Greece: The vibes of Athens
This summer Greece is on our agenda, for me - first time. The idea is to have a bit of culture, lots of beaches and enjoy Greek hospitality and lovely nature. It was a prefect combination: Athens (2,5 days), Milos (6 days), Santorini (3,5 days).
We are flying with Aegean airlines and to our surprise we get some tasty lunch and even wine! We take the metro to get to the center as it's more convenient for us (busses would be a bit cheaper). Metro is a perfect people watching place. Not only because it's interesting but also because you have to be vigilant (as in any big city pickpockets are active). First conclusion - Greek women have long hair, even the older ones!
We have rented a great place just next to Monistaraki in airB&B. It's a strategic choice- to be next to everything and next to metro. It took quite some time to figure out which would be the best place to stay in Athens, also the hotel offer (and prices) were rather high, so we were extremely happy with what we got.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2108444?s=g9nG
We are welcomed by a lady who looks like old Cleopatra, the flat is nice and clean.
In the first evening we still have time to visit the Acropolis - it's just in front of our noses! It's a special feeling in Athens - everything seems far but in reality is very close.
We are at the Acropolis by 6 pm, the sun is still hot but the timing is perfect, no too many tourists at the top. It's a very impressive site! Just make sure you do some reading before to understand everything better.
On every corner there are guards, don't even think to run or jump. There is also a tap, water is not cold but still refreshing. Crowds start gathering, so we go to the theatre and it's completely empty!
It's evening, people are everywhere. Some are in train called "happy train" but don't look so happy. All we need is a mezze, view of Acropolis and ouzo :)
We really love Taverna Tou Psi and also this place http://www.enastro.gr/
This blog has lots of good suggestions too:
http://www.athensguide.com/restaurants.h…
On the agenda of the second day we have the Agora, the Acropolis museum, national gardens and we also managed to see the Zeus temple and the Olympic stadium.
Agora is very refreshing, almost nobody and the temple of Hephaestus is only for us.
Around 12.00 we decide to go to the museum of Acropolis and,of course, we are not the only ones with this idea. Many people, many tourist groups (which we join time to time to hear something interesting). The movie which is shown about Parthenon is very good and informative. It would have been better to visit the museum first and then the Parthenon itself.
The gardens are also empty, of course! It's very hot! Luckily water is rather cheap 0,5 eur for 0,5 l. I had heard that the guard change next to the Parliament is impressive. It was! Very nice indeed.
Afterwards we pass the Ermu shopping street but it seems nothing special for me.
The temple of Zeus is impressive (the combo ticket is a very good idea - 12 eur for 4 days for the main sites). It's a perfect place to practice what has been taught is school - and here you can see doric, ionic and corinthian columns :) I remember drawing these columns in my note book :)
The olympic stadium (first nowadays games) is impressive (what isn't in Athens?). I have an idea to have the Song and Dance festival there - would be a perfect place. Don't miss the museum on the left side - the collection of different torches is super interesting - the styles and designs. The one of Sochi - a very bad taste in my opinion, the one of Sydney - wow even if it dates back to the year 2000.
And then it's time for the sunset. From the place where St Paul was preaching one day...
On the third day we decide to sleep a bit longer and then head to the market. The meat market is probably not the best place to see after the breakfast... But somehow I imagined the market to be a bit bigger, maybe we missed a part?
Just after we go to the Lykavittos mountain. We kind of follow our hearts and end up at the right place. The walk is a bit crazy, it's 12.00, hot, hot, hot... now we are sorry that we slept so long... But then you get the view and the wow wow wow moment!
Today it was supposed to rain, we see some clouds gathering up the horizon but we have blue sky just above us and a Greek flag! And somebody who is smoking weed on the steps of the small church... total chill. We go back through Kolonaki area - it's the posh place, everybody is sitting in cafes under the trees and drinking frappes. It feels real as no tourists are around.
The flee market at Monastiraki is wonderful! Lots of cool little (or bigger) things! And of course the shoes and leather bags for very good prices.
In the evening we go to the A for Athens bar - kind of equivalent of Skyline bar in Riga, well, nothing special, just full of overdressed little girls... So we find our joy in the next six dogs bar. If you are looking for a nice view, the bar in Attalos hotel was very nice.
Some observations:
- The atmosphere of Athens is amazing, you can have wonderful streets full of people and lovely bars and then streets just next full of drug addicts
- Cats are everywhere and they are always hungry
- Zucchini balls with dill - ohhh so good!
- Pitas you can get for 2 eur, our best one was from the place just in front of the market, the lady was very angry with all her staff but the food was wonderful
- DInner for two +/- 30 eur (with wine)
- The disorganization of Athens is impressive but somehow it always works out anyway, so no stress, enjoy!