Don't leave Plaka
First off, let me apologize for the horrendous formatting of my last post. Secondly, I know it's horribly misspelled, If I had the time I'd write it where there was a spell check and then transfer it but I don't. But I promise this time I won't forget the cute little html tages that actually put the little breaks between paragraphs... like this:
Well if could offer you a little bit of advice. If you're ever going to visit Greece, stay in plaka, walk in plaka... and DON'T LEAVE PLAKA!!!! It's the center of the city where all the interesting ruins are. Note: if you want to go to the planetarium or the cultural center... DON'T. Ok now that I've been overly harsh. The planetarium, which we went to yesterday, and the cultural center, today's brilliant adventure were really awesome. Once you got there. Let me start from the beginning ( random quote: "let me explain... no there is too much... let me sum up...")
So, yesterday, we woke up, in no hurry, for breakfast, and then off to see the musical instrument museum. This housed Greek popular musical instruments, and some of them were really bizarre like the "lyra" with three strings tuned in perfect fourths. And then there were the little mandolines... which I SERIOUSLY almost bought. This was really neat, each station had an audio sample of each instrument.
Then we went over to the Roman Forum. This was old, ancient even. But the Greeks seemed to care a lot less about the Roman stuff. There was no significant reconstruction effort, and you could walk all over the ruins. Which was neat and we did so, since we do love to walk. And then, we grabbed some Gyros for a quick lunch. (mmm... Gyros). Then we wondered around for a good... ohhh... 5 HOURS. Through the flea markets and side streets just looking at all the cool stuff for sale, and buying some of it. Including some really neat wrap around pants, that are very me in the fact they are loose, as loose as I tie them... so they be EATIN pants. We bought into the whole idea of the Greek national fidget which is great. it's a string of beads, not religious, that you play with constantly called "worry beads" I wanted to buy some for everyone I know, but I resisted the temptation since for the most part it's just me that worries constantly. Though if I thought grandma would use them I would have bought some for her for sure.
We then headed over to the science museum. We had gotten the address from the tourist office guy. Now in our experience when they say it is a "long walk" they are catering to normal americans not Maria and I. Well this guy... it's a freaking LONG WALK. And not only is it a long walk... its a long walk, on a highway, where they tend to RUN OVER pedestrians. But we walked none the less. Beginning to hate greece by kilometer number 4 we finally got there. There was an actual show about stars! This is a rarity now-a-days for planetariums. It was as about stars as we would have liked, more about the planets and how they are all filled with water and MEEthane. (which, for those of you don't know ISN'T TRUE or at least we dont' KNOW) So Maria and I over-analyzed it on our nice... comfortable taxi ride home.
We ate a small dinner and then CRASHED. Funny how walking 10 kilos will do that to you.
And so on to today, We woke up, still a little sore from yesterdays adventure but refreshed and ready for action. We headed to the cultural center, another, slightly shorter only 2 kilos, walk along a busy, and very DANGEROUS highway. But we got there in one piece. Their exhibit, lucky us, was one about the history of mathematics. Obviously geared toward younger children, it was a little juvanile but we did learn a bit and it was very interesting. We also feel like we can now leave Greece, having successfully paid homage to the foundations of modern mathematics.
The long and slightly less treacherous walk back tired us out, especially after yesterday. So we actually sat down for lunch today which doubled... OK tripled the cost, but the nice seat was worth it. We saw, through a lovely gate the temple of the Olympian Zeus since it apparently closed an hour and a half earlier than every other day. But we made up for it by doing some more shopping, making sure we got everything we needed.
and so here we are.... back in our smokey internet cafe. We leave, flying this time, for Rome tomorrow and then a real WHIRLWIND of travel starts, as if it really hasn't been bad enough already. I don't know, again, when I'll be able to update again. But I will when I can.
posted at: 11:22 | path: | permanent link to this entry