Wreck and ruin

Ya sas from Athens! We finally left Italy after a lovely lovely time there- we managed just over a total of 2 weeks among the beautiful people since November and really felt we did, at least the main cities of Rome, Florence, Venice and Torino well. 

After our glorious time in Florence we zoomed down to Rome and hit up the eternal city from dawn to dust- we managed to jam pack in some serious sights into the handful of days we had there. We wandered from piazza to piazza, grazing on gelato and pizza, bumping into famous landmarks and ancient ruins- I love it!!!

We decided to take a day trip down to Pompeii during our stay in Rome, which was a massive long day of traveling (a two hour train to naples then a 35 minute regional train to the archeological sight) but it was so worth it. The city of Pompeii is huge- bigger than the old town of Dubrovnik where we spent new years, and it is so amazingly preserved, you can still see the frescoes painted on the walls and graffiti on the outsides of buildings and the people and animals who persisted in the volcanic eruption - it was quite overwhelming actually. We spent the most of the daylight hours at Pompeii then made the long journey back to Rome, made longer by the fact out train broke down half way back so the 2 hour train ride took three hours and fifteen minutes- needless to say we were pretty tired when we finally got back to the hostel!!!

And now we are in Athens, Greece, home to yet more ancient ruins and boy what a busy bustling city it is! In contrast to the sleekness of Rome, Athens is grungy and dirty and loud and all kinds of fabulous! We hit up the markets and side streets yesterday , enjoying just getting lost in the madness of the city (Which wasn't difficult!) and today we hit up the acropolis, national archeological museum and fruit and veg market to purchase some feta and the juiciest looking olives I have ever seen- my tummy can't wait til dinner time!!! It's such a strange mix of a city here- on one hand you have the temple of Zeus made from marble and among all these lush pine trees, and right next to it you have mad crazy streets clogged with motorbikes and the odd prostitute and drug dealer, but then another street over there is a traditional Greek tavern complete with a lovely Greek owner who welcomes you in and gives complimentary dessert and will sit and talk for hours - It's a crazy mad place but it's fabulous! 

And so, without further ado (and because I can't resist those olives a minute longer) I shall bit you goodnight,
Stay safe and happy,
Love
Lauren the lysistrata and Adam the Athenian