With an 8:00 PM flight ✈️ to Heathrow, we were bearing down on our final hours in Athens. We’re feeling very good about the ground we covered, the assault on the senses and the experiences we’ve collected. That being said… not gonna sit idle for the day being glum waiting for travel connections. Here’s how Day 6 rolled out!
Up and at it to tackle check-out chores this morning. Packing bags, collecting our bathroom stuff, double checks for chargers, passports… plus some AM online logistics to scope out the day 👍! Then the local coffee shop (we call it Timmy’s Athens) to caffeinate and review details (online check in – Bag storage – morning attraction). We loved the little kitschy rental, pedestrian street and gorgeous views in the neighborhood we stayed and would highly recommend this area… guess what I’m saying is we didn’t want to leave. 🇬🇷
Stop #1… check luggage for the day! Great little lockers – pay online, they send a code, voila. Without phone/internet, I’m guessing you should just walk away! Then off to our morning plan… The Greek Kitchen. It was to be a morning of chopping, stirring, crumbling, boiling and baking. Our group of 9 visitors from around the globe settled into introductions and conversations in all things Greek Cuisine!
We tossed around ideas for this last short day and we figured we could try a ‘cooking class’ like we had in Mexico, 2017. Finding one is easy in a city this size, with a reputation for great food and the help of the internet. We checked both trip advisor and Google and this option had great reviews. Thus, “cooking class” began with a short walk to Varvakios Central Market to capture any necessary ingredients, talk commonly used Greek foods and ask questions about some of Greece’s most famous dishes.
When all was finished we had prepared, in a very “homemade” fashion, the following recipes; Tzatziki, Dolmades, Spanakopita, Imam Bialdi and Portokalopita, all guided by the steady hand of our cook Thanasis. Rich conversation, skills & tips, wine and Greek music… the four hour class flew by! Janie is inevitably much better than I am in this setting… mixing with folks much more easily. In the end, we both learned lots about food today and had the pleasure of meeting some fellow travel lovers at the same time – this was such a fantastic experience.
Then began the slow idle to departure, with Janie checking out a few shops, grabbing a couple of trinkets, new pants and the old fella catching up on web updates / connection chores. I guess our last “city” glimpse in Athens was the walk through Monastiraki Square to the Blue Line… and Athens Airport. Snapped a pic (above) and it suited the visit, and the area we’d travelled through so many times of the weekend! So long Αθήνα (it’s a tough alphabet for this North American)!
The trip out via subway, security and passport control were all uneventful. The Athens Metro did us a solid… easy to use and easy on the pocket book. At the airport we switched gears and put on the London thinking caps. We settled in to wait for BA Flight 633 and measure the next few days… tasks that need completion and any itinerary issues. Good to tackle that while with it, as we knew we’d be spent by the time we hit Earl’s Court area, an unvisited part of London for us.
Boarding in Athens was darn smooth, and it felt as though the pilot was late for a date at the pub! Everything full ahead… ✈️. Left on time which is always a good thing 👍. The flight had us on the ground 20 minutes early and we navigated customs without issue! We made our way to the metro, negotiated that after a couple of bumps… then into Earl’s Court Tube stop in London!
Getting closer to London (and above ground to secure data) we checked for access details to our rental. Hmmm 🤔, nothing added!!! The start of a saga that didn’t get us inside until 1:00 AM. Needless to say, we weren’t exactly overjoyed. A VRBO Agent saved us, but it took some time on her part to iron it out. While waiting we found a pub that graciously volunteered to deliver us Guinness for lots of money… but it at least we were warm and indoors. In the end, no harm done. We will, in the future, check our bookings more closely. Nice digs… good location… moving forward! See ya all in the AM!
Looks like a great trip. Some good food, locations, art, history and Guinness. Safe travels.
Hey Darren… Hope all is good at home! Culturally amazing space. We just finished a Cooking Class… Will post a picture of the “goods” in the blog tonight. Really a great activity for our last day here. Be home in a few days! Chat soon…
I am a couple of days behind but, your food looks so good. We’ll catch up when you get back.
Absolutely… trust all is good at home 👍! We are trying to wring every last drop from our last full day abroad! Looking at a 3hr time difference from NS right now, so there will be some time change woe… food was spectacular in Greece! Thnx for chiming in!
The cooking class must have been enjoyable!!
I do remember being with you in Mexico at a similar class but the one in Athens looked a little more entertaining!!
I get a feeling you will be going back to Greece someday…..but for now I’m waiting to read about your destinations in London!
You are right Eileen and read the room well! Our Greek Cook had a great sense of humor and made this old fart feel pretty comfortable. Good folks with us as well. Janie and I were just reflecting… would love to come back, but at the same time so many places to visit. Never say never, that’s for sure. Waiting for a plane to start the tumble back… as always, we love getting comments from you and are so glad you’re travelling with us!
Ahaha I love the pic of you two with your chef! Looks like it was a great way to spend your last day in Greece. Hoping that travel to London is smooth and looking forward to seeing what the last leg of your trip holds.
It was a great cooking class… the Greek Cooking Instructor was very down to earth, and all about the food and culture (especially Olive Oil 😂). We’re hoping everything goes well tonight… our arrival is later and if we get “fetched up” morning is going to arrive far too quickly 🤞! I think your break was this week as well so hope that some fun has come your way 👍
The food you made looks so delicious!! What a great experience.
Leah… it takes quite a teacher for me to come up with that kind of plate of food!!! We are driving home and really affirming with each other that the meals we ate in Athens / Aegina, whether it be sit down, cooking class, or street food, were simply phenomenal. Not over the top, just the best ingredients with a focused flavour. They don’t eat for fuel… it’s a celebration! See ya Monday 👍
Cooking class looked amazing. You folks are so smart to squeeze something like that in on a busy day. Sorry to hear about the VRBO issue. “Travel Glitches” are usually unheard of for you folks… but I’m not surprised that you got it ironed out!!
Cooking classes are something that just seems to work… this one in particular with the Greek offerings in Athens being just plain exceptional! It was a great fit, on the last morning, in this city. The VRBO thing was unfortunate… but after it played out I think it may have been a bit more of an issue with the owner, and VRBO really took the lead in sorting it out. We simply didn’t receive the access information (not viewable in either e-mail nor App). Fortunately, we managed to get an actual person in the help chat… bots (so horribly unable to actually communicate) are far too common and leave one in real frustration!!! Lesson for us… get in there early to confirm all is available. Can’t take it for granted!