TRAVEL AND LIFESTYLE DIARIES

When I came back to work, my colleagues ask me how was Athens. I surprised them and myself when I replied, “I felt like I was back in Manila!” The most popular cart vendor in Athens, the pretzel - Koulouri vendor. This one is taken in Omonia circle where I had a quick lunch before heading off to Acropolis. The weather obviously was very Manila-ish. Hot, sticky, and smoggy. Summer and even autumn in Greece is like the tropics, although during winter, it can get cold and freezing in Athens. The fumes, street vendors, chaos on the streets, noise, rows of buildings one after the other built during the 60’s and 70’s in the city center reminds me of downtown Manila and Cebu, and of course, the eternal traffic pandemonium! The madness on the road that goes on until the early hours of dawn had me in a confused state for a minute. I was sandwiched with a car, a cab, and two motorcycles in a very narrow street while S stood at the other side of the road laughing -- Welcome to Athens! Scenes of...

One thing for sure, no one has been to Athens if they have not visited the Acropolis! This is the entrance to the Propylea (see the unfinished structure that can be seen through the doorway opening), the monumental gateway to the Acropolis and me with the Parthenon as my backdrop. The Acropolis is a must-see must-visit when in Athens. It is identical in status, symbol and importance to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Colosseum in Rome. One of the most important piece of archeological antiquity in the world as its buildings go back 2,500 years (5 BC). ............... This short clip is taken in the Propylea, the entrance to the Acropolis. The climb up to the Acropolis was quite exhausting because I took a different entrance which was farther. In addition, I was still very tired from my late night arrival and moreover, I was developing a cold. With the heat, it was too much for me to bear but I know I could not forgive myself if I did not visit the Acropolis. So I pressed on. Close up of...

The soldiers guards the Hellenic Parliament, the Presidential Palace, and the Tomb of the Unknown Solder. This particular guard just had his makeup retouched ;-) I saw it! Every Sunday morning an official change of guards ceremony takes place in front of the Hellenic Parliament and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The parade of Greek guards dressed in their best frilly ABBA-like top impression with matching cheerleader skirts strut their way from the back gates of the Parliament down the avenue and towards the Parliament’s quadrangle facing the huge Syntagma Square. The parade is led by a marching band uniformed in white. Soldier in traditional mainland uniform in front of the Hellenic Parliament, and next foto is the grounds of the Parliament with tourists waiting for the changing of guards on a Sunday morning. The change of guards in front of the Greek Parliament happen everyday but it is only during Sundays when the whole ritual is celebrated with a marching band followed by a unit...

Aren’t we glad we went to Texel last week and not this weekend? We woke up this weekend to a gloomy, cold, and rainy day. Saturday was a bit better though, yet you still need a light jacket to make yourself warm and comfortable outside. The Teso boat that sails between Den Helder and Texel Island. Weather news said last weekend was the last warm weekend in the Netherlands, which was more like a catching up really because we never had a great summer. One can count with their hands how many sunny and warm weekends we had in this country for summer 2008. So much for the weather talk, I will write about our experiences in Texel, divided into 2 parts. The first part will be about Den Burg, the capital of Texel Island and De Koog, the touristy town in the west side of the island. For the second part, I will be writing about the little villages in the countryside, Cocksdorp where we stayed, Den Hoorn, t’Hoorntje, and Oudeschild. The birds loved to hung around the boat during the entire sail...