Day 16- Tues. May 26

Day 16 (Tuesday, May 26):

Today, Paula and I just get to hang out in Athens. This is our last day in Athens, and I leave for home tomorrow at 6:55 am local (Athenian) time. Today, we just took it easy. It wasn't great last night as I was overcome with cramps in my stomach, and our room is outside one of the world's loudest karaoke bars, so we didn't get a whole lot of sleep. And Paula and I are so excited to go home, it was hard to sleep anyway!

We stayed in late, and then had breakfast with Andy and his wife and their kids. Andy left to take a shower, but Paula and I enjoyed chatting with his wife Karen, who is soooo nice. We learned that apparently before this trip, Andy was nervous about it because he wasn't sure about spending two weeks in such close quarters with students! Apparently we are a little intimidating :)

Then Paula and I went out shopping. It was so nice to not be in a hurry and to be able to look at whatever, and just wander and browse. I got a book for the plane ride home on Greek Mythology, a beautiful horse statue to decorate our home with and remember Greece by, a glass ring, a soda, and a special gift for Abe, which I cannot reveal here or it would ruin the surprise.

Paula and I wandered all over: through the flea market, into many shops, and just had a good time saying “no” to all the persistent shopkeepers. He he, they are persistent, “Oh, just come in, come try something,” and the ever cheesy and inexplicably popular, “something pretty for the pretty lady.” Paula and I just roll our eyes.

For lunch, it was crepes. Its really, really neat to see them made. They use a little wooden stick with a mini-rolling pin on it to roll out the crepe batter on the large round skillet. Then they add whatever you want: all kinds of vegetables, cheese, meats, or nutella and sweets – anything! Then they fold in in half 3 times, and it becomes a GIANT sandwich type thing. Like a french burrito. I think a gyro is like a Greek taco (or burrito, I can't decide which one its more like). Then, thinking we were done, I finally found the perfect pair of sunglasses that I have been looking for. Its so sunny here that my dark brown ones aren't cutting it. So I found a very stylish pair of pitch black wraparounds that are “ooo-la-la.” I am quite pleased. And I also found a fanny pack for horse stuff. Yeah its cheesey, but it works great! (And you can never find them in the States).

And then there was a funny interlude of how I tried to go to a Greek bank to get different denominations of bills so it would be easier to pay the cab driver at 4:30 in the morning tomorrow. So I tried to enter the bank. You have to buzz in – twice. (There is a glass chamber in the middle where they examine if you look like a bank robber or not before letting you in). Then, after figuring that out and gaining entry to the inner sanctum, I was told they were already closed at 2:30 (it was 3pm), and I should go elsewhere. I just wanted to ask why they let me in if they were closed? Oh well.

Now, after a nap, I was hungry for dinner, but I didn't want to go spend any money. So instead I went down to the breakfast room and helped myself to some yogurt and honey. I'm not sure it was entirely kosher, but... I will be missing breakfast tomorrow. Now its time to pack and then for an early bedtime since I leave so very, very early. I have thoroughly enjoyed my trip, but it is time to go home. Andy asked me if I was ready to go home and I said yes. Before, I used to love traveling by myself and exploring places and I would travel by myself just fine. I went all over the US. But now, its not as fun to be by myself and see all these things alone because I really want to share it with Abe. So, of course, I think that is a perfect reason to do more traveling (and I am sure Abe will agree).