… and a perfect view of the tourists gathering to photograph
the Evzone soldiers stationed in front of the Parliament building.
Amalia was greeted with “Welcome” gifts from the GB,
including flowers and this arrangement of chocolates. Even the lady caryatid, who looks like the columns holding up the Erectheum on the Acropolis,
was made out of white chocolate, but she was too pretty to eat.
Breakfast at the GB happens on the roof, and with your
Herald Tribune and fresh squeezed orange juice,....
you get this view of the Parthenon.
She tried to get Papou to go into the pool with her, but he
had meetings scheduled.
Amalia decided she didn’t want to go any further than the
first step down…
…despite Mommy’s efforts to coax her into the water. (In the distance you can see Mount Lycabettos, with the Church of St. George on top.)
When she spied the fountains in the corner, Amalia decided
that was much more her idea of water play.
Later Mommy took Amalia in her stroller to explore the
National Gardens nearby, which were originally the Royal Gardens for Amalia,
the first queen of modern Greece.
But now they’re for everyone, including her small namesake.
The animal cages were empty--no doubt one more result of
Greece’s economic crisis—but there was a pond full of turtles,
Some baby turtles rode on their Mommy’s back.
There were pieces of ancient columns to pose on
And swings to share with Yiayia Nenny
And a sandbox where this boy had some really cool sand toys
and a dump truck he was filling with sand…
…But a bigger boy named Socrates took away the dump truck
and the little boy cried and Socrates’ Mommy gave him a lecture, while Amalia
was riveted by the drama.
Walking back to the hotel, Amalia wanted a close-up view of
the Evzones doing their goose-stepping
dance in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Barricades had been put up to protect the Parliament
building from the anti-austerity demonstrations
which often take place here, but the pigeons and the tourists managed to get in
easily.
Mommy pushed the stroller so Amalia got a really close view.
As the sun began to set, everyone gathered on our balcony to
enjoy the “Welcome” bottle of wine and watch the sunset.
The last dinner, on the roof of the hotel, included lobster
and another dramatic view of the Acropolis, but by now Amalia was sound asleep,
gathering her strength for the ten-hour plane trip to New York’s JFK airport, during
which she would watch two movies, eat a lot, explore the airplane from one end
to another and drive her Mommy and her Yiayia Joanie to distraction.
