Our fender, "Nellie" has got a "little Nellie" to keep her company. With so much wind we have been experiencing, the need for a "little Nellie" has become clear.
On our way to Athens in search of Moussaka
The last and only time I was in Athens was 1976. What I remember most clearly is that we wanted to taste real Greek moussaka. When we finally found some, it was cold! So Carl and I are off to Athens determined to find a good, hot Moussaka.
The receptionist at the hotel gave us a map with suggestions do what we will manage to see in the time we have. So it is off to the Acropolis with all its fantastic monuments and history. We found out that the most damage that was done to the Parthenon on 26 September 1687 when an Ottoman ammunition depo was ignited by Venetian bombardment. The resulting explosion severely damaged the Parthenon.
The Partenon measures 38 x 69 meters. The pillars are 15 m high.
This is an olive tree outside the ruins of the temple to Athena, the patron of Athens, and after who Athens was named. The story we were told ( on the hop on, hop off bus,) is that Poseidon and Athena both wanted to be patron of the beautiful city. A competition was held to decide whose gift to the city would be the most useful. Poseidon struck his trident in the ground and a spring appeared on the spot where the sword hit the ground. This spring became a sea. When it was Athenas turn she quietly bent down and buried something in the ground. It turned out be be an olive tree and much more useful than Poseidons Sea. Olives trees give oil, fruit, wood any many more things. Because Athenas gift was more useful, she became the patron of the city and Athens is named after her.
After an afternoon of hard touristing we are searching for moussaka. Off to an area nearby which was recommended by the receptionist. At the first restaurant, Mamas, a board saying amongst other things, MOUSSAKA. Turns out to be a very "local" place, with us the only guests. We were ushered to a table in the back because they had set some tables for guests they were expecting. They informed us that they have live music. Once seated we ask for moussaka. Oh no sorry, that was only for lunch. No moussaka, but everything else on the menu. Very disappointed but thinking of the live music and all the guests who will be arriving, we decided to stay. On the menu, False meatballs. Very good, says Costos, who tells us that he is a photographer from somewhere near Delphi, and is only helping out at they restaurant because he can speak English. False meatballs turned out to be sausages chopped in rings and fried. But the music was fantastic! One guitar, one bazuki and a female singer. All for us, because by the time we left at 23.15, no more guests had arrived. Great evening, but no moussaka!
It being Swedens national day, 6 June, a drink at a bar showing Swedish colours is called for.
All in all we enjoyed our stay in Athens tremendously. Parts of the city are very run down, I suppose due to their economy, but the historical spots are looked after.
BUT, unfortunately I got robbed! This morning on a very very full metro with me clutching my bag tightly to my chest, some one managed to extract my purse. My credit cards, drivers license 50 euros and about kr 200 gone. But not my passport. Carl was squashed up behind me and he felt a finger slipping into his back pocket. But because he keeps his own finger in his back pocket, he got hold of the foreign finger and gave it a hard squeeze! Lucky we did not both lose our wallets!
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