Destination: Greece

We're headed to the Mediterranean!
Today, I'll give you a sneak peak at Athens, Greece and a sample of what the Greek Islands have to offer.

A view through the ruins at the top of the Acropolis

Start your sightseeing in Athens by heading to the Acropolis first. The Acropolis sits atop the city of Athens. It is among the most impressive of the Ancient Greek ruins and it's quite a hike to the top. Wear sneakers. The terrain is rugged and the marble is very slippery. It gets VERY hot by mid-day (and crowded) so start your day here. The Acropolis is the site of several key historical ruins, including the Parthenon, the Porch of the Caryatids, the Temple of Athena Nike and the Theatre of Herodes Atticus.

The Acropolis

The Parthenon

Porch of the Caryatids

Temple of Athena  Nike

Theatre of Herodes Atticus 

Theatre of Herodes Atticus

At the base of the Acropolis is the Plaka. The Plaka is a historic district in Athens, full of cafes and shops. It's a great place to have some traditional Greek food and pick up souvenirs. When trying local food at a taverna, consider favorites like moussaka and spanakopita. Moussaka is a layered dish consisting of eggplant, potato, meat. Spanakopita is Greek spinach pie. YUMMM!! And of course, you have to have a toast to celebrate. Try ouzo or raki and say "OPA!" (cheers in Greek). The food is amazing and the locals will be warm and welcoming. Definitely carve time into you day to sit for a relaxed (not to be rushed) meal.

Across from the Plaka is the Temple of the Olympian Zeus. Absolutely worth a visit.

Temple of the Olympian Zeus

There are many other sites worth seeing in Athens. From the Acropolis, look down and toward the central district of Athens and you can see the Ancient Agora.

You will also find Byzantine churches all over the area.

St Catherine's Orthodox Byzantine Church (11th century)

You can visit the site of the first modern day Olympics.

Downtown Athens.

Parliament Building and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

When you are at the Acropolis, look up. even higher than the Acroplis, and offering spectacular views, is Lykavittos Hill. You can take the funicular or hike. It's popular with locals and although tourists typically see it from the Acropolis, less tourists are found on the Hill. A shame really, as it is a magnificent view and there is a restaurant at the top, the perfect place for a late afternoon drink, and a small chapel.

As with most cities that I visit outside the US, you may want to consider the City Sightseeing tour bus as a good transportation option. Do not confuse with other double decker sightseeing tours. I have used city sightseeing in several cities worldwide. There are a few benefits. In many cities, the sights are quite spread out. This means walking may not be an option and taxi fares add up quickly. For a single rate, you have an open air, double decker bus that hits all the popular tourists sights. You will be given a map and a pair of headphones and you can listen to a guided tour (in a variety of language options) or sit back and get out your camera. It's a hop-on, hop-off tour, so you can get off and spend as much time as you like before boarding again. The website gives you the route (sometimes more than one route option). Your pass is typically good for a full 24 hours and two day passes can sometimes also be obtained. Save your ticket. It's how you get back on board. And if you are headed to other cities within the year and you save your ticket, you get a discount on your next adventure. 

http://www.city-sightseeing.com/

I'll post for now and take you to the Islands of Santorini and Mykonos in part 2.

Safe travels!

Robin