Our Greek Getaway: Step back in time in Athens...
Our arrival into Athens was very welcome: 40 degree heat thankyouverymuch. Perhaps not a welcome that most would appreciate, but for us the immediate tidal wave of heat that hit us as we departed the airport was a warm, and soothing welcome to our adventure.
Locating out hotel was easy, and although we were warned the Greeks weren’t than friendly or helpful, the receptionist come travel agent, tour guide, information desk, local advocate and water dispenser proved to be joyful, helpful and friendly. After dumping our things, we caught the Metro to Syntagma in search of Lycabettus Hill and, therefore, ‘the view’ over Athens.
Syntagma Square greeted us with news that the temperature we suspected was correct. 42C; hot, but not unbearable. The European sun doesn’t carry the sting that the Australian one does, it is more subtle and although it was very warm, the air didn’t cling to you and suffocate you as you gasped for more.
Albeit mapless (unless you count the somewhat hand-drawn one from our hotel we carried), we wandered the streets of Kolonaki in search of the cable car that could take us up the Lycabettus Hill. But with no luck. We wandered back streets and main streets, followed corners, stairs and crossed small squares. Eventually, we found ourselves at the foot of the hill where the only path to the top was to trek.
By this time, waterless, as we neared the top I thought I was going to die of thirst. But the reward of the view (and the two full bottles of water we guzzled at the café) reminded me to stop being so dramatic. (See what too many months in London does to your heat stamina!)
That night, and as we did the following night aswell, we ascended to the roof garden of our hotel where they served homecooked Greek Cuisine for a cheap 7 euros a main. It was beneath an Athenian sunset, sipping 2 euro Mythos we first saw the Parthenon (and Acropolis) from afar. Stunning!
The following day, we were up early to me Despina below the hanging clock at Syntagma Metro for our walking tour across Athens, finishing at the Parthenon. I had purchased the tour for Nick, (aka the ancient Greek history nerd), as little birthday present to celebrate his 25th birthday.
The tour was very interesting and we learnt a lot about not only greek mythology and ancient Greece, we also learnt about modern Greece, the attitudes of the greek people, and what has shaped Greece to be the country it is today. Not only did we learn all of this, but Despina, our tour guide, hates the sun; and taught us to always seek out the shade by navigating the tour from shady spot to shady spot, even to the top of the Acropolis!
After the tour, we descended the Acropolis to visit the Pynx (birthplace of democracy!), and also the Mars Rock (named by the Romans after the God of War, and also the place where St Peter delivered the first Christian address). Although I learnt ancient Greek history in year 8, having Nick nearby to fill in the many gaps in my memory of the greeks was certainly very helpful!
That afternoon we wandered the Monostiraki Flea Market (we picked up souvlaki pita for 2 euros for lunch, and a hat to protect me from the sun on the islands for 13), before heading back to the hotel for another cheap dinner overlooking the acropolis.
(Nick didn’t say much at dinner as he spent it sipping Mythos and in awe of the acropolis, a sight he had longed to see for a very long time).
Our last day in Athens, we decided to head to Hadrian’s Arch, Temple of Zeus and the Ancient Agora (ancient marketplace). Again, our shade-jumping became very useful to guard our skin from the heat, as did the many times we re-filled our water bottle. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt perpetually thirsty (but damn, my skin was good)!
We collected our packs from our hotel and caught the Metro out to Piraeous where we would meet our ferry to the islands. We received a phone call from Nick’s boss on the metro – Nick had finally received his work visa! It was this good news that we left Athens ready for the next chapter of our Greek adventure….. island-hopping, beach-bumming, beer-sipping heaven; here we come!
