GSH 2019 – All about Athens, Greece

The Greek leg was a new experience for the competition.  On the flight to Greece, everyone in the group thought this would be the start of a Europe leg where we were released in Athens and told to make our way – on our own – through 3-4 countries.  We all speculated about which countries we’d be visiting and secretly hoped for the ones we had never been too.  My fingers and toes were crossed for anything on the Dalmation Coast with a check-in location of maybe Dubrovnich.  But no. We got out of customs and Bill was standing ready with our scavenger books.  He released us right there – at the airport – with our luggage in hand - for 30 hours in Athens.

Nafplios:  We went straight off to an out-of-town bonus… to visit a tiny coastal town in the Peloponnese. In the middle of the harbor is a castle (which looks just like the sandcastles we all made as kids), sitting on a tiny island.  All along the harbor are outdoor cafes and a walking promenade.  The entire town was out for a Friday night drink and stroll.  We got to eat dinner there at sunset: a serene and calm start to this hectic leg.

Acropolis: The Queen of Athens’ Crown… the Acropolis is magnificent.  Another bucket list, wonder of the world.  It’s lit up all night so from any rooftop bar, you can enjoy the view.

Temple of Hephasestus

Central Market:  Most impressive at the market: the intestines display.  Because if you are out on a morning shopping spree - in search of just the right selection of intestines – you certainly want to fully appreciate the offerings.  It made me gag.

Pompoms and high kicks:  Every hour the guards at the Presidential Palace change ... in a dance ceremony of high kicks with the pompoms on their shoes flying about.  A sight not to be missed. My photos cannot do the spectacle justice.

Museums:  I am not a big museum person, so we often skip the museum scavenges.  But Athens has some outstanding museums filled to the brim with ancient artifacts.  My favorites: the crying goddess.  

And the two horses - clearly best friends - just gossiping away ("Did you hear what Betty did then??" or maybe "That new Caesar guy is all kinds of bad-boy sexy").

Olympic venues: We had to find – and re-enact the events – from three Olympic venues:  one from before the 20^th century, one from the 20^th century and one from the 21^st century.  

Kotzia Square(2004 Olympics):  Where the cycling events started and stopped in the 2004 Olympics. There wasn’t a bicycle in sight so I improvised by straddling -  and peddling - some metal bars instead. 

Zeppion Hall (1906 Olympics): Site of the opening ceremony… so the crumbled map in Rainey’s hand is creatively representing the Olympic torch.

Panathenaic Stadium (1896 Olympics):  Track and field events…  I dug deep and did my best Usain Bolt imitation. 

Dancing Queen:  Do you have any idea what – in the heat of the battle – you will do for points? I sunk to a new low… belly dancing in public.  Totally embarrassing.  Patrons were cracking up.

OBSERVATIONS

Calling all Vegetarians:  I eat meat. I like meat.  I have no calling to be a vegetarian.  But, seeing the reality of dead animals is something else altogether.  Full goats (fresh or slow-cooked) are on display everywhere, in a totally YUCK way. And why does the head have to always be prominently displayed ?  Freaks me out. 

Greek Orthodox Easter weekend:  So while all western Christians believe Jesus died and was resurrected a week ago… the Greeks have a slightly different time line.  We arrived on the Greek Good Friday which is a night where every church is filled to over capacity and, mid-sermon, the priest and the altar boys pick up large flowered platforms and march with them into the streets… with all of the congregants coming behind holding lit candles. What an interesting night to be there... and we got points for attending a service (so we were in rapt attendance). 

We ended Athens - exhausted.  Just today we walked almost 19 miles ...!!!!  With it being Easter weekend, taxis were scarce and expensive, so we hoofed it instead.  We started at 3:50AM and ended at 8:00PM.  That's a lot of mileage. 

Now we are on to Marrakesh, Morocco.  I have never been there so have no idea what to expect.  I LOVE NEW ADVENTURES.