Athens

Well Gail has finally let me talk.  In reality she has caught cold and doesn't want to blog just now . But be assured she is ok. She is just now enjoying her G&T. So to continue.  We drove down to Athens through lots of beautiful country and even tho the tablet gps only worked now and then got the Fiat back to the airport without crashing anyone. It registered 2100+ks by us so we got value.
Caught the suburban train into Athens and went looking for the hotel. Luckily gps worked right until the locality but it was in the middle of the Athens vegetable market. After circling around we found it right in front of us,  even with vege transfers on the door.  When inside and on the 5th floor we found a great room overlooking said vegetable market.  The hotel is the Athens central square hotel and is really good quality and value. Even tho the markets start about 4am we were not disturbed . others on lower floors weren't so happy.
Athens was all we experienced before and more. It is still relativey smog free and easy to walk wherever.  We enjoyed again the ancient sites and modern food.  The hotel was
great in recommending good restaurants but we found one evening that it could not be found. But next day we pre scouted and found our targets.
On Sunday we found the Parliament building and tomb of the unknown soldier just before the changing of the Greek guards . The performance was better than Buckingham Palace and I have photos. Indeed many photos to prove it.
Of course we visited the Acropolis etc etc and etc again and we're impressed by the ongoing restorations.  If anything we enjoyed it more perhaps than last time when it was just amazing to be there.
We found the hotel we stayed in last time in the Plaka but it was in a more ruinous state than those 2000 years older. But again the salad, the tzsatitsiki and kebabs, fish and souvlaki were just supurb. As well we tried lots of local wines, usually the house wines and found them good but quite different from home.
The flight back to Rome was good, even tho we were on easyJet a discount carrier who charge for almost every extra. I was almost expecting to pay for the loo,!,, But we had lots of room as the Greek police grabbed about 10 passengers as we were boarding.  Gail tried to get them to hold me but was unsuccessful.
Back here we got to our booked hotel around seven pm. Found it was one of those which just had a small sign among others so were glad we had the exact address. Were then met by a Chinese man who said we were in a different hotel...Proceeded about 2 blocks away to where we are now. It turns out we are now in a 3 star rather than a 2 star but still extremely close to the Rome main station so we have an easy run to the airport and it's great accommodation. It's all quite new, it all works and we are very comfortable but it's fascinating because even tho all good there are Chinese characteristics like some I found on Christmas Island, superb fittings but. eg maps in the kitchen draws, However if we return we would be happy to stay again. Outside is a bit sad as lots of African refs around but still safe.
More later.
Bob