Last day in Greece

I started off the day with a ‘scouting run’ where I explored the giant parks and the Panathenaic stadium. I wasn’t able to enter but set myself up to run there tomorrow. 

Today Athens was a rollercoaster of experiences, there was perfect weather and then our worst tour encounter yet.

Our tour began with a promising itinerary: the Panathenaic Stadium, Zeus’s Temple, the Acropolis Museum, and the highlight, the majestic Pantheon. However, our excitement waned as we were herded onto a giant bus with a group of 30 people, representing three different languages. The cacophony of translations and the unenthusiastic guide made it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. 

Long lines greeted us at every stop, exacerbated by the inefficiency of the tour organization. To add insult to injury, the audio equipment provided was of poor quality, rendering the guide's explanations barely audible.

Despite these setbacks, the sights themselves were breathtaking. Perched majestically atop the Acropolis plateau in Athens, the Pantheon stood as a testament to ancient Greek ingenuity and architectural brilliance. As we entered the Pantheon Museum, we were immediately captivated by the aura of grandeur and history that enveloped us.  

The museum's carefully curated collection showcased artifacts and relics dating back thousands of years. From intricately carved sculptures to meticulously preserved artifacts, each exhibit served an homage to an incredible civilization.

But it was when we stepped outside onto the expansive terrace that the true magnificence of the Pantheon revealed itself.  With sweeping views of the city below and the massive columns towered above us, we stood awestruck.  

Frustrated by the tour's shortcomings, we made the decision to break away and explore the city on our own. Venturing into the lively flea markets, we indulged in the bustling atmosphere, and brushed aside eager venders. 

Lunch was a delightful affair, as we savored traditional Greek cuisine in a quaint taverna, sipping on local beer we had a refreshing meal.  And what better way to cap off our meal than with creamy pistachio ice cream, a sweet treat to combat the afternoon heat. 

Despite the challenges, it was a day filled with unforgettable memories and a renewed appreciation for the beauty and resilience of this ancient metropolis. 

 

*The next morning I arose early and went for a run. I ran directly to the Panathenaic stadium and was granted access to run the track within! I had the whole stadium to myself as the sun crept over the horizon. I ran laps all morning. Then I explored the little museum and saw all the Olympic torches from 1934!! What a cool experience. 

Mykonos Joy

I am combining two days as yesterday was a relaxing and relatively uneventful day. It was also our worst weather day. Grey cool sky’s and crazy wind blanketed the village.  We slept late and eventually roused ourselves from bed as the sun peaked out and explored the small village.  At lunch we saddled up to a small cafe and sampled moussaka and spanakopita. We shamelessly remarked to each other that our Greek dinners were of substantially better quality. We decided to wonder aimlessly as the layout of this iconic village appeared to be random. Narrow white streets with cute edifices adorned our trip. Their plant game was on point too.   We enjoyed peaking into various small shops and the vendors seemed glad to see us as we happened to be the first wave of the tourist season. After a considerable discussion we decided to break with tradition and return to the previous night’s restaurant and we were not disappointed. One of the best cooked duck I’ve experienced was the highlight of the evening. The staff recognized us and we were again treated like royalty. 

The next day the whipping winds finally died down and the hot sun dominated a blue sky. I woke up early for a morning run. I love Moro g runs. I was up before the whole city. Mykonos has a small (~600m) village that holds all of its points of interest. I ran all over the village. The “streets” were arm width wide, brightly painted white, and twisted and turned like a maze. I couldn’t run too fast as I couldn’t see around each corner. I ran by ancient grain windmills, along wave assaulted shores, and through historical ruins.  The sun peaked up over the Aegean Sea illuminating the armada of fishing and tourist vessels in the small port. It was a fantastic run, though very slow. 

We enjoyed a simple breakfast and then spent the remainder of the day poolside soaking up the sun.  We took that insane fast ferry again to Athens and due to delays it was a six hour slog. We were met by an overzealous guide who chatted a mile a minute dumping mountains of information on our exhausted minds. Our hotel was nice and we crashed. Can’t wait to explore Athens!!