Tags
archaeology, Athena, Athens, city, Greek gods, sunset, temple
In October last year we went to the Greek capital for a short break. It is an amazing city, very busy, but very interesting and friendly.
It was a four hour flight and then another hour by train from the airport to Athens centre. We arrived at our hotel in the Psyri district at around 11.00pm local time and it felt like we’d been travelling for ages. But the city was very much awake and busy at this hour; and we soon started to wander through the narrow, lively streets, many with with cafe style bars and music. After ice cream at around midnight we went for drinks at a rooftop bar overlooking Monastiraki Square and with a view of the Acropolis.
Whilst the night life in Athens is great, the sunny days reveal the city’s ancient past.
The main archeological sites are all within walking distance of the city centre, although it’s uphill to the acropolis (home to the Parthenon and other temples). Once you arrive there is plenty to see, and because we had e-tickets, we didn’t have to queue to gain entrance.
Given the history and age of these incredible ruins, it is not surprising to see ongoing restoration and research. It did mean however that some areas were fenced-off, making for a slightly less interesting photo.
Set on a hill, you get a 360 degree view of the city as you walk around the acropolis, as the following photos show.
We didn’t have time to see all the historical sites that Athens can offer, but we did walk down to the old Olympic stadium and then on to the Temple of Zeus.
The Panathenaic stadium is very impressive. It is a white horseshoe structure built under the shadow of the Acropolis; and remains the world’s only arena made completely from marble.
Athens is a large city with a population of some 3.7 million. Deciding what to see after the Acropolis was difficult given the big choice. Not knowing whether we will be returning to Greece in the foreseeable future, we decided some exploration outside of the city would be good.
We had taken our grandson with us on this trip. Indeed, it was his idea. Given his interest in Greek history and mythology, a visit to the Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, some 55 kilometres south of Athens was arranged. There was no train route so our hotel organised a taxi. Yes it was costly, but so worth it.
We deliberately timed the visit to witness the sunset over the Aegean Sea…
Our second and final trip out of Athens was to one of the nearby islands. Aegina is just an hour away by ferry and the contrast with Athens couldn’t have been greater. Gone was the noise and crowded streets. In its place was a sleepy island with a small port and welcoming beach.
Originally we’d hoped to visit the main historic sites on Aegina. However, a quick look at the ferry timetable ruled going to the other side of the island, and a walk to the nearby archaeological dig was met by a closed sign.
So after some shopping, we spent our time on the beach, staying until the sun went down.
Overall, we had a fantastic time in Athens and beyond. Our grandson now wants to return with his mates once he is a little older.