Feeling and looking delightful at 6 am Victoria Station, we set off for our Greek adventure. Just nice to catch the last bit of sun before winter sets in and as we sat in shorts watching the sun set over Thessaloniki we were all glad Archive had invited us to be their support band for this tour. The venue was 6000 and sold out. The audience were so fantastically up for it we got a shirt thrown at us and a stage diver. Travel weary an earlyish night beckoned ready for an early start to Athens.
The five hour train journey felt quite fast as I had my head stuck firmly in the new Jilly Cooper and we were all excited about revisiting Athens. It's my third time and still haven't really had a chance to explore let alone visit the Acropolis, so I was beside myself to discover Archive were filming the Saturday gig and the venue was an ancient ampitheatre on a hill, next to the Acropolis. A full on Greek experience. However in true British band style we seemed to have brought our portable raincloud with us and Saturday tipped down with rain and there was a thunderstorm at breakfast which was terribly exciting, scrambled eggs and a side dish of lightening! The venue was hastily changed to a weatherproof one that had previously housed Matthew Bournes' production of Swan Lake and musical luminaries such as PJ Harvey (goddess) Anthony and the Johnsons and... Kevin Costner and his travelling band! I had no idea of his musical career! Not only Robin Hood but a wandering minstrel too...
turned out to be out by the sea so we flopped by the rooftop pool (freezing only Caroline was brave/bonkers enough) which was bliss, played spot the Acropolis, made friends with Archive and had dinner at a nearby taverna. Me and Mush shared lovely Greek salad, grilled squid and feta cheese in spicy tomato sauce, Necker, in true Necker style had cheese balls, meat balls and halloumi and Caroline had a kebab... you can take the girl out of Leeds...
I was on a sandal mission on Saturday and determind to explore we went into town to look for Melissinos Art www.melissinos-art.com the famous Poet Sandal maker of Greece who makes the most beautifully crafted leather sandals and fits them to your feet and has done for those of Sophia Loren, John Lennon, Maria Callas, Aristotle Onassis and Jackie O oh and now little me! We wandered down Ermou St which is apparently where all the philosophers and poets used to hang out but now seems to be the home of Sephora and Marks and Spencer. After getting a little lost and asking for directions from another sandal shop... he told us we had to go to the poet... and to "Go buy from him, you will know why when you get there" intrigue adding fuel to my mission, poor Mush, we followed his directions to a side st and a tiny shop with sandals and paintings all over the walls, bags hanging from the ceiling and half the shop dedicated to a workshop so you can watch them make your sandals. He made me feel so pampered and special and was so patient as I tried on about 10 different styles, including the one made for John Lennon but he must have had prettier feet than me. After much deliberation I ended up with a lovely pair called Cleopatra and went off to soundcheck very happy. Such is the power of shoes.
The atmosphere was charged and buzzing with the camera for the crew around and it was such a great evening for both Client and Archive and a hotel bar party was necessary. Caroline decided to go check out some Athens bars and in true rock n roll fashion, she couldn't get the hotel room key to work and I opened the door to find her giggling on the floor in the hotel corridor all legs, tumbling hair and ruby woo lips. Turns out the bar sold Vodka Martinis in half pint glasses.
Where Caroline gets her stamina from I've no idea but she dragged me to the gym at 10 am and I felt so sanctimonious as I ran 6 miles... then ate 3 cream buns for dinner. Ah well need to get the balance right somewhere. Travelled along the coast to Patras today. Was so beautiful seeing the sea and mountains in the distance and the massive ships going to Italy.
Got to the venue which was an old hospital to find the Archive boys caring for 3 tiny kittens. Their mum was nowhere to be found and they were shivering and soaking from an earlier downpour. They got towels to wrap them in and gave them water. They were seriously cute. I don't think I've ever seen anything so tiny and their little meow squeeks broke our hearts. We named them A B and C. It was such a good job Emma wasn't with us otherwise there would have been dramas at Gatwick as she would have put them in her handbag.
We checked after our show and think the mum came back to them thank goodness. Can't believe it's the last show. It's gone so fast. It was such a great show too....there was a hot girl on the front row in a fabulous uniform and I spent most of Archive's gig looking for her to take her photo but she had disappeared... please get in touch you looked amazing!!!
Another rooftop party looking out over the moonlit sea and rolled into bed exhausted.
So so sad to leave Greece. Caroline and Mush wanted to stay and look after the kittens but the venue owner promises us he woul keep an eye on them and so began our juorney home.
Leaving Patra we saw a lorry being accosted by a big group of illegal immigrants trying to sneak into the back of the lorry, border jumping. Never seen anything like it.
Back to Athens and by a massive stroke of luck it was international museums day and the Parthanon was free to visit! Finally! Was so happy as we climbed up the steps with panting sleeping dogs knackered in the bushes sheltering from the 37 degree sunshine. George our wonderful host gave us a potted history lesson. Apparently in ancient times, once a year all the virgins of Athens were brought there... and left, not virgins anymore!!!! It was worth the climb, the views over Athens were incredible and left a lovely lasting snapshot in our minds eye as we left forthe grey skies of London.
Thank you for a wonderful time Greece.
