WEEK 25

Hello! Things here are warming up for summer and I'm getting very excited! My graduation is in four days but that's beside the point. The point is that I should be reporting on Athens, not my life. Well, where to start? For one thing, it's crazy busy here, especially in the markets near Omonia Square. Luckily the public transport here is excellent, if a little cramped at times. Near Omonia, there are many pet shops that are fun to look in but are a little concerning with the amount of animals kept confined in small cages. Piraeus is a huge bustling port filled with all manner of enormous cruise ships and small catamarans and hydrofoils. Meanwhile, in Pagkrati, the rather squeezy downtown of Athens with it's tight corners and narrow one-way streets, there are many small squares that become bustling hotspots at night and serve as the locations of many nice cafes during the day. Sadly, Athens has a very large population of stray cats and dogs, which fortunately are fed by locals a lot. A nice place to spend the day is in the National Gardens, close to Syntagma Square, and filled with playgrounds, trees and even a small zoo which once housed a lion but had to have it sent away due to cramped conditions. It houses an aviary containing lovebirds, cockatiels, and budgies (parakeets), as well as enclosures with rabbits, doves, geese, ducks, goats, chickens and some beautiful peacocks. It is definitely a wonderful place to spend a warm afternoon. Well, afternoon tea calls, and I must be off, so goodbye, and I will see you next week!

-Finn