I was too cheap to ask Apostolos Tours to book my cab to the airport, feeling they were quoting a high number. Lyft and Uber aren’t a thing in Greece, but there is a taxi hailing app similar to those services called BEAT. I used them to get back from the marathon finish as I couldn’t wait any longer to grab a shower. So I’m a bit of a Jack Benny, but I’m also willing to break my own code of cheapness when circumstances warrant.
That’s why despite the bus fare to ATH being either 1 or 2 euros, I opted to use BEAT which quoted me a fare of 17 to 22 euros. The driver was very nice, we chatted about the weather and he asked where I was flying. He asked if I was coming back to Athens tonight and I laughed and said no. He then told me a story of how he once flew to Amsterdam in the morning and then was back home in Greece at 1 AM that night. He shook his head at the crazed adventure and told me while Amsterdam was nice, it wasn’t for him. I’ve never been so can’t comment… but as a guy who’s been to Vegas and thinks it’s “nice” in air quotes but not for me, I understood him.
Anyways, as seems to be the money tornado that follows me around on this trip twisting coins out of my hand repeatedly, the fare on his meter said 18.50 and he quoted me a price of 22.50. I had set the app to pay using my credit card so it went through and I didn’t get a paper receipt unlike past trips. I wasn’t sure if there was an airport fee that just gets tacked on or if the guy took me for a ride and then “took me for a ride” on a tip. So be it. That’s life, all with ups and downs.
I saw a guy wearing a t-shirt yesterday in the agora that said, “In the Marathon Of Life, There Is No Finish Line.” And I thought, “um… there is. It’s called death. Not to be morbid… but, ya know, there is DEFINITELY a finish line to life, man.” I didn’t say anything; maybe he’s like me with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. He’s just trying to avoid spoilers.
***
I’m here at Athens International Airport super early. I’m illegally sitting at the Burger King restaurant as it’s reserved exclusively for their customers (I have at one time or another BEEN a customer of BK… not to split hairs but… split, split). Backfilling stories on my laptop, I am also hoping I made the right decision to NOT pay the 35 euros to check my duffel bag. After being nickel and diming… are 5 cent and 10 cent euros called “nickels” and “dimes”?… the miser in me reared his green visor sporting head and started counting my pennies.
The way things are going, I suspect Aegean Airlines will say my bag is too big at the gate and charge me a “late checked baggage fee” of 100 euros.
Sigh. First world problems, right?
