Athens

Athens! Our final destination!
We caught the ferry from Santorini and arrived in Athens late on Saturday night. Got up on Sunday morning and discovered a bakery next to our accomadation. Om num num Greece can do good bakeries. We hoped on the metro and headed to the acropolis area - to be perfectly honest not really having much of an idea of Athens or what to expect. The area was touristy - but completely different to the touristness of Rome. We liked it much more :P
We went to the acropolis and saw all of the ancient ruins! So old! Wow! The partheon is seriously seriously impressive. Athens was too hot for me to deal with though- so we had to head back to accomadation and have a nap midafternoon. In the evening we wondered around the Agora and Roman Forum areas and just took in the vibe.
On Monday we got up nice and early to try and avoid the Athens heat. We went to the Olympian area - where there is the temple of Zeus!! We then headed to the Kerameikos, an area slightly out of the main acropolis area and subsequently less people. The ancient graves with their impressive memorials were particularly cool - as was the small museum there which had a well designed layout of Greek vases. In the evening we went to a resturant recommended to us by the person at the hostel. Yum man what a meal. Greek food has been the surprise of the trip really. Consistently good and leaves you feeling good as well (less carb heavy then French or Italian). I had baby lamb with potatoes, peppers, onions and cheese all cooked in a big bag. My goodness it was incredible. The waters were so friendly as well and bought us desert and let us try the Greek spirits. Was possibly best meal of trip on last night!
Today (though i guess technically yesterday?) We had our last day of the trip. We decided to brave the heat and go for a walk - since we were going to have over 24 hours on a plane. We walked to the top of a hill we saw from the acropolis, it looked like an island in the sea of Athens. Awesome veiws of Athens and surrounding area. We then walked on to the Acropolis museum which has to be one of the coolest museums in the world! It was really incredible seeing so many vases and sculptures, and finally a museum that was a bit more informative without being overwhelming.
We are now en route home. A bit sad to be leaving Greece - definitely a place I would like to come to again, but very ready to come home.

When we were at the airport we lined up behind some kiwis, who were over in Russia playing water polo. We made general complaints about the line, and the woman explained how she went to buy a coke earlier. Multiple people pushed in line in front of her, so she just went to sit and drink a beer somewhere else. At that moment we thought she was very kiwi! I'm looking forward to being around people who are less assertative again. People who say "she'll be right" and dont push you round in a queue.

I'm looking forward to coolness. I'm looking forward to free water. I'm looking forward to public toilets being acessable and free. I'm looking forward to seeing friends and family but that kinda goes without saying.

Most of all I'm looking forward to the air. I'm sick of smokers everywhere, you just can't escape the smell! And the people who, to me, seem so obnoxious and rude and puff smoke in your face. But its not rude here. That's normal. I'm so proud to be from a country where that is rude!

I'm ready to breathe again. Bring on that last flight.