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Showing posts from May, 2014

Athens off season hits the spot

Returning to Athens has been bittersweet. As much as I love this city, it has been hard to return without my sister, where we had our best times together. Holding back the tears I smiled thinking of her reaction as I sped into central Athens, with a driver who seemed more interested in learning my life story than driving with due care.  In equal horror and admiration I nervously eyed the abandoned steering wheel as he drove cigarette in one hand, mobile phone in the other; simultaneously placating his irate mistress, while madly gesticulating at the congested road ahead. Relating in detail the woes of modern Greece in broken English I couldn’t help but silently applaud his multi-tasking capabilities and unflagging optimism.  Athens in the winter is a lack back affair; the restaurants are much quieter, shop opening hours are limited, the pace of life is generally more subdued, but once the sun makes an appearance, the Greeks descend the streets to walk their daily ‘volta’ a