"Where’s Wally?" – or: One day in Athens

Hi there :)

Let me first introduce myself. My name is Arianna (call me Ari) and I made my bachelor's degree in economics last year (Note: I studied in German so I’m sorry in advance for all the English grammar mistakes). But I got bored (what a surprise) and the world was calling. My next steps? I sent an awesome application to SWISS Airlines Int., got the invitation to the Assessment Center and became Flight Attendant after a tough 3-month training-session in Zurich.

Now, 8 months after my decision to change my life completely I live in Zurich, travel the world and couldn't be happier. And like many other bloggers before, I'd love to share my experience both while working on the plane and while travelling with you folks. :)

Meme: http://www.scoop.it/t/what-i-really-do/?tag=Flight+Attendant

I’m going to Athens! I've never been to Athens before but I was in Greece with my familiy when I was a little ankle-biter. The Crew-Hotel is one of the best hotels I've ever been to. In private I'm one of those travel-as-cheap-and-see-as-much-as-possible-Travellers. I've never stayed in a 5-star-hotel before; I'm more used to tiny, dirty rooms above an Indian restaurant and next to noisy roadworks, if you know what I mean. ;)

It’s far after midnight when we arrive in our hotel and I fall asleep the moment my head touches the pillow. In the morning I get up, enjoy some greek yoghurt with fresh fruits and honey and step outside the hotel, taking a deep breath. Wooow - even with my eyes closed I would have known exactly that I'm in Greece. It has a unique smell which takes me back to my childhood days, back more than 15 years when I and my brother ruled a Greek camping site during family holidays. It smells like wood, wet wood; sweet and sharp at the same time (like Roiboos-Tea?). Every city has it’s own smell; it’s own perfume. Sometimes there’s nothing better than just standing somewhere, turning your face towards the sun and taking a deep breath. It always feels full of life, full of happiness.

While walking, enjoying the smell and the sun on my skin I found myself in a huge park called "National Garden" 5 minutes walking distance from the hotel. Standing there, completely banned of so much beauty I suddenly recognise the noise. Not a typical noise you hear in the woods, with birds singing and frogs croaking. No, it's an ear-deafening noise coming from insects (what I realised later when I found one of those little monsters sitting on a branch). Almost invisible but unmistakable (Google says they are called Cicada). I challenged myself trying to find as many Cicadas as possible, like in the famous children’s game "Where's Wally?". But it's much harder to locate them as the bugs don't wear the unique red-white striped shirt and the beanie like our beloved Wally. ;)

Cicada

  

Wally: http://blocs.xtec.cat/ceipernestlluchcs/2015/02/04/carnestoltes-2015/

By walking and looking for Wallies I passed by the "Temple of the Olympian Zeus". The first proof I'm in Athens. While I’m observing a little kitten playing with some leaves, an old man with a yellow taxi starts talking to me and tries to sell me a tour “just for you and for a special price”. A proof that I’m exposed. Hello world, yes, I’m a tourist. Okay, to be fair I was wearing my Canon reflex camera around the neck while holding a map in my right hand. Oh come on, where did I lose my Ninja-abilities? I’m glad to realise that I’m not also wearing a cap, sandals and white socks. But I’m wearing my Flip Flops, my Havaianas bought in São Paolo the month before (I know, kinda touristy as well). It wasn’t the best idea as my feet already hurt and it starts burning between my toes. But it’s totally my fault. Why would I only take Flip Flops with me to explore Athens? To walk through narrow alleys? To climb the hill to Akropolis? Fortunately, I’m not thinking about that at all. My only sorrow is to escape the man’s offer and to hide somewhere behind a tree. Or a Greek pillar.

Opposite the “Temple of the Olympian Zeus” there’s a cute touristy shopping street with lots of cafés, shops and restaurants. I’m walking through the alley, buying post cards here, observing tourists there – everything accompanied by the overwhelming sound of Cicadas. Where the hell are they hiding??

Then I caught a sight of an absolutely beautiful painting. A big tree standing in a meadow. Nothing more, nothing less. I need to talk to the one who painted this master piece, so I make my way to the shop around the corner. His name is Sofokli Telo and we are talking for a while. The painting costs 400 Euros, it’s worth it but it would exceed my budget – haha, by far. So I only take a business card, may be some day I can buy it. In case I’ll win the lottery. After taking a photo of the painting (sorry for that, Sofokli, but I couldn’t resist) I start to climb the hill to go to Akropolis.

Painting by Sofokli Telo

While making my way up the hill I suddenly find myself in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Narrow old stairs, steep, surrounded with lots of flowers, bars and restaurants. I walk up the stairs, vines and grapes over my head, people eating at small tables or sitting on the steps, children laughing and cats playing. Like a sequence from a romantic movie. I’m just waiting for a handsome man, kneeling down and propose to his stunning girlfriend in front of this scenery. But I guess I just missed it.

The stairs

After climbing the stairs I see the Akropolis – wow, very impressive. Especially if you have in mind that everything is standing here since 406 BC. I force myself to conquer the last few meters – in the merciless heat of the sun – to the entrance. 50 meters to go, 40 meters to go, 30, 20… I’m gonna die, need a drink. Oh, what a fortunate coincidence! Next to the entrance they sell frozen lemonades (that’s what I call smart). I walk like a Zombie towards the life-saving, crazy expensive (of course, what did I expect?), frozen drinks. Few seconds before the sun turns me into dust I take a sip and it’s the best drink I’ve ever tasted in my whole life, promised (okay, maybe it’s my near-death experience talking here).

Akropolis

The Akropolis is great; I take a lot of pictures (and Selfies, of course). After this hike I slump into a chair in a café called "Melina", exhausted. I order an ice coffee (seems to be the It-drink in Athens) and a canister full of water; I feel totally dehydrated. Slowly, really slowly, I come back to life and feel ready to walk through the shops again. Suddenly, I realise that I run out of money and there’s this gorgeous necklace with a heart-shaped amulet… I need it!!

So I make my way to a Greek cash machine. Considering the current situation in Greece I’m quite unsure about what happens if I insert my card. Will I ever get it back? (Sorry to all Greeks, no offense but I was just worried about my already poor financial situation) I’m standing in front of this Greek cash machine waiting to get back my bank card – sweating; comparable with my physical condition during the hike before. Then a loud beeping sound – just to make sure that everyone within five blocks knows that I used the cash machine – and the money together with my card (YES!) appear. Necklace, here I come!

Sitting in a small café, pretty sure observed by a thousands of Wallies, a glass of an awesome Greek red wine in my right hand, I review my day in Athens. And the memories of all the funny conversations with the locals, the beautiful architecture and – yes – the red wine on an empty stomach, makes me forget about all the blisters on my feet.

Greek wine

Go and explore Athens it’s well worth a look – but wear sneakers…

See ya,

Ari