We are only in Athens for 1 full day so we made the most of it and got up early to see the Acropolis. We beat most of the crowds and the heat and walked for about 7 hours with a lot of breaks. The 3rd M had a great time mostly due to the Greeks fawning all over him. We kept running into the same people in different places and we felt like old friends. In one shop (pictured) the 2 shop keepers kept giving the 3rd M gifts. They actually loved him so much they ignored all the other customers for about 10 minutes. He loves the attention and that helps us keep going without a breakdown for so long. Eventually he crashes and most of the people let him be when he is asleep.

On that thread, it is amazing the spaces you can find when the 3rd M needs to eat. Right as we were leaving the Acropolis I saw a nice shaded spot under some trees on a rock wall out of the way but still in the middle of everything. We took the small path into the shade for a break and topped up while a thousand people passes us on both sides never seeing us. The number of people walking up and down the hill was amazing but not 10 feet off the main path we found a nice spot to rest without being noticed by probably 99% of the people going by.

Tomorrow morning we head to the airport early for the flight home so this is probably my last email. Hopefully I can find a place with good WiFi to send it before I am home.

Originally sent as an email on 31st August, 2014

This will be our 3rd day on the beach doing beach like things (you know, nothing). We have to leave this afternoon but I think I have gotten enough sun, at least that is what my red nose tells me.

Greece is slightly cleaner, the buildings are slightly more complete and the roads are in much better shape than Albania. The people are super nice, the food is great and the beach is sandy. Tonight we fly to Athens for 2 nights and then home. The 3rd M has been great but it was getting very hard to put him into the car seat. Staying in one place for 3 nights is what we all needed.

Originally sent as an email on 30th August, 2014

Albania is crazy, the people are very nice and it is cheap. The roads are a mess and you see all the different farm animals on them. This includes people walking on the main roads in the middle of traffic. I assume this is why the speed limit tops out at 50mph. There is garbage everywhere that they burn to get rid of. Most of the buildings are in some state of being built but everyone seems to drive a new Mercedes Benz.

The old town section of Berat is beautiful and we had a great hotel room with probable the best toilet in Europe. Monique could not figure out how to flush until she found the rope hanging out of the ceiling. The people are very nice always willing to help. The drive here looked like Monterey and Chalone including the grape vines, olive trees and such.

There are a lot of Italians here and the women LOVE the 3rd M and he eats it up. Talking about the 3rd M, he has a new tooth so now I call him snaggletooth. Him getting a tooth on the trip has not been ideal but he mostly has been his usual self, no phasin.

Originally sent as an email on 26th August, 2014

For the last 2 nights we have been in Croatia staying on the beach. A beach of rocks and surrounded by night clubs but the rest of it is perfect. The water temperature is stay in all day warm, there is lots of good food and great things to see. All the menus are in at least 6 languages and it feels like most of Europe is here including the super rich given the size of some of the yachts.

Originally sent as an email on 24th August, 2014

If you do not know where Rijeka is that is OK. This is our 5th country in 5 days. Germany, Austria, Slovenia, dinner in Italy and now Croatia. Last night we stayed in the botel. A converted ship into a hotel. We have seen all kinds of things and the 3rd M is having a great time.

Originally sent as an email on 21st August, 2014

We went to the Porsche museum today.  I think we all had a car picked out to drive home.

Originally sent as an email on 17th August, 2014