Avernus

...don't think I needed to worry about internet access then. The BSA is apparently at that happy stage of tech-savvy-ness when they can plug in the technology but not actually configure it in any ways that require, say, usernames or passwords from the users.

Unsecured wireless internet in every room, anyone?

So today, I got up at 6 at my sister's having slept quite *astoundingly* badly (mmm, sleeping in strange place + worried about next day. Nice brain-fizzing combination there.) Sister drove me to Heathrow, and since I checked in online the day before I only had to dump my case (literally, you just walk to the front of the queue, stick it on the scales, flash your passport and swan off) and go through to departures. I mean, I only spent an hour at the airport from arrival to departure by plane. This is definitely the way to travel.

Got to Athens, managed to negotiate the Metro (including buying ticket, getting to right station and giving helpful tips to the Japanese tourists who wanted to get to Syntagma. In a city half and hour and I'm already being bossy about the Underground ^_^ Spot someone who's spent too long on the tube.) Got off at the right stop, then managed to walk in *completely* the wrong direction. No, I don't know quite how I managed it. I always get turned around coming out of underground stations. But at least I noticed after about ten minutes, and sensibly turned round and walked straight back again. Admittedly the ENORMOUS FUCKOFF SUITCASE was a slight disadvantage here, and I may now have blisters developing on my carrying hand and/or a hernia, but never mind. Found the BSA after a little more productive walking, managed to blag my way in past the rather hostile door-warden at the American School (no, the British School doesn't bother opening its own gates at the weekend, you have to use the American), and after about ten minutes managed to attract the attention of someone in the hostel. (No, the office doesn't open at all on Sundays either. Just keep pushing the bell, someone will surely come eventually...)

So! Now I am set up in a vaguely palatial room, which feels very much like an Oxford double set, only with a less impressive sink, no carpet, and sodding *Athens* outside the window, which is a bit of a novelty ^_^ There are trees dripping with a fruit that's either a large satsuma or a small orange, all around the grounds and lining half the roads, which look terribly incongruous in January. The weather today was very pleasantly mild, with a sort of hazy spring sunshine. I could definitely get used to Athens in spring - at present it feels like the nicest sort of English April day, which is just about my ideal temperature.

Haven't met any of my course mates yet (at least, don't *think* I have - I have had a whistle-stop tour of the school, and shaken hands with a variety of people whose names I instantly forgot (As Is The Custom), but I think they were all regular students rather than people on the post-grad course) - the first proper meeting isn't until tomorrow at 4, though I shall probably end up bumping into people while making food for myself this evening or at breakfast tomorrow. Food looks like it will be amusing this evening - the place is basically self-catering except for breakfast, which is provided, and I haven't had time to go food-shopping yet for my usual cupboard o' noodles; but there is a mysterious cupboard labelled 'communal food, please help yourself' in the kitchen, which appeared to contain custard powder and dried pasta. So as long as I'm happy with a dinner of pasta with custard sauce, I should be okay until tomorrow.

Right, think that'll do for petty domestic details ^_^ Am here, am safe, am looking forward to making friends with the school cat, which is apparently called Pythia. Rock on, classicists.