Athens ...

Several things I have noticed and learnt in Athens

- When arriving by train in Larissa main station in Athens, dont think that shady Omonia district, the place where local criminals, prostitutes and pickpockets meet, is representative for the city. The most touristy stuff and all the fancy restaurants are close to the Greek ruins, never far from Ancient Agora and Acropolis.
- Ancient Agora, civic and social meeting place in Ancient Greece is a must for city history lovers. Mechanical inventions to be remembered: Hydraulic clocks, called klepshydra, were made for timing speeches in Greek law courts. These were perforated vessels with water running through. "The most experienced speakers finished their speech with the last water drop." Another surprising invention: Kleroteria, voting allotment machines.
- Phrases I liked most in the Ancient Agora museum: "Graves and dwells dating from the protogeometric and geometric times have been discovered. The usual method of burial for children was inhumation whereas cremation was the custom for adults. Children graves were given miniature vases as grave gifts and adults bronze or iron pottery."
- Young people from Athens love to meet at night on the hill close to the Acropolis (see photo). While watching the nightly illuminated city, they improvise rap songs for melodies coming from their cell phones.
- According to a young Greek, politeness and friendly behaviour is not the best way to reach what you want in every day Greece. The more nasty and grumpy you are with each other, the better you succeed or get an information.