kalisperma
Nov. 26th, 2009 10:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jawnbcGreetings from Athens! I arrived yesterday after a tedious 14 train ride Belgrade-Thessaloniki, followed by a highly recommended 35 minute flight Thessa-Athens. The Serbian Railways train was really a Jugoslav Railways one, which might not have been thoroughly cleaned since. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't nice either. I was the only person in the entire first class sleeper car. Svetlan, bless him, thought "non-smoking" meant "it's OK if I smoke in your room." Grrrrrr....
My final thoughts on Belgrade? Even on a sunnier day, it's not a happy place. Some people are doing well; many aren't. Folks there smoke in that holditforeverydropofnicotineallthewaydowntothefilter way of the unhappy. Wages are low, there's a surprising amount of unrepaired (or at least uncleared) damage from the NATO bombings, and the whole place needs a power wash. And...I know it's a catch 22...but they need to make themselves more visitor friendly. There should be easier to read more detailed maps for tourists--ones with both the Cyrillic and Latin version of street and landmark names. Like in Athens. I'm a pretty savvy traveller, and I had a tough time navigating the streets and public transport systems. There are a lot of very nice people in Belgrade and there are lots of worthwhile things to see and do. Fingers crossed the government finds the will do them.
We arrived in Thessa 90 minutes late (a good run apparently; sometimes it's 4 hour late), which left enough time to hop in a taxi to the airport. It was 22C in Thessa, so I was pealing layers off as I waited to drop off my bag. And aside from the Greek insanity (lineup? who cares! metal detector? I'm not taking off my belt!), I heartily recommend Aegean Airlines. It was cheap (€1 plus €25 in taxes), very efficient from curb to baggage claim in Athens, a lovely new plane, and a great flight crew. They've just been approved for Star Alliance, which doesn't surprise me a bit.
Took the Metro to Monastariki, and managed to find my hotel. The room is large, the view of the Acropolis gorgeous, and the shower strange. No, really: the "bath" is only about 1.5 long and has a shelf to sit on. The "shower" isn't high enough to use as a shower. So you sit and wash.
The "wifi" is €5 an hour, but I just managed to find an open router. The City of Athens has 3 free public hot spots, but it's chilly out and far enough away to be a schlep.
Today I visited the Acropolis and surrounding sites (Agora, Dionysious's crib, etc). I've averaged 10km/day walking on this trip and it feels great. Tomorrow my conference starts, but after around 2pm there's nothing happening. I'll pop over to the new Acropolis Museum instead. But I miss home, my bed, and (especially) my hawt husband. I'm getting a bit old to travel on my own for any length of time.
My final thoughts on Belgrade? Even on a sunnier day, it's not a happy place. Some people are doing well; many aren't. Folks there smoke in that holditforeverydropofnicotineallthewaydowntothefilter way of the unhappy. Wages are low, there's a surprising amount of unrepaired (or at least uncleared) damage from the NATO bombings, and the whole place needs a power wash. And...I know it's a catch 22...but they need to make themselves more visitor friendly. There should be easier to read more detailed maps for tourists--ones with both the Cyrillic and Latin version of street and landmark names. Like in Athens. I'm a pretty savvy traveller, and I had a tough time navigating the streets and public transport systems. There are a lot of very nice people in Belgrade and there are lots of worthwhile things to see and do. Fingers crossed the government finds the will do them.
We arrived in Thessa 90 minutes late (a good run apparently; sometimes it's 4 hour late), which left enough time to hop in a taxi to the airport. It was 22C in Thessa, so I was pealing layers off as I waited to drop off my bag. And aside from the Greek insanity (lineup? who cares! metal detector? I'm not taking off my belt!), I heartily recommend Aegean Airlines. It was cheap (€1 plus €25 in taxes), very efficient from curb to baggage claim in Athens, a lovely new plane, and a great flight crew. They've just been approved for Star Alliance, which doesn't surprise me a bit.
Took the Metro to Monastariki, and managed to find my hotel. The room is large, the view of the Acropolis gorgeous, and the shower strange. No, really: the "bath" is only about 1.5 long and has a shelf to sit on. The "shower" isn't high enough to use as a shower. So you sit and wash.
The "wifi" is €5 an hour, but I just managed to find an open router. The City of Athens has 3 free public hot spots, but it's chilly out and far enough away to be a schlep.
Today I visited the Acropolis and surrounding sites (Agora, Dionysious's crib, etc). I've averaged 10km/day walking on this trip and it feels great. Tomorrow my conference starts, but after around 2pm there's nothing happening. I'll pop over to the new Acropolis Museum instead. But I miss home, my bed, and (especially) my hawt husband. I'm getting a bit old to travel on my own for any length of time.
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no subject
Date: 2009-11-26 07:09 pm (UTC)But there is so much there that is lovely.
no subject
Date: 2009-11-26 08:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-27 12:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-11-27 11:36 am (UTC)Have a great time!