Farewell Greece

With a heavy heart and deep sighs all round we leave Greece. We had a fleeting thought of staying another week and making our way to Kastelorizo after all, but it is a pipe dream to keep us from reality just a little longer. In about an hour we will leave for the airport. Manny is trying to get Cassie to sleep upstairs in the hotel room while I type this downstairs. We've just returned from an hour in the big church square where Cassie chased pigeons so we could tire her out. Let's hope the plan works!

Yesterday we walked around Athens for hours and found our way to amazing ancient ruins of Agora. It is a massive area in the foothills of the Acropolis with so many statues and buildings dating back to the 4th centuray BC. It must also be the most peaceful place in Athens and we enjoyed some time there in the quiet taking in the majesty of our surroundings. We had our last few gyros (lamb and chicken in pita bread with tzatsiki, tomatoe and onions), and treated Cassie to an icecream cone (she loves the waffle cones but doesn't care much for the ice cream) before bed.

This morning was a final dash into the Plaka so Manny could buy the particular variety of worry beads he likes. Athens is still heaving despite it being October and the end of the tourism season. I think it's now many Greeks who come to the capital after their own busy season has finished. The number of people eating out at the plaka last night was amazing - thousands, enjoying the final warm evenings before the weather really changes.

We are looking forward to being home and to seeing everyone, especially Sarah tomorrow night, who will share in our stories and gifts before anyone else. We spoke to her just now, as well as Meghan who is in Pisa and will travel to Venice tomorrow. She too has been regaling us with stories of the food she has eaten, so it seems a strict diet all round when life gets back to normal in Perth.

This is the final post so thank you to everyone has followed our trip and left comments which have entertained us and reminded us of home.

We look forward to seeing you in the coming days and weeks

Manny, Sue and Cassie