Day t0: exploring the city
Oh Athens, a city where we can easily spend a week. Visiting its historic landmarks, or what is left of them, where the ancient Greek gods haunt the flag-waving, Segway speeding, tourists (or maybe the other way around?) If you believe in Gods that is. Or Tourists. Or you leave those be, and instead, explore the trashed and graffiti-covered back-alleys and sample some of the the many cafes, bars and food places that Athens has to offer.
Our morning started with putting the bikes back together, which went surprisingly smoothly so we were done in an hour. Thank the Greek gods nothing had broken during the plane ride. For our first of many meals Suuz had planned for the day we went to a cute coffee place called Little Tree Books & Coffee. Don’t know why they call it little tree, there were birds sitting in the tree above us ripping apart all its leaves, but I’d rather be covered in leaves than in bird shit of course. Croissants 🥐and lemon tart 🍋for breakfast. One of the great joys of cycling. You can stuff yourself with all that’s dead or alive and still lose some kilo’s, that’s the plan at least.
After breakfast we went for a walk to an outdoor store since we needed gas. Not for our bikes but in case we have to cook our own meal on our camping cooking stove. Traumatized by an extremely bland couscous dish we made years back, Suuz is already dreading the idea of fixing dinner without her stash of spices and herbs. Anyway, we found all we needed and after some grocery shopping we still had half a day left. After a quick call to cycling friend Noor (who’s cycling South America as we speak), we decided it was time for booze.
Suuz took me for wine 🥂and cheese 🧀 at Drupes & Dripes. Except it was no wine but a delicious spritz blanco. Still some time to kill before dinner so a little stroll to the up and coming Koukaki neighbourhood for an espresso fredo and a game of worms. Back to the apartment to do some packing and throw out our bike boxes.
We finished the day with a romantic candle light dinner at a restaurant in the old dwindling streets of Plaka. Must admit they only lit the candles 🕯 when we were about to leave, but just the same!
Waiter Panos served us seabass carpaccio 🐟, fresh tomato 🍅and rocket salad, homemade pasta with seafood🍝, a tomato mozzarella risotto and half a liter of their Greek house 🍷 red to wash it down. Good fuel for the big day!
We went to bed pretty early since we aimed to avoid the hottest hours and get started early the next morning. Unfortunately, some Greek girls sitting outside our bedroom window made it impossible. They were so loud Suuz got pissed and chased them off. But then the opera singer started to play her harp and bust out a string of high-pitch notes. It wasn’t bad at all but no great sleeping tunes . In the end also silence didn’t help. Counting Akropoli also didn’t do the trick, actually nothing did. First day fever!!🤢
