Yep, our little tour of Greece is on its last stop in Athens and what a bonkers city it is, I love and hate it with equal measure.
We've racked up seven world heritage sites, staying the night in one, culminating in the Acropolis this morning which is a wonder to behold. Pics coming soon.
Some more observations about Greece though:
* There are a 1001 different ways of getting cheese into a meal and the Greeks have discovered each and every one of them
* Wine is v. v. cheap even with the crap Euro/Pound exchange rate and you can order it by the kilo in some restaurants (I kid you not and no I haven't tried)
* Mobile phone etiquette doesn't exist: any time, any place, anywhere, as loudly as possibly and with the most ridiculous ring tone
* All the young people live in the cities
* Greek waiters coined the phrase "looking but not seeing"
* Salads will always arrive first regardless of what you have ordered
And some observations about the roads:
* The rules of the road: there are no rules (unless there is a copper about which is extremely rare)
* There are two speeds of travelling: OAP-barely-see-over-steering-wheel and nutter
* There are bold over-taking manouevres and Greek over-taking manouevres
* Helmets are for decorations ie dangling off the arm otherwise don't waste your money
* Parking can be anywhere, preferably blocking someone in or creating a massive bottle-neck on a busy road
* Pedestrianised - schmestrianised, pavements are just another parking place if you are in a car or, part of the road if you are a scooter.
* Horns are to be used to greet friends and acquaintances or if being held up by a nano-second
* No one has a bloody clue how to use a round about
* Cycling: I wouldn't
London is going to seem sane but I am going to miss it terribly when we fly home on sunday.