ATHENS || A Bustling City Brimming with Food and Culture Intertwined with Historic Landmarks
With only three days to take in all the sights of Athens, we ventured out as soon as we dropped our baggage off at the hotel.
It seems surreal that this trip was just from a few months ago, when the sun was shining, the streets were bustling with tourists, and hiking up the steep and slippery steps to the Acropolis of Athens was encouraged.
With the change of perspective looking outdoors from our windows instead of venturing outdoors in the blazing sunshine, we can only share a slice of our memories through photographs to take our minds on vacation.
If you have never been to Athens, the streets are packed with tourists wiping sweat off their brow in the fall sunshine, which still stands at at relatively high 30 degrees in October, motorists winding their way through the side streets, and large tour buses in three different colours on rotating through its multitude of stops around the city.
Historic sites are mixed in with modern hotels boasting a view of the Acropolis, modern fresh produce grocery shops and shopping streets lined with international brands. Our collection of photographed memories reflect this eclectic mix, from observing the changing of the guards at Syntagma Square in front of the Hellenic Parliament, where the guards stand perfectly still.
A guard standing under a small canopy shielding him from the sun.
Syntagma Square before the ceremony.
Tourists following the guards during the changing of the guards ceremony to capture the perfect photo.
The guard performing the ceremony marching with a defined stance.
The Panatheniac Stadium, which houses up to 60,000 spectators and is made of 85,100 Metric Tons of marble.
Visitors to the Panathenaic Stadium cooling off in the shade sitting atop the marble steps.
Common scene in the city’s side streets where motorbikes line both sides of the street.
A vibrant shop offering fresh produce, a cafe at the front of the shop and restaurant seating in the back.
Grilled sardines, a common dish found in every restaurant we visited.
A packed restaurant near the train station packed with diners resting in the warm evening breeze.
Asides from visiting restaurants ranging from local to international tastes, we also spent some time climbing up to the Acropolis. We highly recommend sturdy shoes as the polished marble, after centuries of visitors ascending the steps they have become are smooth and slippery — sandals just won’t do.
The Parthenon at the Acropolis.
The late afternoon sun against the Erechtheion.
If you have an open schedule during the day, you could make the trek down to the Temple of Poseidon at the Cape of Sounion. This major monument was built between 444 - 440 BC in Athens and was a place where seamen and the public came to offer sacrifices to Poseidon to appease him to keep storms at bay.
The trek is a lengthy one if you are staying in the city center, it took us 5 to 6 hours to get there and back on a tour bus. If you are driving this might make it a bit of a shorter trip.
Athens was our first stop before heading to Mykonos and Santorini, a tried and true itinerary to let yourself experience the different faces of Greece culture. Athens gave us more of the large city vibe and is a great first stop to ease into the island lifestyle awaiting you on your island-hop tours.
View down to the water from the temple of Poseidon perched 60 metres above the sea.
Visitors capturing the majestic ruins through their cameras.
A closer look at the weathered yet strong structural details of the Temple of Poseidon.
