27.12, 03.30 hrs-when walked out of Via Victor Hugo 1, Milano, I was a bit nervous but more excited for I have started to a place where I always wanted to go-Greece. An empty road accompanied me to the Cadorna station where I could catch the Train to Malpensa. 15 mins of walk to the station for I had to save money as the wallet is not too thick at this point of time. Could hear my footsteps and heartbeats which was at a great pace. Would like to believe that it was due to the adrenaline rush of hope rather than the scary and empty streets.
Finally, got on to the train. Sigh of relief.36 minutes of train journey took me to the terminal 1 of Malpensa airport.05.05-an hour wait again for the scheduled departure of flight to Munchen BUT
07:50-Take off to Munchen , 1 hour late-which means - late for connecting flight and will end up missing the flight.
11.00-rescheduled flight to Athens from Munchen. 15.00-Finally Athens, Decided to take a bus to Glyfada, a beautiful & economic express bus journey along the sea side .Stepped out the bus , felt the beautiful moderate warm air of Glyfada. A real change from the chilly Milan and Munchen.Now, less of words but more of eyes. It was beautiful walking down along the sea shores, passing the cruise ports.It was almost dark by then.
Beautiful cruises by the shore.... Glyfada
Had to keep the cruise journey for the next trip for it would cost a day from the 2 day trip. So later.......
Silent now-waiting for the summers
When feet touched water-Slight rememberence of kerala, Pondicherry...
Tram line by the sea
Was getting late by then, where to go-no hotel rooms booked, but was not worried or scared for world looked like a shelter for the first time. 2 hrs rest by the sea, beautiful and silent breeze not chilly though.Felt new
28.12, 01.00 hrs, after some rest, decided to walk a little. A 24/7 coffee shop was safe enough for a night for I had a borrowed camera and it started raining by then . 2 cappucinos and 2 hours sleep made the night.
An abstract painting on the wall of coffee shop
Started off the new day towards Syntagma Square and Acropolis.Tram to Syntagma first. Metro to Acropolis, just one stop away. When I walked up from the metro I could see The Parthenon from far. History books of 8th and 9th standard.Walked in to the beautiful world which existed yesterday but looked like yesterday was never so before.
Beautiful white marble structures.
ACROPOLIS
Walking up the Acropolis
Amphi -symbol of strong application of science in the era-sound & space
An underexposed Parthenon-Temple of goddess Athena
Greek flag-blue and white, the marine influence
Aerial view of Anafiotica-The village down the Acropolis with the known narrow streets and small cafes
Walking back, had a silent company by then
5 Euro train-Syntagma, Plaka, Monstriaki, Anafiotica.....Acropolis
12.00 hrs, walked to the New Acropolis Museum. A must watch for all , a great museum which talks about the ancient Greek.Somehow gets a feeling that then Greece would have been the most powerful empire and the best place to live in. Rich in all senses.Learned that Nike is the Greek goddess of Wind, hence-the brand name NIKE-lets do it. Sorry, all images captured by the human eye not the lens eye as photography was strictly prohibited but the 4 floor museum is the only one of its kind. The Athens airport has a setup of Museum to educate the tourists about their rich heritage.
View of Parthenon from Plaka
Ancient Agora
View of Monstriaki from Ancient Agora
16.00 hrs, started walking from Acropolis towards Plaka and Monastriaki. A beautiful and long walk crossing the Narrow streets, filled with graffiti, cafe's by the side with an interesting mix of people.
Shoulders and legs were hurting by then. How stupid of me to carry the laptop ! but the beautiful streets and the interesting people made me feel light.Though hungry, but what I wished for was a coffee. Finally grabbed a cup of strong Greek coffee and continued walking through the streets.
The Athens Flea Market at Monastriaki
Colorful and busy streets with almost anything and everything starting from Armani, Versace, Cavalli, Adidas Originals, Converse to Toothpicks and Wire bend names.
Half an hour of rest outside the Monastriaki Metro station. Could see a lot of interesting people around. Pleasing to the eye.
After the beautiful walk through the streets of Plaka, Acropolis and Monastriaki, It was time for me to leave.
So the Acropolis metro again.
The wall inside the metro station, gives a complete feel of the Greek Dynasty. Beautiful wall sculptures.I am liking Greece a lot.
Syntagma square.The Greek Parliament.
Could see a lot of people just to see the Famous Change of guard every hour of the day, for the memory of the Turkish rule over Greece.
Guards with the traditional pleated skirt. Every skirt is supposed to have 100 pleats and supposedly every guard should iron each pleats by themselves before they wear it. Interesting again.
Favourite frame of the entire trip. 3 gentlemen of a very different attire about to cross the road towards the parliament. Reminded me of the three monkeys of Gandhiji
The busy syntagma square.
The streets with orange trees.
The panathaenic stadium-first olympic stadium-1896.Its very interesting how much impact do athletics and cycling have on the Greek culture. The ancient sculptures of men with discus at the archaeological museum amazed me. Love and respect for Greek culture increases ...
The National Library
Its 00.00 hrs,29.12. Just spending my final few hours of this trip.
The city is live even now, people sitting and chatting over a coffee as if the day is still long. No tension on the face of people. Everyone so energetic and happy.They are giving me something to take home...great spirit of mankind. People of Greece are very human, Recalls the old lady wishing me for helping her in the flight ..she didnt know english but managed to say 'son, God bless you!'
Time to leave Greece, 01.30-another economic bus journey back to the airport.
Few words more to the diary...
'Greece-I liked it being here. Will be back soon, hopefully with my teabee along '
More then.
This was a beautiful post..Thank you for sharing..and who said you're not a poet!? :)
ReplyDeleteI wish to be a poet, but i am happy to know that theres a poetic feel to stuff I do..Thanks #42
ReplyDeleteinteresting,i see a great future waiting for u outside milan.everything wil com true and ur wallet will be thick and heavy soon.......keep posting.
ReplyDelete