Expectations

There’s an old suggestion for travelers that says “Before packing, place all the clothes you intend to take on your bed. Next, place all the money you intend to take on the pillow. Now pack half of the clothes – and twice the money.”

Our method is a bit different. We manage to take about the same amount of clothes for a two week trip or a six week trip: one suitcase apiece. We plan and pay ahead most of our expenses (flights, cruises, tours, hotels) before we leave home and estimate/budget other expenditures so that the “money on the pillow” is pretty accurate. For anything else there’s VISA.

In our experience, once we leave home it is our intent to have planned a framework for whatever adventures we find. The key seems to be: pack your clothes, pack your passport, pack your money – but leave your expectations at home! What will be, will be.

The photo above is from a trip in February, 2015. It was our third or fourth time in Athens, so we’d seen many of the “must see” places before. This time we wanted to do things differently and just “go with the flow”. We left the ship intending to ride the subway from the port. On the walk from the dock to the metro we met a taxi driver, Theo, and decided to let him be our companion for the day. He was wonderful! “First time in Athens?” Nope. “Have you been to the Acropolis?” Yep. We chatted as we made our way from Piraeus to Athens, discussing a couple places we might enjoy and allowing Theo to put together an itinerary for us. “I have an idea for a surprise for you and if we go there first, I think the second and third places will be timed just right.” He drove us across town and up a hill (see photo on first page of this blog); through some back alleys, getting us to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier just in time for the changing of the guard (very moving); around to the New Acropolis Museum just at opening time, where he dropped us off for 90 minutes (our choice for time); picked us up for a couple more sites and dropped us back at the Plaka so we could wander for a while and grab a bite to eat**. We met again later for some sightseeing and the drive back to the port. We started the day with a blank canvas and ended with a masterpiece. Thanks, Theo.

**A few years ago we were talking with a neighbor about traveling. He’s not a big fan.

“I went to Italy years ago. I’d heard how great their food is and I wasn’t impressed” he said with a straight face.

The photo at the top of this blog entry is from the above-mentioned visit to Athens.

Sitting there on the Plaka, warm winter sunshine glowing, there could not have been a better meal than that delicious Greek Salad and glass of water. Or did you expect something else?