Athens

In Athens (and Greece in general) now. It's lovely and warm, and even if crowded and polluted, I love it. It has history and character (and isn't as dirty as Skopje was). I'm hoping to run around and see some historical sights today and then to hit museums tomorrow (I helped someone with is rail pass so he gave me his paid-for pass to the Acropolis and other historic sights up on the hill today). There's a rail strike going on here though, which means the metro is closed today. Europe and quasi-socialism are all fun and games until you're here and there's a freaking rail strike. Ugh. My time in Thessaloníki was cut short as well by the rail strike because I had to take an earlier train to Athens in order to avoid it.

Oh well, I get on a cruise ship in 2 days and then I don't have to worry anymore. Someone else will deal with it. That sounds lovely. A break from backpacking.