February 12. Day 227.
Two highlights from my first hours on Greek soil:Before dinner, while Mr. A was at the conference, I walked around the Plaka, an ancient maze of alleys filled with cafes and boutiques under the Acropolis, occasionally murmuring "Pardonakis" when I wanted to get through a crowd. I have no clue why I thought this means "Excuse me." It sounded right.
Oops.
And at the Athens airport, when I first arrived, I stopped to ask for directions. To Greece.
The airport train station was deserted, and so I asked a lone young woman if she spoke English (in English).
"No," she managed.
My turn to try.
"Parakalo? Metro?" I asked and pointed to the train platform. ("Please? Metro?")
"Ne!" Yes! she replied.
"Aha. Metro... pros hellas?" Roughly: "Aha. Metro to Greece?"
She pointed to the metro again, to show me where it was. But I needed to know the train's direction.
"Hellas?" I asked again. "Greece?"
And then I caught myself... "Atena?"
"Ne!!" she said, and laughed.
That's the problem... I know just enough Greek to get into trouble. A few words, a pronoun or two. Just enough, that is, to talk to someone who doesn't speak English and think I'm communicating.
Gained: Directions for this silly tourist.
What's the silliest thing you've said or done, as a tourist?
