Tales from Abroad: Rocking the Acropolis

You know the kid who came back from study abroad with their life absolutely changed. They are ready to live a new life and keep "accidentally" reverting back to habits from their host country. And they're definitely just superior to you because of the four weeks they spent outside of the US of A. I'm not that kid. I did go abroad this summer and had a good experience but am not feeling all the much different or rejuvenated. I didn't feel like the people around me needed to hear my stories or see my photos. But I'm also a content machine that lacks blog topics, so another series has emerged. So, without further ado, a tale from abroad.

On Saturday I would go to the heart of Athens. While I may have been in Athens for two weeks by this point in time, I had yet to really venture into the city. After a solid night of sleep, I decided to approach my excursion like anyone would. Unprepared and in possession of only a rough idea of what I planned to do. I left my dorm with my phone in airplane mode and a sparkle in my heart. I figured I'd take the subway into the city. Didn't entirely know where the subway stop was or where I should get off.

With this we face Battle 1: Can I figure out the subway?

Answer: Yeah, it's like super easy. While I'd like to claim it was my deep emotional connection with locomotives of all kinds, it's probably just more the fact that everything has an English option. Now I didn't go to Greece with no attempt to learn Greek and an expectation that everyone would speak my language. But Greek is hard. Learning a language with a new alphabet isn't accomplished with a quick duolingo session. One thing about the Greek people though it they were all incredibly friendly and helpful. Most people spoke English and were happy to help. I theorized that due to the (to put things nicely) "shaky" Greek economy, when they see American money walk in their arms and cash registers are open to receive it. So the subway was easy, choo-choo playlist was pumping. Made it to Monastiraki Square without a hitch. Stepping out of the train station you're greeted with a feeling of just knowing you've made it. You walk into a bustling square filled with people and pigeons. The subway station hums with traffic and street vendors call to the crowds to buy their goods.

And now we come to the Battle 2: Can I make it to the Acropolis?

This comes in stages. To Acropolise includes a wide array of actions necessary to check the box. First, I needed to find it. For those of you who may find yourself struggling in this situation, just ring the call button and Tommy will come back there and hit you in the head with a tack hammer. It's basically at the highest, most central point of the city. You can't miss it. So, I worked my way up there and stood in line to get my ticket to tour the ruins. Got my ticket but I can't actually go in until 2 PM. I have a few hours to kill so I figure I'll make my way to the Acropolis Museum which I've heard nothing but good things about. Don't really know where this is either, but I know a tour group when I see one. So, I just sorta putzed around following them until, sure enough, I was standing at the front door of the Museum. With this I looked at two lines. One long and slow moving; the other practically nonexistent. It felt like a test of morality and so inquisitively I took the longer line. Stood there for about 15 minutes and once I reached the front I learned this was the line for prepurchased tickets. So with this news I turned to join the short line only to see it was now the size of the line I had just waited in. Minor setback for a major comeback. Eventually I made it in after buying a ticket at the reduced fee price which is normally reserved for EU citizens. Major comeback secured immediately. It was a really cool spot but my major takeaway was Athens was just always being taken over or sacked. Like grow some balls and defend your city. And take care of your major temple. You are surrounded by mountains. Rocks everywhere. Yet when someone is banging at your door you decided to take apart the Parthenon to build walls? The only other moment of note from this excursion was a security guard demanding to see my ticket because of my terrifying no-good midwestern bad assitude. Needless to say, I was flustered like the aforementioned bad ass I am. But I moved to the actual ruins. Got in line at 1:30 which was a great move. The ruins are pretty damn sweet. So big, good views of the city, would've loved to see it in its prime.

But after a day of many steps in the hot Athens sun we entered Battle 3: Gotta find food.

I have a simple strategy when eating abroad. Look for the place that is the least likely for people to speak English. Eat there. After some brief research (chatting with locals and looking around) I found my spot. I love some street meat. While one should probably be semi-weary about that I see a hole-in-the-wall spot with two menu items and I'm elated. Workers weren't friendly and don't care about you. I love that. It takes 5 minutes to make, they hand you your two giant wraps of meat for 5 Euros and you enjoy blissfully spiced souvlaki. Huge win. Feeling rejuvenated, feeling ready for a reward.

What better reward then what's waiting at the end of Battle 4: Secure Gelato

I am not an ice cream guy much to the horror of my younger sister. I would argue that growing up in a city home to the best ice cream in the world (Graeter's) has made all other ice cream and related products feel inferior. At this point I had yet to pop into any gelato joint. I walked the market seeking a place that would hit the spot. I found one, walked in, was waiting in line scouting my scoops when the spirit pulled me out. I may not be an ice cream guy but I always know ball. Just down the street was the site of the 2012 European Gelato Championship winner. Cappuccino and tiramisu was a very strong combo. Borat voice worthy "great success" moment.

Now for maybe the hardest task yet in Battle 5: I had to make choices

As many may know I, like your average Leprechaun, could be described as thrifty. I don't like to spend, especially on myself. This tends to lead to chronic indecision that plagues me especially in souvenir searching scenarios. One would be relatively easy. In each country I visit, I attempt to buy a soccer scarf. I found that while many stores had them, they were all pretty much the same with a handful of different prices, but I felt I found the cheapest and best. Now the more difficult decision was I decided I wanted a shirt. As an adult sized child, I dress roughly the same as I did as a 5-year-old. But I felt human clothes are good and wanted to buy a nice button-down linen shirt. This was a decision. They cost real money. They are fashion related and as much as I love project runway I have as much dressing room anxiety as anyone. All I know is starter jackets, this is outside my niche. I went into a few stores, couldn't find the one. Decided to take one last shot and check out a store with a semi-scary old Greek man in front of it that I had been avoiding. He turned out to be incredibly helpful, found the perfect shirt and hyped me up big time. I also didn't buy the USSR military hat or sword I found in an antique store, which honestly feels like just as big of a win.

We made it home for the night with 12 miles of walking under our belt. I ate a Diabolito Burrito from the local Mexican restaurant that was run by Indians. I sipped a lemon fanta on my porch and fell asleep on a bed that I had made in the morning with no alarms set.

Athena Nike was on my shoulders that day. Battles faced were battles won.