Like the new hat??
This was taken with the first of the three islands - Hydra - in the background.
Don't be fooled by this smile, though. This was a very lonely day, and I think there are three reasons.
1) Everyone on the cruise was either in families of various sizes or couples of all ages. Also, hardly anyone spoke English, so I couldn't easily introduce myself into a group, as in lunch on board, when all the tables were for 6 - 8 people. This was a different situation than walking around old blocks of stone or through a park by myself. It's not that I was envious of their togetherness; I just didn't fit.
2) I haven't been getting enough sleep due to trying to stay current with the blog and cram in as much as possible during the day.
3) My mood has shifted significantly in the past couple of days, probably because of reason 2, which contributed to experience 1.
Reason 3 colored the whole day, so even though I took some photos, my heart wasn't in it.
Below is the first island, Hydra. It took about 2-1/2 hrs to get here, and it took me half of that to wake up. Late night with the blog. The water really is this blue/teal/aquamarine.
I had forgotten lunch was part of the cost of the cruise, so I ate in a quayside cafe and shared the meat on my sandwich with a very appreciative cat. They're everywhere, and very tame. Given my experience with the cruise lunch, it's a good thing I ate.
Next came Poros. Larger than Hydra; more commercial.
Last was Aegina, the largest of the three. It's a big exporter of pistachios.
Visiting more than one of these islands is like going through the Disneyland ride "It's a Small World After All" several times in close succession. Not that I'm saying this is different than any other tourist center.
The rest of this blog will sound equally cynical, but I've become disenchanted with - or maybe more realistic about - the trip. Though I've had some powerful experiences and widened my frame of reference, places are just places, and people make the places more than places. I'd like to come home raving about Aisha's Big Exciting Adventure, but I think I'll just be glad to be home. Also, though traveling alone means not having to compromise and negotiate itineraries, it also means standing in the middle of a Metro intersection without anyone to help figure out which way to go and laugh with if you make the wrong choice. It also means not having anyone to kvetch to about rude people and frustrating situations like bad bus tours.
It also means that there's no one to redeem the disappointment of being in Athens, a famous place that's supposed to be wonderful, and seeing that the Emperor has no clothes on. The terms "urban blight" and "urban plight," take your pick, are both applicable. Imagine driving through the worst parts of LA, and you'll have an idea of what it's like here. There are great views of the Parthenon, but there's more graffiti and tagging than I've seen in DC. Many buildings looked bombed out, and many others are boarded and gated over. There's a lot of activity, but there doesn't seem to be any here, here. If it weren't for the famous ancient relics, there would be no reason to come to Athens unless you need a reminder of how good most Americans have it. Go to Chicago. Or San Francisco. Or San Antonio. Or Washington DC. Or Seattle. They're not any more expensive than Athens is. And all those places have devoted resources to creating lots of beauty around their built environment. The places I've visited are just poor. I don't mean there are just poor sections. Every city has its share of those, including those I mentioned above. I'm talking about all-pervasive poor-ness; an economy based on limitations, not on opportunities. Next time there's a referendum to raise taxes for services or parks, think twice before voting "no." And I haven't even talked about the afternoon I spent in Bethlehem.
Pause. Deep breath.
On a lighter note, today I saw the first Starbucks of the trip.
And here's my favorite photo today.
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