30-Day Solo Travel in Europe | Day 26: Farewell to Italy, Hello to Athens

(Previous chapter of my journey: Day 25: Missing Michelangelo’s Pietà by a Hair’s Breadth)

Just like that, our time in Italy came to an end.

On the way to Leonardo da Vinci Airport, we once again experienced the unique Italian approach to 'efficiency.' The signs for the airport train were confusing, and buying tickets proved to be an ordeal in itself. There was only one old, temperamental ticket machine serving the airport route, with a queue that stretched far into the distance. A station staff member stood nearby, but instead of helping at the airport machine, she casually lingered by the one for city centre trains. She only offered occasional guidance when someone clearly stood in the wrong line. I thought back to the museum staff we had seen. They were surrounded by crowds yet calmly sitting in their chairs, completely absorbed in their phones, as if the chaos around them didn’t exist. This, it seems, is simply the Italian rhythm of life.

After several hurdles, we finally reached the airport, checked in, and shared one last lunch together. Then it was time to part ways. My friend was flying back to Hong Kong via Sichuan, while I headed alone to Athens. Another friend would be arriving from Hong Kong the following morning. In other words, I had another half-day of solo travel ahead of me.

Stepping out of Athens Airport felt refreshingly different. While it wasn’t as modern as Hong Kong’s, it was noticeably cleaner and tidier than the airports we had experienced in France and Italy. The train into the city was brand new and pleasantly uncrowded. We had chosen an Airbnb in the historic Acropolis area, just a 15 to 20-minute walk from many of the famous sights.

Before arriving, I had received an email from the host, but because the booking was made through Agoda, communication was not easy. He had sent a link to the Google Doc with check-in instructions, but Agoda had censored all the links and details. When I reached the apartment, there was no one at reception — it was fully self-check-in. I emailed the host again asking him to send the information via WhatsApp. He replied saying he couldn’t see my phone number. Once again, Agoda had hidden our contact details from each other.

I waited outside the building for nearly half an hour while we exchanged several emails. In the end, I had to spell out my phone number letter by letter in English to bypass the system’s filters. The host finally called me on WhatsApp, promised to send the details, and reminded me to fill in the registration form.

I couldn’t help asking, 'Can you just tell me the password for the front gate first? So I can at least get my luggage inside.'

Thankfully, I eventually managed to check in. By the time I had showered and settled, it was already past nine in the evening, which was too late for any sightseeing. I decided to have a simple dinner at a nearby restaurant and pick up a couple of bottles of water from the supermarket, preparing for my friend’s arrival the next day.

I had been a little worried that Greek Mediterranean food might not suit my taste, but I was pleasantly surprised. The prices were similar to Italy, not exactly cheap. Strangely enough, after travelling across Europe, the most affordable city for food turned out to be Paris, which I hadn’t expected at all.

I’m looking forward to my friend arriving tomorrow so we can begin our Greek adventure together. This is her first time setting foot in Europe, and I want to make things as smooth as possible for her. I took plenty of photos along the route from the airport to the apartment to help her find her way more easily.

（My journey continues: Day 27: Finding Peace in Athens: Breakfast, Rain, and the Parthenon)