Stupid Phone: Second Week in Athens

Long story short (too late), my school-issued cell phone is apparently angry at the world, me specifically. That being said, everything else seems to be doing alright. I have been to the National Archaeological Museum three times this week for class, taking wonderous trips on the Metro and Trolley. It's not too shabby considering that most Athenians travel this way to get from place to place. For a Classical fiend, the National Arch. Museum is extremely awesome. You get to see various sculptures, paintings, frescoes, and bronze art that had only been in 2-D up till now (from text books). Who wouldn't want to come face to face with the supposed mask of Aggie?

I ventured out to the Monastiraki Flea Market this past Sunday and am very excited to travel back there again. Lots of random odds and ends...pack-rattery to its greatest potential and I'm all for that. I've begun to get the lay of the land a bit and have gotten lost a couple of times purposely just to see if I can find my way back. One special adventure had my roommate and I discovering Carrefour, the international Walmart without the not-so-great reputation. They have electronics, personal items, and clothes on one floor, then all your grocery needs on another. It has been pretty impossible to find cheap eats here in Athens, so my roomie and I were in heaven with some of the prices. Important to note: many things are just as expensive as other small markets around Athens (you'd figure that in the land of feta cheese, you'd be able to get it cheap!). BUT there are some items that are cheaper than the US, which was amazing to me! For instance, a six-pack of soda (name brand mind you) was only around .75 cents (USD)! Unfortunately, anything remotely Mexican (i.e. a jar of Old El Paso salsa and a box of taco shells) was easily over $7 dollars. This is especially painful for moi, since I am used to get most of my food 99 cents or less!

More interesting facts that I have learned in Greece:
1) Local Greeks have informed me that they only have/grow one kind of onion...the red kind. And so goes my hopes for finding my elusive yellow onion while in Athens. Who knew such a basic vegetable would be so sorely missed.

2) Greek men usually live with their parents until they get married, which can be until their 30's and late 40's. In Kolonaki, I typically see older men with pretty young wives plus their even younger children.

3) Not really Greek related: Most college students' studying abroad come to party, not to study. I'm not sure what happened to half the population of the Spring Semester, but I haven't seen a lot of people since Orientation.

4) Street Kiosks can sell nudie magazines without having to black out or cover up any personal areas. I'll just leave it at that.

5) The Metro gets really crowded and it is very difficult to watch where one is going...especially when said person accidently trips over the cane of a blind man being guided by his wife (!)

6) Bad traffic, grafitti, irate grocery customers, and pan-handlers seem to be international as I have seen just about as much as I've seen in Los Angeles.