we woke up today on the amazing island of Crete. we have not felt the same on the other islands this trip as we do here. there is something magical about it all. we gazed out the window on the port of Heraklion and realized we won't see it again for another 2 years. it's a sad goodbye.
we packed up the shit and headed downstairs with the luggage. i ran up the street and grabbed the car. we loaded it all up and headed to the airport. it was a beautiful day and and wonderful time to be alive.
we dropped off the car and headed into the station. the ladies are always taking bags and took Julia's again. it's fine, it's a direct flight. it was quick too, up and down in less than 40 minutes. we walked through the airport and grabbed our bags. out to the curb to hail a cab. we had no cash and nobody took credit cars. an entire line of fucking cabs, 90% of which take cards according to the airport website, but none in this line. finally a lovely man named Tassos took the gig and we piled into his car and headed towards a new hotel for us, the Adrian, because the Attalos was booked for the weekend. bullshit i say, bullshit.
we chatted with Tassos and at one point he offered to come pick us up on Sunday morning when we left. we exchanged numbers as he navigated the streets of Athens. Our hotel happened to be right in the middle of the Plaka on a tiny little road, brimming with people already at 10 am in the morning. we parted ways with Tassos and went inside. the man told us we could not check in until 3. it was now 10. so we put our luggage into the back room and headed out into the city. first a little reconasenan for the meeting with JWs family tomorrow, this way up the hill towards the Acropolis, etc, and etc. then we headed to the Psiri to see what was open. the place we wanted to eat lunch with JWs family was not open for lunch. boo.
we headed over to the central meat market, which we've been to before. we walked down athinas street and past the attalos. there was our favorite bakery. we arrived at the meat market and decided to eat at the cafeteria style place inside, but when we got there, all they had was soup. for lunch. nope. so we wandered down a different isle and stopped at another place that looked good and it was pretty good.
after lunch we headed back towards the hotel, it was still too early to check in. we walked all the way around the acropolis and came back through the hillside area on the front side. we stopped at a little place for a drink and some cake for a snack with a lovely view.
after the snack it was time to check in, so we got back to the Adrian and went up to our room. the view from the balcony looked down below on the very busy pedestrian street that ran through the Plaka. in the distance we could see part of Hadrian's Library and the Tower of the 4 Winds. we both felt utterly exhausted and took a little nap.
after the nap we headed out once again, this time to look for the super cool bar with the bottles on the wall. there was supposed to also be an underground taverna next door, and actualy there used to be one, but alas it was closed. we went into the bar and ordered a few of their homemade concotions. it was apartently the older distillery in athens. they made ouzo and raki and lots of other fru-fru liquors. it was pleasantly nice.
after the bar we headed through the plaka towards a differnt underground restaraunt that was now an outside restaraunt. there was a bit of a wait to get a table, so we wandered around a little more and headed back and had an absolutely fabulous meal.
after the meal we went back to the room and had a drink and went to sleep.
the end.
Is that wine with mountain tea in it? -H
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