Intentionally or not, certain physical (and of course emotional) places become hubs in your life – places you find yourself over and over again. For me, one of them is that Athens Airport Sofitel. Like the Royal View Resort in Bangkok and the Peninsula Excelsior in Singapore, there's no great reasons why I like this hotel. There's a very good reason why I have found myself at it so many times – it is literally on airport grounds – a crosswalk away to the entrance to the terminal. But there's no clear reason why I walk in so happy to see it.
The Athens Airport Sofitel has an incredible average looking exterior that matches the incredibly dull look of the airport itself. Inside, it's very nice, but without more character or comfort than many other hotels I've bene in. It has more dignity and calm than a typical airport hotel, but not is not cosmopolitan or chic. Perhaps that's it right there – it is comfortable and approachable without feeling fancy. I can walk in with my giant backpack after a night in an "Airplane Type Seat" on the ferry and not feel out of place – but I can also enjoy that it's a step up from most island accommodation. In other words, if I have to be stuck in Athens for an overnight – and Athens isn't my favorite city – then at least it's a pleasant and welcoming place with a nice restaurant, very comfortable bed and a hella' good shower.
In fact, I cannot emphasize that last part enough. After a Turkish Hamam – which can change your definition of what it feels like to be clean – the shower at the Sofitel Athens Airport is second with it's incredible water pressure that pours down like a waterfall from the ceiling.
Certainly, the rooms are pleasant, the view of an active runway interesting at times and the staff exceedingly helpful. Perhaps another layer of what makes the Sofitel work for me are the memories. Staying here with Emily and Sennen on his first trip to Patmos in 2014. Again in 2019 with Sennen, Ailyn and Matheus (Emily flew home a few days earlier for a conference). Last year on my own after a 10-week trial separation on which I sojourned on Patmos. In June when the kids, my mom and I had lunch in the restaurant while killing time before heading to the ferry. And now – heading home from my first summer at my new house. Each was a different time and moment in life – all were important. Perhaps more than any of them, I remember the first stay when Emily and I showed up after three weeks on Patmos with our 15 month-old and realized just how much we missed water pressure and a comfortable bed. The Sofitel was both a splurge and an oasis.
Flight sequences heading to the US usually depart in the morning. The latest departure I've yet encountered is 1:10pm – which is exactly what Sennen, Ailyn and I took almost six weeks ago. For us, the Sofitel's main role is has been to solve the problem of the ferry arriving in Athens just a little too late to make a morning flight. It turns out that I MIGHT have been able to make a flight today if I held my breath and rushed through the airport. The ferry was a touch early and there was no traffic between the port and airport. But when booking my travel, I just can't rely on that kind of magic. This is Greece and everything running a little late is generally par for the course.
Last year I couldn't bring myself to stay at the hotel all day, I had serious Athens FOMO. I had only been once before (prior trips to Patmos went through Rhodes) and we had two tired kids in tow. When I returned in March 2019 on the way to Patmos, it was bitterly cold and the mountains were dusted in snow. I didn't really explore the city. Heading home in May, I left room for the fact while I had never been impressed in my previous visits, it was possible I had never been able to give Athens its due. So I spent 50 euros each way only to conclude that I had, in fact given Athens its due before except for one particular dessert shop I had somehow missed. Good as those desserts were, this time I'm content to save 100 euros, an hour and a half of transit time and a lot of sweat in 94 degree weather. Maybe I'll try out the recently reopened rooftop restaurant instead.
As always, as soon as I reach Athens, Patmos feels so incredibly far away. Athens lives closer to the world I know at home. Patmos is a magical place with its own rules. Leaving Patmos is as simple as a five minute walk to the port and getting in line for the ferry. My walk was met with some goodbyes and well wishes from the owners of businesses and restaurants along the way. Earlier last night Alas Grill threw in a free water as a gift to send me off and when I stopped by the pie bakery to see about a spanakopita or tirokopita for the ferry (theirs is way better than the ones sold on the ferry), they too gave me one "on the house" as a send-off.
Beyond that, the last night on Patmos was one like any other with work and dinner. I also tested out some of the new floor and table lamps just to see how they felt. There was some laundry and final packing too. When 12:25 am rolled around, instead of brushing my teeth and heading to bed, I brushed my teeth, grabbed my bags and turned off all the lights.
Until next time.
