Hi. I travel. I take photos. I write. Sometimes I’m inspired to write a lot, sometimes very little. I commit to being genuine, and generally coherent. You can read everything, or read nothing & just look at my pretty pictures, no pressure. – Jen

Arizona to Phildelphia to Athens

We flew Phoenix, AZ to Philadelphia, PA. The next day after an overnight at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar, we made it to Athens, Greece. For both flights we used our Instant Upgrade option from AA AirPass, and flying 1st class was AWESOME. It wasn’t our first time for 1st, but it was  the first of such a long flight. YESSSS!!

I’d guess I consciously appreciated lying down flat at least 5 times during that 9 hour flight, snuggled under the upgraded blanket, head on a REAL fluffy pillow, wiggling my toes in the included Cole Haan striped socks, swabbing my lips with the tiny organic lip balm included in the Cole bag. I have had “lie flat” for trans-continental flights on my vision board for over a decade; I held the faith that like everything else on my vision board(s), this too will become real… And boom, there I was!

Lie flat, ahhh!

We arrived a day ahead of most of the FFN crowd, so we were not “on tour” until Tuesday. Which meant included hotel stay started Tuesday. I had chosen an Airbnb apartment just around the corner from the hotel. Because we arrived around 11 a.m., it wasn’t quite ready for us. We were referred to a yuppie cafe nearby that made for some interesting people watching. We sat bleary-eyed sipping Greek coffee trying to accept it was morning, while our bodies said, “Oh bullshit, it’s 2 a.m. at home and you should be ASLEEP!”

We returned to the apartment. It is called “STUNNING Penthouse with Acropolis View, ACROPOLIS.”

Yes, it is the penthouse of the little slice of a building. When the 4′ x 3′ elevator ambles and jiggles up to deposit it’s passengers to the 7th floor (which is really floor #8, because in most of the world, what we call the 1st floor in the USA is known as floor zero) there is only one unit to be found. There are patios/balconies accessible on 3 sides of the apartment. It has a gate outside to get to a larger roof area, and a small set of stairs up to an even higher roof access. So yes, the view is “STUNNING.” An unobstructed view of the Acropolis.

View from patio.

 

 

The unit is very small, but attractive, as in newly remodeled. Simple furnishings, but comfortable bed, and despite the sun searing into the big windows from dawn until sundown, the bedroom could be made dark and cold. We wanted to rest when we got in, so we turned on our beloved white noise machine and Ahhh…. We were out for a 5 hour … nap?

I read an Airbnb book last year by a retired couple that traveled only in Airbnbs for something like 3 years, non-stop. One of my take-aways was they created a home feeling with small details. Since to be gone for 2+ months is a first for us, I chose a couple of key items to do the same for us. One is that white noise machine, a specific brand recommendation from Tim Ferris (Mr. 4 Hour Workweek). And it comes with an adapter for the EU plugs, how lovely! We use it at home, and while traveling, it is even more practical. Hallway noise? We didn’t hear it. Eitger of us have stuffed sinuses resulting in snoring like a locomotive? Didn’t hear it! Bar under our hotel room? Didn’t hear it! Dog barking on nearby balcony? Didn’t hear it! It actually now has us trained – the moment it comes on our bodies say “Oh yes, we sleep now!” Like NOW.

So one little quirk about the STUNNING Penthouse – it is requested to not flush toilet paper. I am sympathetic to the stories that I don’t need to hear about what led to this request. But ewww. Hey, I’m not new to this. When we are in Ecuador, we dont get the luxury of flushing paper either. Also still some places in Mexico. But if that was a thing when I was in Greece 15 years ago, I apparently blocked it out of my memory. And I was exhausted. I wanted to ignore the edict, but as a fellow vacation rental owner, I couldn’t. Sexy high-end tiling, faucet and mirrors all over the bathroom and I have to put the paper in the trash can. SIGH. Maybe sounds first-world princess, but at that moment, my penthouse passion faded. I was happy to only stay one night – get some great photos from this vantage point and move to a hotel with modern plumbing.

The Greek Gods are pleased tonight.

We moved the next day to the big hotel around the corner to officially join the group.
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