This is already the 3rd day of our travel! Thursday (day 1) we took the plane to Athens, by Brussels Airlines, it was a nice flight, almost 3 hours. We chatted a bit with the crew in the plane, and asked them in which hotel they usually stay when stopping in Athens, but they regretted that there are no stay-overs anymore: whoever flies to a direction, works on the returnflight. Seems that the good times of the trollydollies are over ...
Since our friend ATHENSBOY informed us in advance about the best way to go to the hotel, we took bus X95 (X = Xpressbus, don't get bad ideas), and for 3.20 euro per head (in X-busses you can pay the ticket at the driver) that bus took us almost immediately to a busstop 2 steps from the hotel: convenient !!! Check-in went smoothly, and the room in this new high-tec hotel is plain nice.
That night was windy & cold, so we stayed in, except for a bite: the complimentary hotel shuttle brought us to the airport, and we explored the food court there.
ATHENSBOY was married, no kids, friendly divorced, is now 37 y.o., single, looking for a 55+ partner. Totally in the closet due to job & hobby considerations. And an incredibly charming guy, intelligent and funny. He asked not to publish his pictures on internet, so you won't see him :)
Friday (day 2), HL wanted to perform his traditional ritual at the local Hard Rock Café, and he bought a nice Tshirt and a new pin. After that, we strolled in the old area below the Acropolis: Plaka. Small streets, tourist shops, always something special to see and have a pleasant time. Close to the Cathedral in Plaka, there is a pedestrian street with lots of religious shops, where all the Greek Orthodox clerics come and buy their jewels and fancy dresses, really worth a visit (ATHENSBOY informed us that the Greek Orthodox Church is against gay rights for the masses, because most of its clerics are gay, and they don't want to loose their sacred positions). In many of the small sideshops we admired painters recreating old masterpieces on linnen or paper. Impressive!
In the afternoon, ATHENSBOY invited us for dinner. He came to our hotel, so that we could have a first impression of each other in the privacy of our room, then we took bus X92 to Kifissia, a bit higher on the mountains, where the Athens elite stays, much cooler in summer. All the nice brands are there too: they go where the money is! ATHENSBOY treated us in a local greek restaurant, really fantastic food, the best greek meal I have eaten in my entire life: perfectly prepared, lovely presented, it's absolutely worth a visit! We came back late.
Saturday (day 3), HL wanted to visit Kifissia again, so we took the same bus and strolled there. Really nice. Then ATHENSBOY phoned us: "care for a coffee at the sea? Take bus 550 and I'll wait for you at the endstation". So we did, although we didn't know that we had to buy bustickets in one of the many kiosks, but the driver didn't mind: just go in, he nodded! That was a free ride hehe!
The seaside of Athens is worth a stroll: so close to the centre and so fresh and lovely! We were at Flisvos Marina (Faliro), where all the milliondollarboats are on display. First we had a cappucino, then a walk along the coast, we saw a swimmer (at this time of the year! it's still winter!) and we went for a salad at Goodie's, the Greek variaton of McDonalds (ATHENSBOY said that it's much better because it uses Greek meat), and then ATHENSBOY brought us to the tramstation: we bought tickets at the machine (1 euro per head); the tram comfortabely delivered us to Syntagma Square (where the hotel Grande Bretagne is); from there we took the X95 bus back to the hotel. All this hopping around in Athens made us feel like old-time-visitors to the city, although we do realise that we couldn't have done it without the lovely instructions by ATHENSBOY ... nevertheless, when we come back in April, we do plan to use public transport again, especially the tram, that is quite comfy and convenient. In April, we'll also have to see the Temple of Olympian Zeus, near Vass. Olgas: from there you have a beautiful view on the Acropolis, with the few remains of the Zeus temple in the foreground! Excellent spot for pictures. It's only a small walk from Syntagma Square.
Back in the hotel, HL went for a swim, me for a sauna. After my sauna, when I was showering, a grayhaired slim guy my age came in, inviting me to join him for another sauna round. His mind was clearly set on something else then just sauna, and I kindly thanked him for his offer. He should go for the original greek sausage!
When it comes to smoking, Greece is extremely smokersfriendly: the only limits are public buildings (post, government, ...) and transport (busses, trams,...); everywhere else, smoking is allowed, included bars & restaurants, even in the airport. And a pack of Dunhill costs 3.20 euro (Belgium: 5.20). Any government that would try to limit smoking, will fear for its reelection! Greeks love their freedom in many forms.
Tomorrow will be the departure for BKK. We'll leave the hotel around noon, and we hope to arrive in BKK in the morning, the next day. And then the real trip can take off!
And now the question of the day: what's this title about ski in Greece?
