A is for awesome Athens.

Within moments of getting our luggage, a nice woman from South Africa was showing us exactly what bus to take to get to our hostel. She told us that while she lives in South Africa, she is "living there in exile." She said her heart is in Athens. I couldnt wait to explore!

While our hostel wasnt in the best area, we were still able to have delicious gyros just around the corner. And while we sat, devouring our first greek meal, Garvey was offered cocaine, and 3 prostitutes paced the block.

The next morning we took a walking tour of the city. Our tour guide was a guy named Walter from South Carolina. He happened to fall in love with a Greek woman, and as he put it, he got stuck. The tour was beautiful. We saw all of the major sites of the city and then had another delicious meal with our tour group. It is fascinating to hear everyones different stories. I love learning about the people traveling, the places they are going, why they have chosen certain cities, and their advice for us. When talking to Walter about our travel plans, or lack thereof, he told us that we had basically done all of Athens. Hmm... so were we just supposed to leave?

While we didnt have the time to travel the islands extensively, we chose a one day cruise. The cruise went to Hydra, Poros and Aegina. Each island was unique and breathtaking. If there is one thing I have put on my list of things to do, it is cruise the Greek islands. Each one is so different and absolutely beautiful. The day was everything I could have dreamed, and more.

Thank goodness Athens was so interesting, because it was a little scary. While the prostitutes and drug dealers hung around our hostel, the junkies werent too far away. Two men that we met on our cruise told us that there were people laying in front of the doors to their hotel with needles stuck in their arms. Well, thank goodness we didnt stay at the Best Western! Oh, and the day after we left, there was a huge murder/ drug bust that happened in Omonia Square, one block from our hostel! Breathe, Mom. You know we are still safe!