Two Sore Backs

It is hard to believe we have spent a month driving around Greece, barely leaving the Peloponnese.

Now we are back in Porto Heli with Denis and Paras. We are so fortunate to spend our last few days in Greece relaxing at their home. Life is wonderfully simple.

We eat out.

Tonight we are at their favourite seafood place.

We hang out.

In the kitchen – with Dougal.

On the deck – with Dougal.

We eat in.

We offer to make dinner for our friends. Instead we receive cooking lessons. Paras is making broad beans – these are sweet and tasty – a meal in and of itself. We will try to replicate the recipe at home – finding these beautiful broad beans will be the secret.

And we relax at the pool.

We venture down to the beach.

What a difference a month makes. The tourists are here. The beach umbrellas are set up. There is food and drink service to the beach. WOW.

Today is our last swim in Greece. 😢

We head to Athens tomorrow. Then London the day after.

So sad to be leaving our friends and looking forward to a return visit sometime.

So grateful for their hospitality and the memories we have made.

Athens

We have one day in Athens.

We check in to our hotel in Kolinaki and have a late lunch at a nearby restaurant. Afterwards, having overeaten, we opt for a short nap.

Refreshed, we head out in the direction of the Acropolis Museum. It is a bit of a walk but pleasant enough in the middle of the afternoon and the route will take us through a park and then to the Plaka.

The museum opened in 2009 and was built to house all the artifacts found on the rock and surrounding slopes of the Acropolis.

In fact the museum is built over Roman ruins.

The museum is amazing in size and stunning to the eye.

We don headsets and get absolutely lost in the collection of artifacts. (The photos below showcase one of many halls.) The challenge is twofold: to find the artifact being discussed on the audio (as very few get a mention) and then try to absorb the information. If I am being honest both challenges got tougher as I went along.

When my brain tires of artifacts I turn my attention to the stunning views towards the Acropolis and city.

Our museum self tour lasts about an hour and we are now late into the afternoon. The tourists are concentrated around the shops close to the Acropolis. We wander through the Plaka but with a purpose and find ourselves on some less travelled side streets.

Our next stop is the Attic Urban Rooftop cocktail bar. We manage to snag the last free seats and order drinks while the sun sets behind the Acropolis.

We walk back to our hotel through the Plaka and Syntagma Square, taking in the evening vibe.

We head to the airport in the morning – London bound.