Sunday, April 18, 2010

Off to Athens!

April 1st

I got up early this morning so I could shower and finish putting things in my bag, such as small toiletries.  Our class was in Westminster Chapel today, right across the road thank goodness!  We walked over there for BES, which we then talked about the Imperial War Museum, as that is our next assignment for class.  Contemporary Britain was next where we talked about 'how do Briton's live II'.   We also received our papers back, which I won't talk about.  After class I talked it over with Kiley an Carissa on whether I should stay for seminar.  They both suggested I leave and won't really miss anything anyway and so I don't miss my flight.  I left and headed back to my room where I grabbed my things and left. 
When I got to the tube station I topped up five pounds (since I didn't have money left) and I decided to take the tube all the way to Heathrow since I had some time, and I didn't want to pay for the Heathrow Express.  I got to the airport with plenty of time.  The night before I checked in, but only got my ticket from London to Frankfurt, so when I asked someone they said I should get my ticket in Frankfurt.  I went through security, then realizing I left all my papers I need to get back into the UK in my night stand.  I frantically text Kiley and then Carissa asking if they are going to Rome and if they can bring it along and we'll meet.  I got a reply back from Carissa first so we planned that we would meet and she would get my papers and bring them along. 
I wasn't going to find out my gate number until about 1:30pm so I walked around a while.  I hadn't eaten lunch yet so I was thinking of grabbing something at a restaurant, instead I got a sandwich, and drink at Cafe Nero.  Finally, a bit after 1:30 we were told the gate number.  I started walking and then saw a sign saying it would be about a 15 minute walk.  I eventually get to my gate and sit until we start boarding.  On my way there I flew with Lufthansa, it was an all right flight.  They did feed us, we got a ham sandwich with some sort of condiment and then a drink.  We arrived in Frankfurt and were then transported to another terminal.  I asked someone where I could get my ticket and she told me to check the gate where my flight was leaving from and get it from the gate.  I find the gate number and head down.  I have to go through security again and then I start making my long walk to the gate; what is it with my gates being so far away?  I get to my gate and tell them that I don't think I'm checked into my flight and I need a ticket.  Apparently I am checked in and they don't understand why I don't have a ticket.  They hand my my ticket and I stand around until we are to start boarding.  We are supposed to board at 5:25pm which didn't happen and we were supposed to take off at 6pm which didn't happen.  Finally when we eventually board and, I believe, take off after 6:30pm, I settle in and start listening to music as well as sleeping.  I was surprised when they came around with food, very surprised as to see what was on top of my food.  We were fed noodles with octopus, :p  The rest of it was good though, a roll, with some cookie thing; I did eat some of the noodles as well.  We finally landed into Athens and I enjoyed how easy it was to get into the country.  Pretty much land on a plane from the EU and there is no security or problem.  I call my parents while I wait for Kelsey to arrive.  When she finally gets there we find our way to the metro/train station.  We are to take a metro line to Syntagma, easier said then done.  We buy tickets and ask the ticket lady which one we should get on, she wasn't helpful at all and told us that we needed to go down the stairs, uh thanks.  We head down and there are two different tracks.  We can't read Greek nor can we speak it so we picked a train and headed out.  I had doubts from the beginning on whether we were even supposed to get on that one but I followed Kelsey aboard.  We got to the trains last stop, confused, and we got off.  We asked a lady who was working on the platform and she told us we needed to wait for the train that was going to be coming to the other track, at midnight.  It's only around 11:15 so Kelsey and I sit ourselves down and try to figure out what we are going to do while we are in Greece. 
Athens train station
When the train arrived we hopped on.  When we got a stop, some Greeks had overheard us and when they passed by they said this was the last stop.  It wasn't the last stop and I think they wanted to get us lost.  Kelsey went and asked some people where we were and how we could get to the place we needed to be.  Finally, one of the guys said we should get off and take a taxi.  We didn't really want to but it was our last resort.  We left the train and once in the front we found a taxi and he took us to Athens Backpackers.  We were glad when he said we just owed him 10 euro.  We paid him and headed inside.  We checked into our rooms and then paid for a day trip to Delphi, you could only pay cash which set me back 50 euros.  We head up to our room, on the 4th floor and drop our things off.  Only one person was sleeping but all except 2 beds were taken, of course those were for us.  We head back down because after our crazy adventure we are too tired.  When we were getting tired we headed back up to our room.  As for the bathroom, the shower leaks out onto the whole floor, which in turn makes it really gross and wet.  There is a squidgy there, but it doesn't do much help.  I go in to get ready for bed, tiptoe-ing the whole time because I am disgusted.  As soon as I get out I come face to face with a guy, and then two others.  Our first night in Athens we share a room full of four guys.  We were somewhat introduced and then it was off to bed.  They all seemed very nice to say the least.  Hopefully our Friday is better than our first night!  Cheers

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