I feel exhilarated as I write my blog at the trendy hotel bar, the caffeine from the velvety cappuccino rushing through my body as I contemplate the ancient Acropolis in the distance. I type to the beat of the soft, trendy music that reaches beyond the glass walls of the bar and spills into the rooftop pool area.
It’s almost 5:30 in the afternoon in Athens and all I’ve managed to accomplish today is a whole lot of nothing. And yet, it means everything! After a busy schedule in Lisbon, everything slowed down as soon as I landed in Greece. Time moves slower here in the land of Chronos, god of time.
My body chose to wake up at 9:03 am. It’s still confused from the jet lag, and no matter how many miles I walk in Sintra or how many hills in Lisbon I climbed or how many lines I stood waiting in, my body refused to give in to fatigue. It’s been a struggle falling asleep at night, and I am punished for it in the morning as I struggle to leave the bed.
But not today. I let me body, not my alarm, dictate when to wake up. I took my time getting ready and walking towards the hotel breakfast. I enjoyed every sip of coffee and mouthful of pastry, delighted in having no agenda for today. After breakfast I changed into my teal swimsuit and applied a coat of bright pink lipstick (yes, I wear makeup to the pool) and arrived just as the pool area was being opened. A hotel employee was finishing power washing some of the loungers. A young, beautiful Greek woman handed me a towel and I selected the lounger closest to the pool and with an umbrella. The fabric was still wet from the power washing and it gave me chills as I laid down.
The next 6.5 hours were a delight of laziness and rest. The weather was perfect for this. A gauzy cloud cover, thick enough to filter the worse of the sun, but soft enough so I could enjoy the view of the entire city, especially the Acropolis. What did I do for the 6.5 hours? I napped, I read, I stared into space, I posted, and I thought about my trip so far. In short, my stress melted away with every passing relaxing minute
Lisbon
As I sat by the pool, I swiped through all my pictures of Lisbon. Lisbon is a beautiful celebration of colors, food, and fun. Every turn a new azulejo, a new color, a new pattern, adding life and light-heartedness to the entire city. I was captivated by their food. So happy I got to do the food tour where I tried many of the local delicacies. Some of my favorite where the pasteis de bacalao (cod cakes), which reminded me of cod croquettes. These were perfect for snacks or a light lunch and paired well with the classic Portuguese Vihno Verde. My biggest surprise was the Bifanas pork sandwich. The pork marinates and slow cooks for hours in a broth of white wine, garlic and spices until the meat is tender. Adding a bit of peri peri hot sauce makes it a perfect, easy-on-the-wallet meal.
Four days in Lisbon were perfect. I definitely would like to explore more of the country in the future. I would like to travel north to Porto, the Douro Valley and cross the sea to Madeira. Perhaps one day.
Arrival in Greece
Yesterday I left Lisbon at 11:00 am and took a flight to Athens. The flight is longer than what I expected. About 4 hours long! We arrived a little late to the Athens’ airport. As I landed, I received a text from my Greek friend Maria inviting me to dinner that very night. I was happy for the impromptu dinner date. As I gathered my luggage and searched for a taxi, I was excited to find that there was absolutely no one waiting in the taxi line. Typically when I come to Athens, the taxi lines are long (although they move quickly). About thirty minutes later, the taxi driver dropped me off at my hotel where the check in was also quick. Again, not my typical Greek experience, so I am very grateful.
Dinner with a Friend
Quickly, I brushed my teeth, changed my clothes and ordered an Uber. I arrived at this small, neighborhood restaurant with a delightful Greek wine list. Maria was already waiting at a table outside and we spent some time hugging and catching up before the waitress arrived. Maria ordered for us since the menu was entirely in Greek and the staff spoke practically no English. I threw a few Greek words as much as I could such as cheese, wine, and please.
Dinner was an absolute pleasure. Great wine, great food, and especially great company. I met Maria while she lived in Des Moines. I was devastated when she moved away to pursue other opportunities. She was like family. But I was happy that she was living out her dream of going back to Greece. I was invited to celebrate her wedding in her Greek village two years ago and we still keep in touch by sending the occasional text. After our scrumptious meal of about 5 courses (my favorite of which was a squid salad), we said goodbye and I headed back to the hotel.
We plan to have dinner again tonight, this time with Georgia, her sister, and some of Georgia’s friends from her graduate program in Spain. Currently, I am sitting at the hotel bar, finishing the last of my velvety cappuccino, the breeze in my hair, the Acropolis in the distance, and the promise of a wonderful dinner with friends in my future. I couldn’t be happier. What a perfect day. 🙂