Postcard From Greece- Day 2- The one where Amie sleeps a lot.

I wake up in the room and realize I've missed the afternoon run. That's okay. I'm in Greece and I'm on vacation. And my body has no idea what time it is. I'm pretty sure it's Thursday, but I check in with CNN to be sure. CNN and BBC are the only English stations we get here, so I know that by the end of the week I will be fully up to date with current events. I go back to sleep. I wake up to my phone ringing at 8pm. Ben, one of the travelers from San Diego, and his friend Sarah are going to dinner- do I want to join them? Well heck yeah I do!

So off we go into the Athens streets. We walk up toward the Acropolis, which looks gorgeous lit up by flood lights and regally sitting atop the highest point in Athens. Little do I know that this landmark will serve to get me home on more than one occasion. We marvel at the people who get to live in view of this icon every day. The apartments are so cute! We walk back down the path and decide it's time to start looking for food. And boy do we find it! Lots of little restaurants open for late night dinner. We stop into one that promises live music and good food. You can't say no to that combination. I'm glad we didn't. We sit down at a small table and I order a carafe of wine. There is a man playing guitar and singing "Fools Fall in Love". I immediately feel at home and yet very far away from everyone.

I order a plate of gyro, meat that is marinated and then roasted vertically over a fire. It is delicious. It is served with pita bread, onions, parsley and tadiki. I fall in love with the yogurt spread and dip the pita as well as the table bread in it as I chat with my companions. I finish everything on my plate and sit back to enjoy my wine and the music. Not too soon after that one of the waiters invites me up to dance. I of course join him. I, along with two other ladies, shuffle through a traditional greek line dance and soon we are all laughing.

We leave the restaurant with full bellies and smiles. Thankfully we have a nice walk back to the hotel to digest. I get up to my room, with a good night to Ben and Sarah, and run a hot bath. I can't tell you the last time I took a true bathtub bath. I put in the bath salts I brought from home and settled in for relaxation. My body is very thankful for this. I'm not sure it has forgiven me the 24 hour sleepless travel. I listen to my Greek lesson on my iPod and zone out, thankful the day is done and that sleep is sure to follow. I go over in my head the day I had what is planned for tomorrow. When I finally lie down in the comfortable and warm bed, play some bejewelled and close my eyes, I realize that being a true citizen of the world is feeling at home no matter where you go. And I feel right at home.