Day 3 and 4

I was so tired by the time I got back to the hotel last night that I did not have the energy to do anything but go to bed. We got up early yesterday morning and saw a little more of Tirane before heading out to the airport to fly to Athens. It was a short flight on Olympic Airlines but we crossed another time zone. So now we are 7 hours ahead of home.

Our hotel here in Athens is lovely. It is on a side street right off of Ermou St. which is the main shopping area. We got in about 6pm, got to the hotel, took a short nap and then headed out to get oriented. We looked up at one point and here was the Acropolis all lit up. It is magnificent. We found a small restaurant and ate good Greek food and had a wonderful evening. We walked around the Plaka district for a time and then headed back to the hotel.

This morning we got up early and met up with Lendyll, one of the BFTFers. The four of us headed up to the Acropolis. We started out walking but decided to take one of the small buses that run up there and I am glad that we did. We walked all over the grounds in 104 degree weather. Very little shade up there --- and it is up there!! We did do one very smart thing and that was to hire a guide who gave us a wonder historical tour. By the time we got down from that hill we went to the New Museum, had a bite to eat and then went back to the hotel in the late afternoon after doing some shopping. Just got up from a short nap and we all we meet up again at 8:30 to go for dinner.

Observations: I really like Albania, the people and the area. It is amazing how far that county has come in the last 18 years given where they were at when communism ended. They are just about equal to the other EE countries. We met up with a friend who has been an activist and who has recently formed a political party and stood for election. It was quite revealing to listen to him talk about the politics of the country. This is a country that I would like to go back to again.

The Greeks are very friendly and nice folks. And I must say it sure is nice to be in a place where the people pronounce my name correctly!!!! One day I would like to come back and explore the outer islands.

Tomorrow we head out early in the morning to fly to Bulgaria. We are going to have to go to work to finish all the last minute details on the conference before the BFTFers arrive on Wednesday. I will post more pictures later.