Sunday March 22, 2009

Today we were off to Greece! Getting there is no simple task on a budget and involved a bus to the Florence train station, 3 hour train to Milan, 45 minute bus to the airport, 2 hour plane ride to Athens, 45 minute bus ride to the city center, 2 stop metro ride, and 5 block hike to our hostel. It was a long day.

Headed off to the train station and saying goodbye to Rachael's friends.

At our hostel we were greeted by a very friendly front desk man that pretty much summed up all the research I had done on Greece in about 15 minutes. He was very eager to chat but we were hungry and ready to eat but we couldn’t slip away without taking our complimentary welcome ouzo shot at the hostel bar. The bartender recommended a restaurant to us that we immediately headed to.

It wasn’t the local authentic hole in the wall we were anticipating but rather more like a Greek Applebee’s. Nonetheless it was Greek food and a cultural experience in itself. I opted for a Greek bread salad…dark brown bread topped with chopped tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, and feta…very good.