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Hi everyone,
So I'm in catch up mood because my blog wouldn't let me log in and when I eventually started to write a entry I would either get half way through or finish writing a entry and the internet would freeze then I'd have to rewrite it because it didn't save.. Grrr technology these days!!
P.s just to let you know, there is a short, brief, off putting part I will be writing about later so stop eating now... Sorry I have to share it with you all... Cheers. Anyway back to it!
So today was my flight from Prague to Athens. Take off wasn't until 11.10 but the only transfer pick up time available was 7.30 due to my late notice booking. At least I would be at the airport in time :-)
When I arrived at Prague airport I looked at my eticket and the baggage allowance stated only 1pc allowed. So I started to freak out because I had two suitcase and a handbag and everyone single person at the airport only had one suitcase and a handbag or backpack. The lady at the information desk wasn't that helpful either. The only information I could get out of her was which baggage checkin desk I had to go to... I'm not having much luck so far with the 'information desks' over here..
So at this point I was so worried that I was only allowed to take one bag on the plane with me so I found a corner and I transferred a few things from my small suitcase over to my large suitcase so I could fit my handbag in my carry on luggage and I took out all the relevant things that I needed eg passport, eticket, tablet and phone. Ahhh I could breath a little easier now.
I had to wait about an hour until the baggage check in desk was open so I decide to get some breakfast while I waited seen as I left the hotel before breakfast started. The thing I noticed a lot about Prague was that people took their dogs everywhere they went and the same goes for the airport. I think I counted at least two dogs but they may have actually been there to catch a flight.
Baggage check in went relatively smooth it took around half an hour to check my suitcase in and I was pretty close to the front of the line. I went off to the security gate which did take some time because Prague security want to see every single liquid, gel, paste and drugs/medications in the clear plastic bags so I had to rummage through my carry on luggage to collect everything. Lesson learnt put it all in my check in luggage!
I had every intention to write a entry at the airport but they didn't offer any free WiFi like the other airports I've been too so I just waited around at the gate for about 40mins and read my book (it's getting really interesting now!!)
I finally got onto the plane and I was sitting in a window seat next to I think an old Brazilian couple. When they asked me where I was from, I told them Australia and they automatically asked "Are you from Sydney or Melbourne?" I don't know how many people have asked me the question over the past few days... Is it not common for tourist to visit Brisbane or something?? When I told them I was from Brisbane the man couldn't say Brisbane properly. It was rather funny and I couldn't stop myself from laughing. His wife also laughed as well so I guess I was in the clear :-)
The flight took about two and a bit hours and I arrived in at 3.30 local time. Greece is an hour ahead of all the other countries I have visited so far and I may have indicated when I organised the transfer that I put 14.30 instead of 15.30. Let's hope my poor driver was still there waiting for me.
It took me quite some to collect my suitcase as there was another two flights on the same baggage belt and when finally went out the exit I could see my name on a piece of paper right at the back. Thank god he didn't leave. My driver was the most loveliest man. His name was Dimitris and he was the most talkative driver I have had thus far. He was the manager of Happy Transfers & Tours which explains why he was so talkative. He pretty much gave me a tour on the way into the city and showed me around, giving me advice on where to go, what to do and lots of information about the city. Especially warning me about the area where my hotel was located which after I booked the room I read the reviews and saw that there was a few comments that it wasn't in the best of areas.
Dimitris asked me how old I was and when I told him that I was almost 25 he had the most shocked look on his face because he throught I was 17. He said I look as young as his daugther who is 17 and if he was my dad he wouldn't have let me travel across the other side of the world by myself. He was I guess a little relieved that I am a lot older than 17.
When he dropped me off at my hotel, he gave me a big hug and kissed my cheek. When I pulled away he said "no, no, no, people in Greece go to both sides" oops my bad :-| After then going to both sides he said if I needed anything, if I got into any type of trouble to call him at any time because I am like a daughter to him and he gave me his card. He waved me goodbye and left. Such a sweet, kind man!
After checking into the hotel, trying to figure out how to use the bloody lifts I made my way up to my room, settled in and decide to not waste the remaining sunlight. So I packed my backpack and set off with a map down stairs to get my bearings of the area. It's such a confusing city, the street signs inparticular because they are all written in I'm guessing Greek, English and another language (probably Italian) Dimitris was not wrong about the area having a bad name for itself! It's like every man and his dog either loves to spray paint graffiti or enjoys doing street art because I could not find a single building wall that didn't have spray paint on it AND they were covered!!
Dimitris also said not to stay out to late because when it gets dark that's when the drug dealers start to come out. RIGHT aim for the next three days is to be back at the hotel before the sun sets as I knew Dimitris was exactly right with this one.
I'd been walking for about a good hour now and it looked like all the shops were shut so I decide to make my way back to the hotel, as I walking along (here is the off putting part guys...) from a distance I could see this little girl sitting in the middle of the pathway and as I got closer she looked like she was about 12 years old and homeless. She was counting her coins and I saw that both her shins had I'm gathering some kind of flesh eating disease and it had eaten away at her skin and chunks of her tissue. I would have to say that it's probably the worst thing I have ever seen and I've seen cadavers and sections of body parts on a pe excursion at highschool and that didn't phase me at all but this did! It was so so horribly! I guess health care comes at a price these days and people don't hand it out for free and if you don't have a home to live in how could you afford healthcare as well... It really made me think about how luck I am to have a roof over my head, to have a job that pays well that enables me to buy food and healthcare when needed, to have a car that works, family and friends that love me because well this little girl looked like she had none of that and she was all alone in the middle of a side walk with no one to look after her. It just opened my eyes a little and taught me to be greatful for the things we usually take for granted everyday! If I had any Euro on me I would have given it to her within a heartbeat that's for sure!!
Ok well that turned a tad emotional didn't it.. Guess I should move on then. After returning to the hotel I started to get quite hungry and the restaurant had closed for the day but the roof top bar was available. But when I walked into the lobby there was sooooo many people trying to check in. I think it was a group tour or something and the traffic to use the lift was ridiculous so I figured I would use the stairs. How hard can it be walking up 8 flights of stairs to get to the roof top to get something to eat. I was fit and thought this would be easy. WELL wasn't I bloody WRONG!!!! Walking up stairs is the worst thing INVENTED!! It's now pretty high up there on my least favourite things to do list along with running anything over 200m. I was so puffed when I got to my floor which was on the 7th floor. I had to stop into my room to catch my breath back. I then tried my luck with the lift to go up to the 8th floor. NO CHANCE IN HELL!! All the oldies were crammed into every lift that I tried to get into. Two flights for stairs won't kill me I guessed and when I got up there the restaurant wasn't even open yet! Grrr way to end my day.
I waited another good hour and headed back upstairs again and had a bite to eat. Good old spag bol was what I picked and it wasn't that expensive either. There was also a beautiful view of the Acropolis in the distance all lit up as dusk was approching at this stage now (9pm was the time).
After I finished eating I went downstairs had a shower and jumped into bed hoping for a sleep in as I was dosing off to sleep. Keep your fingers crossed people!!! Will let you know in the next entry!!!
Anyways I'd best be off. Again sorry about such a long entry. I didn't think I actually did much today...
Tomorrow the hop on hop off bus was a good way to get around to see the sites.
Talk to you all soon!!
Love lots!
JB Xox
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