It is strange how quickly one can begin to feel like they belong, in a city thousands of miles away from their home. Athens has begun to feel like home to me. On my last night I took a “volta” along the skirts of the Acropolis just like I did my first night. That first night was so magical, and as I gazed up at the Acropolis I realized that the magic was still there. No matter how familiar things become, there will always be something that will take your breath away every single time.

Plaka

Tomb of the Unknown Solider

Greek changing of the guard

Greek Parliament

I had to leave my wonderful hotel room today… I think I was able to make up the price of the room by stealing food from the all-you-can-eat breakfast for later meals.

Back at a hostel, I met three great British girls, Lizzy, Beca and Vics. They had all met during their gap year in Tanzania. We went out to dinner and spent hours talking. Although hotels are nice, I realize that it is much better for me to stay in hostels, then I get the chance to meet other travelers.

The Church of the Holy Apostle, built to honor St. Paul

I ate my lunch leaning against one of these pilars. Who needs a fancy expensive restaurant with a view when you can sit and eat for practically nothing where the ancient Athenians lived?

Greek Goddess?

Hadrian's ArchTemple of the Athenian Zeus

Theatre of Dionysus

An Athenian Cat

Traveling in high season without reservations came back to bite me last night. After calling every hostel in Athens yesterday, and finding no empty beds, I finally caved in and booked two beds at the Best Western. My own bathroom, satellite TV, air-conditioning, all you can eat breakfast… how am I ever going to go back to a hostel? Oh yeah… when I run out of money.

Visiting the Acropolis by day was a strange experience. I happened to arrive during a lull and very few people were there. Unlike the pantheon in Rome, the Acropolis is still considered a religious site by many Greeks. Despite the prevalence of the Greek Orthodox Church, the legacy of the ancient Greek gods lives on, oddly reflected in the tributes paid to various Greek saints.

Another thing I can cross off my list...

The theater of Herod Atticus

Ancient Athens, and urban sprawl

Growling at what was once a sphinx

Greek pride!!!

Erecthion

I went to my usual place in Thira to get my breakfast crepe; ham, cheese and onions. When I walked in the lady recognized me and began making my crepe. As she was spreading the batter she told me, “I eat onions every morning too. They keep you healthy. All my friends, they get sick, not me! It’s the onions. I smiled in agreement. She handed me my crepe and told me 2 euro 50. I thanked her, recognizing that she had charged me the “local” price, not the “tourist” price.

As great as that feeling was I knew it was a signal that I have been in Santorini for too long. Things have become too familiar and too routine. As beautiful as Santorini is, I’m ready for a new place and a new challenge.

Crepe... 2 Euros,   Juice... 1/2 Euro

The view...

...Priceless

The view of Fira from the port

While buying my ticket back to Athens I had an interesting conversation with the travel agent. She asked for my name and when I told her “Melanie” she looked at me with one eyebrow raised and asked, “was your mother Greek?” I told her no and she explained “Melanie is a Greek name, but here is Greece we do not name are daughters that.” When I asked her why, she replied, “it is a name meaning darkness, mystery and even evil. You should not marry a Greek man, it would break his Mama’s heart to have her son married to you.”

I watched the sun set over Oia tonight. The view of the ocean and the caldera was spectacular… I have to keep pinching myself… I can’t believe I am actually here.

 

The Greek mosquitoes ate me alive!

I am highly allergic, and even with tons of bug spray they still manage to get me!

The view of the Mediterranean from the tip of the island

Yet another picture of another church

The narrow streets of Oia

Exactly what I imagined when I pictured a Greek island village

Me and the Mediterranean

Oia was filled with blue-domed buildings

Oia is tiny compared to Thira

I swear this dog was actually posing for photos!

Back in Fira, I am actually sitting right next to a pay phone. Not a bad place to call home from!

I don't think I've ever seen water so blue

The view from my hostel room window.

My hostel was amazing, so clean and big. Notice my laundry drying in the background, hehe

The bathroom is sooooo big!

Which makes me really happy!

The sun beginning to set

Yeah, my camera didn't screw this picture up! The land in the background is where fireworks are set off pseudo-recreating the volcanic eruption which created the crescent shape of the island

 

Now the marathon pictures of beautiful Santorini