Same same but different

I don't know what I was expecting Athens to be like, I did very little researching before coming, but this wasn't it. In my head I can't quite put the city into the category of what I know in terms of Europe or SE Asia. Here is a list of a few things that I have been able to place that, in my head, fit in the European or Asian category. (I'm sure more will come to me later... But this is the list for now.)

Things that remind me of SE Asia:
Our hotel room smells like my room did in Nha Trang, Vietnam. The AC only works when you have your key in a slot while you are in the room. So when you walk in after being out for most of the day the smell is a mix of musty/moldy warm air.
Some streets smelling like sewage.
Trying to cross the street is a little tricky. At some point you just have to start, and keep, walking -while praying that some car/bus/moto won't run you over.
When using the toilet you don't flush your toilet paper, you put it in the trash bin right next to the toilet.

Things where I am reminded that I really am in Europe:
Paved streets and sidewalks.
The toilets are clean and are the western style.
Small spaces - in our bathroom it is easy to multiple task. While sitting on the toilet I can turn the sink on, wash my hands, and spit into the sink easily...
You can drink the water and it taste good.
There are cross walks to get across the street.
Tomatoes for breakfast.
There is a metro/underground.
People smoke everywhere and it is hard to get away from it if you are eating outside.
I don't have to cover myself - I can wear a short skirt and tank top and not get any lewd stares.

Things that remind me that I am not in the US(but don't remind me of any other place specifically):
The first floor of our hotel is on what I would call the third floor. So, walking to our (fourth) floor really isn't fun.

On another note I have been very surprised at how friendly everyone has been. I can't remember having any problems while in Europe before... Or any reason to think that people wouldn't be nice or helpful - but I have been very surprised at how helpful everyone has been. For example, we went to find SIM cards for my phone and iPad (two different occasions) and both people helped set up the cards and made sure that everything worked before sending us on our way. For setting up the iPad we were in the store for at least 45mins trying to figure everything out. The man helping us even said that before we left that he would make sure that it worked because we weren't connecting to the Internet immediately. I guess I was expecting more people to take advantage of how naive we are. (We did pay 10 euros to get to our hotel after we took a bus into town - it was a 4 min taxi ride... But sometimes it pays for connivence after traveling 20+ hours).

We have done most of the touristy things around Athens and have worn ourselves out a little bit already. We are slowly relearning that in this heat you have to sit down and have a drink for a little bit instead of going going going all day and then crashing. I'm still having a hard time eating later in the night. To me it seems stupid to eat a snack at five or six only to eat another whole meal 2 hours later. (Liz just checked what time it was and commented on how she is still on an american eating schedule - 6 o'clock and ready to eat!) We have been making it to at least 7 (most nights) before eating.

In other news the metro/underground went on strike today from 12-4. I do realize that this is a comment occurrence in Greece but it is still new to me. There were extra police around the Parliament and the main square. And tomorrow the taxis will be on strike. I find it bizarre how organized the strike is, and that everything doesn't just strike at once... Or that notice was being given that the underground wouldn't be running for part of today (in Greek and English) ahead of time.

That all for now, it is time to think about where we will go for dinner... It will take us at least an hour get out the door and to the part of town we want... So we will be eating after 7 :)