Return to Athens 24 Sept
We try to buy food in Piraeus at about 5:30pm but everywhere is closed. Eventually get pleasant spiced mince (11 Drax for 300g) and tomatoes and grapes. Just began to rain. Dark and raining steadily after apparently marathon journey to campsite. Have reviving retsina and soda at Fred's. Put on light and up tent before too much rain. But it stops after about an hour so that Brian can cook very good meal while I dash off for potatoes. After dinner there is a long discussion with the book salesmen next door (Jeremy and Roger) particularly about SCUBA diving - Jeremy having had a school in Majorca until lack of permits closed him down. He now sells books for Websters in the US Navy and has some other side venture going. We get flashed by Fred about 11:30 so go to bed.
Brian gets up first at about 7:30. Fresh bread for breakfast. Athens is free today, so off we go on the bus. Get to the Acropolis at about 10:15. Here we spent some time inside being swept by the wind and admiring. Then we head for the Hill of Muses (monument of Philopappos) and make successful ascent and photo Acropolis. Next we descended to the theatre of Dionysos with front row "chairs" with hole in front, and frieze on back of stage. And on to the Roman Agora with the Temple of Hephaestus (450BC) which is well preserved. As are the statues which used to support the entrance to the Odeon, and the Agora Museum which is a replica of an old shopping precinct. In the background of the photo of the Temple of Hephaestus is the National Observatory of Athens on the Hill of the Nymphs.
By now it is siesta time, so off in search of food, firstly for evening meal and secondly for lunch. Like Thessaloniki we find Athens divided into shopping areas, but unfortunately this time we can find no market or meat shops! After long walk we give up the unequal struggle and have spinach bougatsa in mistake for "squashed flies" (Eccles cake). Then another forty minutes of being bounced up and down back to the camp. Don't feel very well so retire to bed for siesta. Arise for tea and supper (not too much) then go "next door" for coffee. And so to bed in sweater and blanket round sleeping bag. Really felt cold, must have been something wrong.
Woke about 7:30 and, instead of going back to sleep, got up to go into action. After breakfast (honey – what luxury!) start on sandals, then stove. Meanwhile Brian goes off with Fred to Elevsis and returns with rags and wire brush so that we can clean and reassemble stove, which works rather better now.
Lunch (preceded by retsina and soda with Fred) and then big effort on Wave steering. Find we need 36mm spanner, no joy with Fred, or garage across the road. Therefore, grease and clean plugs, interrupted by girls (hitch-hiking Sue and Jane) wishing us to go for a swim, which we oblige, though I don't stay long – water dirty. Shower and back to work. Then it is time for evening meal, chicken which Brian got via Mrs Fred. Afterwards get recipe for Christmas pudding from birds and glue sandals and shoes together.
