20K and a Year Away

All right, it is actually 10 days, but HOLY CRAP! I cannot even believe it is here. I will be heading out July 4, but actually land July 5. Lawrence is taking me to the airport at 4:30 am and I spend the rest of the day in airports. I will need some snacks. It is going to be a long day with an 8-hour time difference. I have everything for the trip planned out, but you know how that goes. I have one day built in for rest and recovery.

Day 1 – Find my Airbnb. I land at 10 am in Athens. From the airport, I plan on taking the subway to the central area of Athens where I got a little apartment a 10-minute walk from the Acropolis. (I am smiling a huge, goofy smile as I write that. I am still a little incredulous.) The owners have a little bakery across the street from the apartment, so I will find them and they will let me in – and I might need baked goods. They have provided very thorough instructions on how to get from the airport to them. I am very confident I will find them… hopefully in one take. But, either way, I got nothing but time.

Day 2 – This is my relax and explore day. I plan on going on a walk through all the cool neighborhoods around downtown. I have scoped out the National Library – because, of course – and some other areas that look interesting. I believe the level of tourists is going to be ridiculous and the temperatures are going to be even more so. I hope to avoid both as much as possible. I know I am one of them, but am I really? Yes, yes I am. I will be googly-eying everything!

Day 3 – Total tourist day!! I am going to the Acropolis and as many other ancient sites as I can. There are several in the same area, which will make walking around good, but, as I mentioned, it is going to be HOT. I got my tickets for 8 am to beat the worst of the sun. I will be taking breaks at any and all cafes and restaurants in my path. I will definitely do the Acropolis up to the Parthenon, then the Acropolis Museum. From there, I will map out the nearest of these:

• ANCIENT AGORA (ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AND MUSEUM)
• ROMAN AGORA
• HADRIAN’S LIBRARY
• OLYMPIEION
• KERAMEIKOS(ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AND MUSEUM)
• ARISTOTLE’S SCHOOL [LYKEION]

Day 4 – I will finish up any of the sites I didn’t get to on day 3. I intend to walk all over Athens!! I will be a subway expert and have already downloaded their version of Uber. I plan to finish the day early and be rested for getting up early for the next adventure.

Day 5 – I mean I am getting up EARLY and heading to the main port of Athens, Piraeus. I decided to get a real feel for Greek islands and will take a high-speed ferry to Paros island. The ferry will take just shy of 3 hours. It leaves at 7 am. I could have left later in the day, but the rest of the ferries are not high-speed. I wanted to take the ferry to say I took the ferry, not to stay on that sucker for a whole day. I am meeting up with Panos to go to the island. He is going to be my personal tour guide for the week. We are renting a car from the Paros port and heading to my hotel and beach! I opted for a room with a balcony because I plan on staring at that water every minute I am not in it.

Days 6 – 9 – I will be exploring 2 or 3 islands, Paros, Naxos, and Antiparos, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, and eating and drinking everything in sight! I will be learning Greek through absorption of all things Greek! Opa!

Day 10 – We will fly back to Athens. I wanted to try the ferry, but I am not crazy, and planes are awesome. The flight is 45 minutes. From there, I have booked a hotel near the airport for the next phase of my adventure. I will stay the night there and then head to the train station early in the morning. Panos has to go back to work so my personal tour will end and I will head out of the city and go north on my own.

Day 10 – 12 – I am taking the train to Kalambaka. This is the nearest town to the monasteries of Meteora. I plan on seeing all of them!

Meteora and my hotels

Day 13 – I will take the train back to Athens. I will go back to the same hotel as day 10 for the night, then…

Day 14 – Catch my flight home. I will be back in DFW by 7:11 pm.

July 19, I plan on going to work. Ha! That is going to be hilarious!