A city of wonders and heart-warming hospitality

Athens is a wonderful city to visit especially in the autumn and spring months when the weather offers brilliant blue skies without the sweltering heat. Visiting the magnificent Acropolis and its monuments is a delight; the slowly ascending, stately approach is flanked with lovely trees, historic sites and gardens. Looking upwards, the stunning outlines of the temples are always in sight but there is no sense of rush as there is so much to appreciate on the way.
The Acropolis of Athens and its monuments are recognized around the world as symbols of the classical spirit and civilization and form the greatest architectural and artistic complex bequeathed by Greek antiquity to the world.
The name derives from the Greek ‘Akro’, high or extreme/extremity or edge, and ‘Polis’, city, translated as ‘High City’, ‘City on the Edge’ or ‘City in the Air’.
Planned by the Athenian statesman Pericles, and under the guidance of the sculptor Pheidias, the rocky hill was transformed into a magnificent citadel reflecting the splendor, power and wealth of Athens in its golden age. The most important monuments were built during the 5th century BC. They include the Parthenon, built by Ictinus, the Erechtheon, the Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the Acropolis, designed by Mnesicles, and the small temple Athena Nike.
As you ascend, the view is dominated by the famous outline of the Parthenon.
As you enter the site itself, having first bought an entrance ticket, the climb becomes steeper and care is needed in negotiating the steps that have been installed to make access easier. But what is pleasing is that the structures put in place to help people walk up the hillside do not unduly infringe on the ancient surroundings.
What is surprising is the scale of the Acropolis site and the breath-taking 360 degree views of the city of Athens spread below.
It is well worth visiting the nearby Acropolis Museum which houses some 4,000 priceless finds from the Acropolis monuments that represent its history and function as the most important religious center of ancient Athens. Here you can gain a deeper understanding of the history and have a chance to examine close up some of the wonderful statues and artifacts including magnificent marble sculptures from the Parthenon. The fact that many of these sculptures are in the British Museum in London (agents of Lord Elgin removed about half of the surviving sculptures of the Parthenon between 1801 and 1812) is a sore point with the Greeks who want their treasures returned.
When you have finished exploring the sites and the museum it’s time to sit down and enjoy some Greek cuisine. I would recommend a wonderful little restaurant, the Aonvai Bistro, among a whole street of eating places which you can find easily as you make your way back down from the Acropolis.
Sitting at an outside table our group tucked into beautifully prepared squid, Zucchini, Moussaka and delicious, super fresh Greek salads. Remember to sample the traditional ‘Spoon Sweets’ — sweet preserves served in a spoon as a gesture of hospitality in Greece.
Another lovely, traditional restaurant — with people watching being almost as pleasurable as the food — is Peros Café in the high end Kolonaki area. This has a great atmosphere with quick, attentive service and a wide range of tasty dishes.
Shopping was next on the list of things to do and I headed to the maze of little shops in Monastiraki. Here you can find some lovely, hand-crafted items. I would say the stand outs were the leather handbags — some in fantastic colors and shapes — the table linens often with an olive motif, the beauty products for face and body, the striking pottery and ceramic pieces and wooden carvings and utensils.
It’s well worth during your visit to this area to take a look at Hadrian’s Library created by Roman Emperor Hadrian in AD 132 on the north side of the Acropolis of Athens.
Another inspiring place to visit is the Agora. The Agora was a place where people gathered to buy and sell and converse. It was the center of athletic, artistic, spiritual and political life of the city. It was in the Agora of Athens that the great philosopher Socrates questioned the market-goers on their understanding of the meaning of life. His teaching inspired Plato whose philosophical dialogues, coupled with his founding of the Academy, the first University, and his role as the teacher of Aristotle who then was tutor to Alexander the Great, changed western philosophy.
This is the amazing thing about Athens; one minute you can be mulling over buying a souvenir and the next exploring the city’s historical treasures. The past and the present seem to blend effortlessly. The past is not sealed off — it is everywhere around you which is very moving and enriching.
For a top end place to stay I would recommend the Hotel Grande Bretagne over-looking Syntagma Square right in the heart of the city. The Square has a long history. It seems every major event in Greece has either been mourned or celebrated here.
The Grande Bretagne is the kind of place which makes you feel like a million dollars. It has style, elegance and charm. The staff are tip top as you would expect from such a fine hotel and to stay there is to experience a taste of real luxury.
To be honest it is easy to forget in such surroundings the fact that for many Greek citizens the last few years have been a time of immense suffering and misery. Let’s hope and pray that this great country can recover quickly and that its resourceful and welcoming people can put the hard times behind them once and for all.
There is so much to see and do both in and around Athens that it is hard to cover everything in a short article. But you can be sure that moving around the city and its environs is easy and safe on the ultra-efficient and super clean Metro. Ancient artifacts excavated during its construction are on public display in the concourses of several of the Metro Stations which certainly adds an uplifting aspect to the travel experience.
Don’t forget to watch the Greek soldiers in their traditional uniforms marching in front of the Parliament building — this is really impressive. The soldiers of the Presidential Guard are selected according to their height, excellent physical condition and psychological state as well as character and morality.
Take a stroll around the historic and very pretty Plaka neighborhood at the eastern side of the Acropolis which is the core of the historic center. It has been inhabited continuously since antiquity. The narrow streets are lined with houses and mansions from the time of the Turkish occupation and the Neo-classical period (19th c.). You will see ancient monuments, such as the Lysikrates Monument, erected by a wealthy donor of theatrical performances, the Roman Agora with the famed “Tower of the Winds” (1st c. B.C.), many churches, true masterpieces of Byzantine art and architecture, as well as remnants of the Ottoman period (Fetihie Mosque, Tzistaraki Mosque, the Turkish Bath near the Tower of the Winds, the Muslim Seminary).
Visit the Port of Piraeus with its gleaming yachts. Piraeus port is the chief exit point from the city by sea for destinations among the Aegean Islands and elsewhere in the east Mediterranean. Domestic destinations include all of the Aegean islands. The port in Piraeus is also used by several cruise companies.
For a flavor of bustling daily life it’s well worth visiting the market located a short walk from Monastiraki Metro. Here you can find an abundance of herbs, fresh vegetables and fruits. The huge range of olives is a sight to be seen and their taste is a revelation to anyone used to buying supermarket exports back home. There is also a busy fish market and once again it is the sparkling freshness that catches the eye. In many parts of the city you see oranges and limes growing in the trees that line the streets.
When the moment comes to say goodbye to this lovely city you can simply take a taxi to the airport; the trip will take about 45 minutes depending on the time of day. The official yellow taxis have a fixed fee to the airport.
The airport is also accessible via Metro Line 3 “Aghia Marina — Athens International Airport”.
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