We were warned, more than once, to be careful with our backpack. A lot of people were wearing them on the front. Before traveling to Europe (and Sri Lanka) we purchased a PacSafe backpack to replace a cheap backpack that was falling apart. It has lockable zippers, wire reinforced straps to prevent cutting, among other security features and requirements we had.
How did we get here? Sorry not sorry but we flew Business Class from Sri Lanka. But to get the most 'affordable' rate, we had two layovers. One in Qatar for nine hours and one in Amman for 12 hours -- overnight. One of the perks are airport lounges. The lounge in Qatar was incredible. It took up an entire floor at the airport and had it's own escalator just to access it. There were two restuarants, a bar, spa, media center, game room, duty free store, etc. We felt a bit out of place but it was awesome.
First lounge and first flight!
Second lounge and second flight!
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| Upside Down Fountain |
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| Bathroom |
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| Candy Crush Time |
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| Bar |
Third lounge, was our overnight in Jordan which did not turn out exactly as we thought it would.
The concierge at the lounge informed us the most we could stay was six hours and we should check into the airport hotel. This required going back through security to the transfer desk to see if we could get a 'stamp' to stay free in the hotel. That didn't work so we went back to the lounge. Ugghh. We were told we could stay in the lounge additional hours if we paid $90. We ended up staying the entire time and not paying any additional fees.
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| The view from the lounge |
Where did we stay? Center City. At a really nice AirBnb. WIth a kitchen AND a washer/dryer! I washed everything whether it needed it or not! The location could not have been better! The only downside was our view. (There was no view.)
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| Our view |
What did we do?
Food Tour -- We took a "Greekality" food tour. We like cooking classes to learn about local cuisine but we already knew about Greek cuisine so we decided a food tour would be better. And it was! Two of the restaurant stops were right out front our door!
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Our third stop Street Souvlaki
Right around the corner from our AirBnb |
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| Our tour guide Fotios |
Parliament changing of the guard. There is a changing of the guard ceremony every hour on the hour but Sunday at 1100 is the big event with all the soldiers and a band.
Acropolis -- home to several ancient buildings and structures. At the top of the Acropolis, is the Parthenon, an iconic temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, as well as several other temples and ruins that offer a glimpse into ancient Greek culture and architecture.
We toured several other ruins throughout the city. All are very impressive.
Library of Hadrian
Roman Bath
Olympieion
Varvakios Market - central market featuring meat, fish, fruits and vegetables
Plaka neighborhood -- charming and picturesque with winding streets, colorful buildings, and traditional Greek architecture. We wandered through narrow alleyways and explored local shops and markets.
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| Holy Church of the Virgin Mary Pantanassa |
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| Holy Church of the Holy Trinity |
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| Panagia Kapnikarea |
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| Church of the Metamorphosis |
Where did we eat?
Sicario All Day Bar
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| A La Norma |
Pame Tsipouro Pame Kafeneio food was very good.
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| Meatball Souvlaki |
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| Grilled Feta |
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| Chicken Skewers with pita |
Directly across the street from our airbnb was a pan-latin restaurant, Los Gatos. Perfectly convenient for a cold rainy evening. Food was decent and service was great.
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| Spicy Chicken Tacos |
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| Enchilada |
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Free frozen strawberry 🍓 margarita
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Alexandrino Kebab - Monastiraki or Αλεξανδρινό Κεμπάπ - Μοναστηράκι
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| Pastourmali Pie |
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| Chicken Gyro |
Street Vendor at Monastiraki Square
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| Fresh Strawberries 🍓 😋 |
Little Kook a patisserie, we noticed this place while on the food tour so we went back to get a dessert and the wait was to long.
When did we visit? March 30 through April 5, 2023.
Athens is a beautiful city that is filled with history, culture, and amazing tourist attractions. Whether you're interested in ancient Greek architecture or modern cultural experiences, there is something for everyone in this bustling city. If you're planning a trip to Greece, be sure to add Athens to your itinerary. Two full days should be enough if you are pressed for time.
According to little Ms. Google, for the month of March, we traveled 6,224 miles. We visited 5 countries and flew over 5,670 miles.
"I learned a long time ago that trying to micromanage the perfect vacation is always a disaster. That leads to terrible times." - Anthony Bourdain
Roman Agora
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