Update: Since first writing this piece, Greece has been hit with devastating wildfires. It’s hard to believe we were just there a few weeks ago. It’s heartbreaking to see the smoke and destruction on the news. Our thoughts are with those in that beautiful country.
Please be a traveler, not a tourist. Try new things, meet new people, and look beyond what’s right in front of you. These are the keys to understanding this amazing world we live in. -Andrew Zimmern
ATHENS
The History, The History, The History. It’s all around. Every corner. Every Stop. There is a story.
One of the oldest cities known as the birthplace of civilization. Athens. It’s hard to comprehend how long many of these sites have been in existence. The fact these amazing monuments are still here for us to experience-even MORE amazing! It wasn’t until going to Greece that I learned how much the Greeks have influenced our lives today!
When we visit a new place, we don’t just want to see the highlights, we want to see REAL Life. So this post is to offer you some of the highlights that the local Athenians enjoy.
The first thing we like to do when we arrive in a new place is to check out the public transportation. Luckily for us, Athens has a great public transportation system. That is unless there is a protest going on (which they do quite frequently) so be aware! There was a Metro stop right outside of our hotel. We knew we were going to be tied up with tours covering the historic highlights the following day so we wanted to check out some of the things the Athenians like to do. What do they do? They head to the Beach! Well, for those of you who know me…..you don’t have to say Beach twice! I’m there! They work during the day and head to the beach in the afternoon or early evening when it’s not as HOT! After checking out the map and we hopped on a metro and headed to the beach. It was summer break, the metro was FULL of teenagers. Guess where they were headed? The Beach! So there we were packed on the train, with all the kids laughing and talking. Kids are kids no matter what the language. We couldn’t understand their Greek but they were having fun. The metro ride took approx 40 mins but we didn’t even notice because we were enjoying the scenery! Blue Skies, the waterfront, palm trees. We could tell we were no longer in the touristy area. People were milling about probably on their lunch break grabbing a quick bite and doing a little shopping. These were the areas people lived and worked.
First Stop: Voula Beach. This area is pretty far out. I felt like we were the only tourists. Perfect for us! Many of the listings about the beaches said that they charged a fee. But no one charged us! When we arrived at the beach we found a spot amongst the Athenians and tried not to stand out. There are no chairs so we chilled on our towels. There was a stand that sold cold beers and snacks. Here we were at the AGEAN sea! How wild is that?! Cheap Cold beers, awesome views, and the calm sea, so refreshing on a very hot afternoon. The kids piled into the water in huge groups where they stayed until dinner time. This was such a find. One of my favorite memories in Athens!
If you want to go check out the beach take the Metro to Voula beach stop. There is a bit of a walk to the beach and it feels a bit secluded but we just followed the kids. They led us there. Just head towards the water. You will see the signs.
As the sun was starting to set and the kids started heading out, we took the metro back up heading towards Athens. A few stops up we spotted this beautiful resort type looking place on the ocean so we stopped off there to check it out. This area seemed more for tourist but there was a mix. Here they had chairs on the beach with waiters to bring you drinks. It was more expensive but you pay for the view, the chairs, and the waiter. It was still worth it. We arrived here in time to catch the sunset.
A peaceful way to wind down a perfect afternoon.
After all of this, we had worked up quite the appetite. The food smelled so delicious here! When asking the locals where to eat here, one mentioned trying a “DIRTY STORE”. Well, that didn’t sound exactly like what we were wanting……as they went on to explain, its a place where they pile so much yummy meat, and sauce that you get DIRTY! We were relieved and headed out to get Dirty! YUM!
After a day of traveling and in the sun we headed back to rest up for our Historic tour coming up the next day.
TROUVAILLE MOMENT (something lovely found by chance):
Taking the Metro out to the beach area away from the tourists.
NOT TO MISS ATHENS:
ACROPOLIS, PARTHENON, AND ERECHITEHELON: THE MOST FAMOUS OF ALL STOPS IN ATHENS
TIP: Arrive EARLY! This is the site to see so everyone will be heading there too. Lines are long. People are herded like cattle. Once the cruise ships arrive you are packed in like sardines. Wear a hat, COMFORTABLE SHOES, and sunscreen. Be sure to take plenty of water and put on your good attitude and patience. This is not a site you can dash through.
TROUVAILLE MOMENT: (something lovely found by chance)
When looking at the Acropolis if you turn around and look behind you…..you will see a large Hill-Areopagus or Mars Hill. It’s a short walk from the entrance path of the Acropolis. Our guide warned us of how dangerous it was to go there. The climb up is steep and a little slippery but not terribly hard or crazy. They even have a stairway with a rail to the main part. We felt the climb was a great find. It offers magnificent views of the Parthenon and the Acropolis as well as Athens. This is a famous site for Christians for it is the known spot where the Apostle Paul would preach the Gospel to the Greeks. Because of this, it had added meaning to us. Don’t miss it! Great Views!
PANATHENAIC STADIUM: OLD OLYMPIC STADIUM:
This is the famous site of the first Olympic games in 1896. You should stop by and see it but we didn’t buy a ticket to go inside.
CHANGING OF THE GUARDS (PLATEIA SYNTAGMATOS):
This is worth a quick visit if you can time it right. It happens every hour not always on the hour but it’s supposed to be on the hour. Great Uniforms and ceremony. It’s in the heart of Athens so there are many other places to visit or stop for a bite in that area.
ACADEMY OF ATHENS:
Be sure to stop and wander around this set of Neo-Classical buildings. This is a great Picture taking spot. We were majorly looking like tourists here! The Orignal academy was founded by Plato back in the 4th century BC. A place where many of the Greek philosophers also attended. We did not go inside because we hit it after hours but we heard that if you ask permission they will let you inside to take pictures. It’s supposed to be stunning.
(Take the Red Line/Number 2 Panepistimiou Station after exiting the Metro it’s across the street)
PLAKA:
One of the oldest neighborhoods in Athens. It has terrific little shops and cafes. Great place for a stroll if you need a bite to eat or a fun place to pick up a few gifts and nice souvenirs.
Tip/Warning: As with anywhere, be aware of your surroundings. Athens seems pretty safe however due to the financial crisis there you will hear of pickpockets. We did experience this first hand riding up the escalator of the metro. It was night time and we didn’t feel that there was even anyone near us. My husband felt a tug on his backpack and sure enough, this thief had his hand down inside our backpack. We didn’t have anything in our bag of value so it was ok. But be cautious!
Thanks for joining us on this stop in Athens! We hope these highlights will help you. We would love to hear if this was helpful. Please comment and be sure to Follow our blog for other adventures. Share with your fellow traveling friends. Up next, The Greek Islands! Even more beautiful than the pictures! You don’t want to miss it!
Joys on a Journey