A is for Athens! 031822
From sex and family drama to work woes and hangovers, what's on your mind first thing in the morning? Today I am sprinkling in some memories from Greece, 2018. Here we go! Day 21.
The Snugs took a trip to Athens in 2018, and yes, you can see the Acropolis from every spot in the Plaka (the area where we were staying). We got up at four am most days to hike up to the Parthenon and Filopappou Hill for sunrises, and we spent cocktail hours at the bar above. I have never felt so physically small as a human in the shadow of the Temple of Zeus and at the bottom of the Olympic Stadium steps.
One of our more unique experiences was that we were there during the World Cup, and the most popular outdoor futball bar was directly below our hotel. At night we partied here. We went nuts with Japanese and Senegalese travelers while Japan was playing Senegal on all the big screens. You had to grab a spot at the communal tables hours in advance. No one spoke the same language, but in a way we all did hooting, hollering, and toasting through the nights.
Then there was the afternoon when we got accosted by a shirtless, toothless, wild man at an ATM demanding money from us. We were downtown in the business district looking for a vegan restaurant, and things went south quickly. I ran into a newsstand kiosk, and Joel was so flustered with his cash that he dropped his cell on the street. It was the only time I thought Joel would punch a guy in the face. Luckily, we ran a few blocks to safety, and the asshole got distracted or hit by a car. We treated ourselves to a three-course Michelin star-rated meal, and then went to Clumsies, the #3 ranked bar in the world at the time. You’re given a black-light flashlight to read the menu among other special surprises and treats!
Bonus Thought (a little outside of Athens)- We did an 18-hour three island cruise to Aegina, Hydra, and Poros. At our stop in Hydra we went looking for a local swimming hole, and found these beautiful men and women basking topless on the rocks of one. Through their smiles and youthful energy they convinced us to join them, take off our clothes, and jump in. They gestured to hand over our cells so they could take pics of us. And that they did! Below you can see us popping up in the Aegean Sea! Ah, memories of people you meet traveling…
“Snugs in the Aegean Sea” Photo by Lovely Locals What’s on your mind this morning? Even if you’re still in bed, share in the comment section your own Morning After Thoughts, and then together we can all move forward with our day. Happy reading, writing, and connecting!
Cheers,
Jess
I had forgotten about your Grecian adventures. What wonderful and wild stories ! I love the photo of you guys in that gorgeous sea!
Wow, I love your tasty tales! From the toothless, useless wannabe thief to the World Cup to a dip in the beautiful Aegean Sea, you guys sure pack a lot in! And meet all kinds of people, in high and low places, in the process. Aaaah, fond memories indeed. And those are really cool photos!