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A short time in Athens
After our lovely, slow ferry from Naxos to Athens we were in for a drastic change of pace. This city is bustling! Granted, we arrived on a Saturday afternoon but the port was seemingly chaotic, but we at least found our transfer driver quickly. A big shout out and high praise for CATtaxi and to Sandy Papas of Greece Travel Secrets for recommending them. Our driver braved the narrow roads to deliver us right to our apartment, Acro&Polis, which is right in the middle of Plaka, a great central location in Athens. Our generous and welcoming host Sakis was waiting for us. The Greece Hospitality is well known and so far, each encounter affirms this.
We settle in for a bit, then out to discover. Today is one of the few excursions we planned. We are taking a walking food tour, appropriately yet oddly titled “Food on Foot”. Our tour guide is Kostas, a gregarious young man who loves both Athens and food, so he is great. We are joined by a couple from NY and, eventually, by another married couple with both of their moms in tow. One mother is very slow and using a cane, which explains why they are late.
It turns out, a food walking tour in Athens is not a good choice if you have mobility issues. Between each of the food stops is about 30 minutes of navigating the precarious cobblestones and dodging hurried drivers. So, after stops for yogurt, a deli (ErgonHouse had the best pastrami Tom has ever tasted) and a nuts & spice shop, the mobility impaired mom and her son opt out. We all bid them farewell, as our hunger pangs thank them. Next up is a bakery that treats us to sesame rings, apparently a hangover cure, but not enough for the remaining ravenous group. Next we walk through “Little Kooks” which I had heard about but really didn’t understand. It was decorated for Halloween with all of Europe’s decorations. Then we find yet another wild plaza (there are so many!) and it seems everyone in Athens is under 30 and out having a party. Finally we get to a spot where we can actually sit down and we enjoy some filo dough treats, some savory and some sweet. Then we’re off again to an actual restaurant where we sit for a literal feast. It’s delicious, but it’s also 10pm! Next, we enjoy a dessert and then head back to our apartment and try to sleep. But hey, it’s Saturday night in Plaka and everyone is up so late. I feel old!
The next morning, we find a place for breakfast then I find some desperately needed replacement shoes. OnCloud sneakers are the best! I break them in on a four hour trek up and around the Acropolis. Seeing the Acropolis is a dream come true for me. Mr Walker, my 7th grade teacher, loved Greece or so I remember. Every morning he entered the classroom with his coffee, sipped it, and said, “Ahhhh nectar of the gods”. He showed beautiful photos of Greece and I fell in love. I needed to visit. Who knew it would take 53 years before I could see Greece with my own eyes? The acropolis is a true marvel, even with the crowd. I can’t imagine how it must have been last summer with the record setting crowds along with the record setting heat!
Once we’re ready to move on, we trek to the Acropolis Museum, only to be turned away. Apparently they are closing early due to “elections”. We don’t really understand why they need to close at 2:30 on a Sunday for elections, but it doesn’t matter. Our museum trip is thwarted. Hopefully we will have an opportunity to visit the museum when we return to Athens later this trip.
Next up is our first road trip, driving to the magnificent Meteora.
Hey you two. Looking spectacular. Such a beautiful place! Miss you❤️
You both are looking so healthy and young in your pictures! Mr. Walker and “Ahhhh nectar of the Gods” is a firmly planted memory in my memory bank, too😉
Keep posting … your writing is awesome
Julie
Hi – seems that I missed this one. Had a couple visitors from Ptld and had to minimize my screen time!
Hope you get back to have a full, or at least closer look at the Acropolis…..definitely a memorable experience.
Your descriptions and pictures are fantastic – those beautiful blue skies don’t hurt either!!
Love you