A Funny Thing Happened On My Way To The Acropolis

Well, it was more stupid than it was funny.

I caught the train to the Acropolis, prepared for a full day of exploring the ancient monument considered one of the most significant in western history. I stopped at its corresponding museum first which, to be honest, was underwhelming and uninspiring. (Though that may have to do with my current state of sickyness and my museum-attention span of about 30 minutes. Also, don’t ever tell an Athenian you weren’t impressed by the Acropolis Museum – I learned that the hard way.)

In any case, I grabbed a window seat at the museum’s restaurant on the second floor and ordered a spinach/aromatic herb/feta cheese filo and enjoyed a spectacular view of the Acropolis and the Parthenon that stands proudly at its highest point. This magnificent ruin was to be my next stop.

I took my camera out of my bag to take a photo…and it totally bitch-slapped me: “No memory card”!!!

Doh!

I must’ve left it in my laptop. Or more likely, left my brain back in Dublin.

For a split second, I actually considered not going to the Acropolis today and coming back tomorrow instead. Then I reminded myself that I’m here for the experience, not the photos!

So I headed to the Acropolis anyway, thinking I was doing this super-fab thing by experiencing the epitome of Athenian history without the distraction of a camera.

Then when I arrived, I found out it had just CLOSED for the day.

Double doh!!

What the hell kind of cultural landmark closes at three in the afternoon?! Oh yeah, the Acropolis.

*Sigh*

The universe really didn’t want me seeing this historic piece of architecture today. I guess what it did want was for me to be approached on the street by a random Greek man named Antonis who politely asked if he could treat me to a glass of red wine and pleasant conversation for a few minutes.

Alrighty then!

So I suppose the day wasn’t a complete fail. Acropolis shmacropolis…I’ll be back! During opening hours AND with a memory card in tow!

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