We spent a pretty boring day on the ferry and arrived in Patras, Greece at around 2pm.
We then got a taxi to the bus station, where we had to catch a bus to Athens. This involved a 3hr bus ride! Let me just say it was a really really long day!
The bus driver smoked occasionally, which outraged me, probably because we are so used to people not being able to smoke anywhere. But EVERYONE smokes in Europe. It’s been my one complaint the whole time. Especially when you are sick & everything smells yucky. I have constantly had to put my scarf to my nose so I can’t smell the cigarette smoke.
We arrived at the bus station in Athens and caught a cab to our hotel, which I think (again!) was in the red light district.
The staff at the hotel were lovely and very helpful and recommended two restaurants that were within 5mins walk of the hotel.
We had lovely Greek food and the staff were really lovely. They gave us a fruit platter and some dessert wine on the house. The food was like half the price of Italy, which was great!
Later we went for a walk around the Psirri district and came across Pittaki Street, a street which is illuminated by old lamp fixtures and lamp shades donated by 150 citizens of Athens (part of a project to turn this street which had a reputation for decay and crime into a lively and welcoming place). At the end of the street was an amazing spectacle of Christmas wonder as a cafe was transformed into a magical Christmas Kingdom. We would have loved to go inside but there was a long line of people with the same idea.