Well, because from our hotelroom, we could see the snowcovered mountains surrounding Athens and we've been told that it's an excellent place for skiing. So the title is about something we haven't done and only know by word of mouth ... the story of our life hehehe!
.
Since our friend ATHENSBOY informed us in advance about the best way to go to the hotel, we took bus X95 (X = Xpressbus, don't get bad ideas), and for 3.20 euro per head (in X-busses you can pay the ticket at the driver) that bus took us almost immediately to a busstop 2 steps from the hotel: convenient !!! Check-in went smoothly, and the room in this new high-tec hotel is plain nice.
That night was windy & cold, so we stayed in, except for a bite: the complimentary hotel shuttle brought us to the airport, and we explored the food court there.
ATHENSBOY was married, no kids, friendly divorced, is now 37 y.o., single, looking for a 55+ partner. Totally in the closet due to job & hobby considerations. And an incredibly charming guy, intelligent and funny. He asked not to publish his pictures on internet, so you won't see him :)
Friday (day 2), HL wanted to perform his traditional ritual at the local Hard Rock Café, and he bought a nice Tshirt and a new pin. After that, we strolled in the old area below the Acropolis: Plaka. Small streets, tourist shops, always something special to see and have a pleasant time. Close to the Cathedral in Plaka, there is a pedestrian street with lots of religious shops, where all the Greek Orthodox clerics come and buy their jewels and fancy dresses, really worth a visit (ATHENSBOY informed us that the Greek Orthodox Church is against gay rights for the masses, because most of its clerics are gay, and they don't want to loose their sacred positions). In many of the small sideshops we admired painters recreating old masterpieces on linnen or paper. Impressive!
In the afternoon, ATHENSBOY invited us for dinner. He came to our hotel, so that we could have a first impression of each other in the privacy of our room, then we took bus X92 to Kifissia, a bit higher on the mountains, where the Athens elite stays, much cooler in summer. All the nice brands are there too: they go where the money is! ATHENSBOY treated us in a local greek restaurant, really fantastic food, the best greek meal I have eaten in my entire life: perfectly prepared, lovely presented, it's absolutely worth a visit! We came back late.
Saturday (day 3), HL wanted to visit Kifissia again, so we took the same bus and strolled there. Really nice. Then ATHENSBOY phoned us: "care for a coffee at the sea? Take bus 550 and I'll wait for you at the endstation". So we did, although we didn't know that we had to buy bustickets in one of the many kiosks, but the driver didn't mind: just go in, he nodded! That was a free ride hehe!
The seaside of Athens is worth a stroll: so close to the centre and so fresh and lovely! We were at Flisvos Marina (Faliro), where all the milliondollarboats are on display. First we had a cappucino, then a walk along the coast, we saw a swimmer (at this time of the year! it's still winter!) and we went for a salad at Goodie's, the Greek variaton of McDonalds (ATHENSBOY said that it's much better because it uses Greek meat), and then ATHENSBOY brought us to the tramstation: we bought tickets at the machine (1 euro per head); the tram comfortabely delivered us to Syntagma Square (where the hotel Grande Bretagne is); from there we took the X95 bus back to the hotel. All this hopping around in Athens made us feel like old-time-visitors to the city, although we do realise that we couldn't have done it without the lovely instructions by ATHENSBOY ... nevertheless, when we come back in April, we do plan to use public transport again, especially the tram, that is quite comfy and convenient. In April, we'll also have to see the Temple of Olympian Zeus, near Vass. Olgas: from there you have a beautiful view on the Acropolis, with the few remains of the Zeus temple in the foreground! Excellent spot for pictures. It's only a small walk from Syntagma Square.
Back in the hotel, HL went for a swim, me for a sauna. After my sauna, when I was showering, a grayhaired slim guy my age came in, inviting me to join him for another sauna round. His mind was clearly set on something else then just sauna, and I kindly thanked him for his offer. He should go for the original greek sausage!
When it comes to smoking, Greece is extremely smokersfriendly: the only limits are public buildings (post, government, ...) and transport (busses, trams,...); everywhere else, smoking is allowed, included bars & restaurants, even in the airport. And a pack of Dunhill costs 3.20 euro (Belgium: 5.20). Any government that would try to limit smoking, will fear for its reelection! Greeks love their freedom in many forms.
Tomorrow will be the departure for BKK. We'll leave the hotel around noon, and we hope to arrive in BKK in the morning, the next day. And then the real trip can take off!
And now the question of the day: what's this title about ski in Greece?
Well, because from our hotelroom, we could see the snowcovered mountains surrounding Athens and we've been told that it's an excellent place for skiing. So the title is about something we haven't done and only know by word of mouth ... the story of our life hehehe!
.
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