My Week in Athens… Oct 25

My appointment at the US Embassy Notary was for 9:00 Monday morning and I got the email files with the final paperwork late Friday night. Now I all had to do was find a place that could print all 150 pages on a Saturday. And while I'm used to 24 Hour Kinko's, this is Greece...

As I left my apartment Saturday morning to try to find a copy store or internet cafe, my neighbors asked the usual questions--"how are you, where are you going today, etc." As I explained my predicament, the whole family gathered at the door. "You can't go to an internet cafe! It will be too expensive..." "Wait! We will give you a map of a better place..." The next thing I knew, the directions to a better place had been upgraded to a personal guide and the father had me on the back of his scooter to take me to the copy shop of their friends. "We've called. They can do it. Don't worry." 20 minutes later, I had my 150 pages, had paid only 6 euros, a fraction of what it would have been at an internet cafe, and had an exciting scooter ride through Athens.

Services like 24 Hour Kinko's may be more convenient, but there's something much more powerful about the personal touch and connection that you get navigating your way through Greece. I guess that's what we love about it.

Thanks Lynn for sharing your story with us. We look forward to hearing more stories.

Until next week,

Jack

In this weekly space, keep up with ‘Jack’ as he navigates daily life in Athens… Anecdotes, stories, hits & misses, the good, the bad and, well, the rest…