Today's pictures are from Nicole's camera, and I'm titling this series "Athens from the Bus." Like many world capitals, Athens has a double-decker sightseeing bus with audio commentary. We rode one in Dublin and would do it again if I only had a few days in a place. Great overview.

On their last full day in Greece, Sharon needed to pick up a couple of specific gifts: icons and a statue (specifically, a Greek god). So, we were on the tram and back to the Plaka. When we arrived downtown the first stop was McDonald's so Jim could get something to eat. But, we didn't sit there - we grabbed it and left. Being the Saturday of the big Gaza remembrance, there was a lot of activity, including signs "US Out of Iraq." Rather than hang around Jim ate from the bag as we walked.

We went in some places and down some streets I hadn't been before. It started raining, so we were ducking in and out of places. They found what they were looking for. Kim, Sharon and I were going to get souvlaki, so I suggested a place where I knew we could sit indoors that wasn't too expensive, little knowing I was taking us in the opposite direction (in the rain). I really wish I were better at navigating my way. After eating we decided we'd head back to the apartment. Of course by the time we got on the tram the sun was out again. That would be the theme for the day.

In the evening we were going to return to the Lebanese restaurant but just as we were going to leave it was raining. So, we decided to call for delivery. I've mentioned before that most every restaurant in Athens offers delivery. So we ordered -- from Pizza Hut. I would never have ordered from there had it been just Kim and me, but I will be the first to admit that I sure enjoyed it. Just the thing for a rainy night (of course by the time the guy arrived about a half hour later, it wasn't raining).

I got a Facebook friend request from one of my Greek students. I regret that I will have to tell him I don't friend current students but will do it after I return to the US. Of course I can't reply until after Apr. 19, since I've given up Facebook for Easter.

By the way, motorcycles here work like they do in Italy. They pass between lanes and at stoplights they pass all the stopped cars and move to the front of the queue.

A couple of brief items I forgot to mention earlier:

The Euro is back up. Back in December, the Euro was at about $1.40. By the time we arrived in early February, it was at $1.28. It went down as low as $1.25 in February. It's currently at $1.36. Not the direction I want to see it go.

Last Thursday we saw several fighter jets fly low over Athens. I wondered if it was related to the Turkish naval exercises in the Aegean, but I was told it was just practice for next week's Independence Day celebrations.

I also forgot to mention that when we went to the Lebanese restaurant, there were two young ladies in there (under 30, we agreed) smoking from a hookah. I couldn't take a pciture. I need to get a lens like my friend Ilija has. It has a mirror and a side hole so you're actually taking a picture at a 90 degree angle from where it looks like you're focusing.