While the ride to Sounio was a worthwhile trip, Sounio itself was a huge disappointment.  I expected to find a village with various shops and restaurants, and of course an ancient Greek site.  When I arrived there, there was only one restaurant that was overrated, which is expected as there is no competition, and if tourists are hungry or want to have an eating moment at Sounio, they are forced to eat there!  There was also one shop with a collection of garbage.

Viewing the artifact was still interesting as I was able to see a three-dimensional view of the architecture by having the ability to walk around to view the artifact at all angles, something that we cannot see in books.

Reaching to the destination was disappointing; however the road trip was not regrettable as I was treated to a magnificent view that will always be remembered.

“I think I’m going to tweet tonight, ‘An AMERICAN is eating Domino’s Pizza in Greece!’”

“Huh?!” Vivie looked completely perplexed.

“Domino’s Pizza is an AMERICAN pizza!” I said.

“I didn’t know that!”

I was certainly complaining about having to eat an American mega-corporation pizza in a foreign country where I should be eating the pizza produced by the business people who are native of that foreign country or any food that is not found in the US, as I can eat Domino’s in my own backyard anytime.  Isn’t that what traveling is about?!  Trying new food?!

As Vivie and I were talking, she said that many small pizza business places are going out of business in Greece because of the mega pizza companies such as Domino’s.  This is seriously a scary thought!  One of the reasons that I love Europe is that there is normally a bounty of non-chain commercial places where I can purchase unique products, products made at the store, and/or have a personal relationship with the staff.  I really hope that Europe does not follow the US’ path where big, mega corporations are creating problems in American society.  For instance, I read a very interesting article in NY Times about how Amazon is affecting society.  One man who owns a small business is already struggling because “it is Amazon that has helped depress profit margins and snagged sales for basics like silicone swim caps, undershirts and running shoes.”  He also stated that he had to lay off a “quarter of his 75-member staff.”

Scary, huh?!

Vivie laughed hysterically. “Those Christmas lights are from LAST YEAR’S Christmas!”

I froze and my eyes popped out!  “What a waste of electricity!”

“I’m paying my taxes for this!”  I cannot believe that Vivie is paying taxes for unnecessary electricity and helping us run out of fossil fuel!  Talk about how Greece’s inefficient government is affecting the country AND the world!

Seeing the Parthenon today was nothing like seeing the pictures in the textbook.  Just seeing carvings of the columns and the size just made me ponder how the Greeks were able to construct this incredible design.  Having the opportunity to touch the marble of the artifacts and walk around them is something that cannot be done learning in the classroom.

There was more than just the Parthenon on top of the Acropolis.  There was a stunning view of the city of Athens from the Acropolis which not only included buildings, but also mountains.

Now, I have finally finished putting the puzzle pieces together.

“No, I prefer to go during the day so that I can see the country out the window,” I said.

While I understand that night trains can shed some bucks on travel expenses as it takes away one night in the hotel, trains are more than just a means of transportation.  I think of trains as an amusement park ride.  They allow me to discover the incredible phenomena, such as construction workers building bridges, architecture of the homes, and mountains.  Every country has their own unique landscape and taking a train is a great way to explore it.

The minute I arrived there, I removed my clothes and splashed into the water and enjoyed gawking at the scene that seemed to be “too good to be true.”  The feeling of the warm sun and the cool, rippling water kept me from wanting to get out.  I laid on my back as if I was lying on a reclining chair.  It was so comfortable, I have to admit.

I can swear that this advertisement did not mislead me.  This image was absolutely not photoshopped at all.  Seeing through my naked eyes, the sea was indeed in the color of aqua.  It was seriously hard to believe.

Yesterday, I took a few buses to reach the destination in Chalkidiki, Athitos with a friend.  Chalkidiki is a beautiful region in northern Greece filled with sparkling aqua seas!  This was a travel moment where I truly felt as if I was living inside an advertisement and also inside the movie, Mamma Mia.  My Greek friend told me this sea is nothing!  I was stunned when she told me!  I cannot imagine any other beaches more beautiful than this one.  She said I need to make a trip to the Greek Islands.  I will another time…

Watching Meryl Streep dance as Donna by the sparkling, blue water and white concrete buildings in Mamma Mia and Alexis Bledel as Lena in the Sisterhood of Traveling Pants walking through a beautiful town perched on a mountain totally inspired me to travel to Greece.  However, I am not seeing that scenery on this trip to Greece.  Those views of Greece are only in a small portion of the country, and they’re simply stereotypical images of Greece.  I’m in Thessaloniki, the second largest city in Greece, where I am seeing some true images of Greece.  As a traveler, I need to go outside of the touristy zones to see the true lifestyle of the country.  The true purpose of traveling is to break the stereotypes portrayed in the media.

Thessaloniki is simply a big city with lots of simple apartments and shops.  At the edge of the city, a stunning harbor stretches for miles.  People bustle through the city on buses, mopeds, and in cars like any other fast-paced city.  Bus are packed as they can be during rush hour moments.  Vendors sell fresh fruits and vegetables at market stalls.  Ancient ruins nestle sparsely throughout the city.  Mountains surround the city creating a beautiful view from the harbor.

Anyway, while the plane ride from Tel Aviv to Athens was smooth, getting to my connecting flight to Thessaloniki was not so efficient.  The plane parked in middle of the road, which meant taking a bus to the entrance of the airport!  As I reached the customs area, everyone was squeezing into DISorganized lines.  There were NO ropes to keep the lines in order.  It was like people being cramped inside a tiny room.  I did eventually get my passport stamped.

Now, here’s the worst part of my connecting flight experience!  I want to freakin’ scream at the Greek security!!!!! They told me that I absolutely could NOT take my liquid medicine on the plane. They said that I have to check my entire bag in order to be able to take the liquid medicine.  Not only I would NEVER trust checking in important stuff, but also I told them that it’s for migraine headaches and I NEED it at ALL times in case if I get one. They would NOT budge. Then, I said “Can I speak to the supervisor.” Apparently, one of them was THE supervisor and said, “NO!” So, I said, “So, you let people take 8 ounces worth of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and all the other liquids but NOT my medicine which fits perfectly inside an 8 once plastic bag? …How about you take the medicine to the gate and give it to the flight attendant?” So, they did… GEESH!  I even told them that they were THE FIRST security in the WHOLE world not to allow me to take my liquid medicine.

The moral of this situation is never be afraid to speak up and be diligent and strong about meeting your needs when you travel.  I also learned my lesson that I should have a letter from the doctor regarding my medicine in case I have to deal with this battle again.

In the end, I arrived in Thessaloniki safely with my medicine and met my friend.