Experience in Athens

It’s been a while, I haven post any stories probably today is the right time to write something that I have encounter few months ago.

On 16 February 2013, during my trip to Athens from Roma, I was anxious to visit Greece for the first time, to know about the culture, to see the old sculpture and so on.  When arrive to Athens Airport, my heart beating so fast, participating to visit the famous Parthenon museum at Acropolis.

I brag my luggage, searching for Metro. One thing about the Metro, it is difficult to find the actual location, it takes me few minutes to wonder where the arrow direct to that locations. Finally, I found the Metro is located above level 2 opposite the Airport. So I walked towards the counter asking the price tickets to Acropolis. She told me,” 8 euros. So I paid the ticket then thereafter walk at the ticket booth.  I took escalator downwards and enter the Metro. Is actually, not too crowded. After the next few stops, it started to fill with people. I need to stand really deep corner so that my luggage won’t block their way.

Finally, I stop at Acropolis Stations. Then from there I walked up and look for my hotel. It took me 15mins to reach there. When I tried to open the door, is so hard, then this nice old guy tried to explain how to enter, I don’t understand his language so he help me to push the door. I say, “Thank you, but he didn’t response, he walked off. Probably, he is in a bad mood or something. I enter inside the hotel walking towards the receptions. The receptionist is kind and nice. He Shown me the direction to my room, and wish me pleasant a stayed. It was a cozy hotel, art paint and sculptures everywhere. The strange part of the hotel, the lift has a door knob. It’s a first time for me to use the lift with a door knob.

I enter to my room. Is so warm and cozy, the bed is so soft is like a feather. I removed my jacket and jump onto my bed and close my eyes for few hours.  I slept almost 2 hours, is getting dawn the time is about 1845hrs. I wash my face, take my things and go out from my hotel. When I open the exit door from the hotel, the light rain is started to pouring. Without any doubts, I just walked out from the hotel and walk along the alley of the hotel. While I was walking toward the Parthenon, a guy came out from no way, asking me for directions. I told him, “I just came from Roma; and it’s my first time in Athens. The Italian guy told me the same thing. Surprising he stayed at the hotel where I live. So, he invited me to walk with him. I follow but in my thoughts, I don’t trust him at all even though he shown me his girlfriend photos just to prove his genuine but I don’t think twice, just follow him.

He bring me to the bar which these no customer inside. We order a drink, he insists to have beer but I told him, I don’t drink alcohol. So I order for myself orange juice. We sat down and have a conversation, and then these ladies out from nowhere join us for a drink. They were asking us, if we allow drinking with them. I told them no, but this Italian guy say,” its ok, be happy. We chat and the ladies order 2 bottles of wines. Just try to entertain us. My thoughts telling me, I have been punk. When I tried to escape from the bar, the Greek guy stop me and telling me to paid up. He shows me the receipt, the cost for the drinks is 450 euros including tax. I was extremely shock! I never expect to be that much, I told him, I only had 300 euros, he insist me to pay otherwise I won’t go out from the bar. They force me to take out my wallet but I try to resist them, I told them,” I don’t have any money left; I want to pay for my own drinks not the ladies, I want to call the polis and I won’t pay any cents for them. The Greek guy told me,” I supposed to call the polis not you, if you don’t pay up, how I can pay for my rental, my employee and fed my family. The Italian guy, interfere and tried to keep us calm, so he tell the Greek guy, he will pay for me 150 euros and the balance I must pay to him. Without any choice, I pay up the balance of the money. The Greek guy tells us, now you can go. In my thoughts, is a bullshits.

The Italian guy says to me, his not involved any of them. For me, his is lying. He, asking me, if I want to join him to walk up to Parthenon, immediately I say NO! I want to go home. He tried his best to accommodate me but I don’t have the mood to listen any of his bullshit stories. He leading me the way to my hotel and from there I don’t even bother to look at him. Slowly I walked to my hotel and tilt my head just to be sure he doesn’t follow me or any stranger monitoring me. In few minutes, I safely arrived to my hotel, go up to my room analyzing what really happen and why can’t I prevent all this. So many if’s come out from my brain. When I look at my watch is 2015hrs, I couldn’t sleep or eat, only thinking. Till Midnight my eyes started to close slowly.

The next day, I woke up at 0630hrs. I feel a little bit depressed due to yesterday incident. An hour later, I go down from my room to take my breakfast. The breakfast isn’t that bad. Nice cereal and soup. I ate and in the same time thinking about yesterday incident. At times, life can be unfair. Oh well, that’s life. After, my breakfast, I went to Parthenon and old city. I took allot of photos. I walked around almost 5 hours. I went back to my hotel and thinking about the scenario which happen yesterday.

After analyzing the scenario, I guess, they do it because the economy in Greece is bad and after observing not so much tourist in Athens, only few people walking along the mall. Maybe winter season these no so much tourist or maybe it could be other possibilities. Anyway, it all doesn’t matter anymore, what matters now.

Never travel alone if you not familiar with that country and never trust a stranger if they pretend to be nice. Always trust your instinct and never follow their lead, otherwise you may end up like me.