, you might be able to have a run in the Olympic Stadium. Can anyone confirm or deny?

A wonderful day of travelling and for once it hasn't taken its toll, but we have lost 2 hours so the day has very quickly got away from us.