I have visited Athens, Greece seven times. Each time I have arrived by air at the International Airport and stayed at the Hilton International Hotel.
The Airport is not far from Athens but drive into the City take at least half an hour because of the traffic. Before I forget I must tell you that there are two Airports in Athens, (both are in the Spata district), and they don’t have a Shuttle Bus between the International and Domestic Airports. This might not be a problem when you arrive but make sure your Taxi Cab Driver understands which Airport you want to go to.
Over 4 million people live here and to me it seems like everyone owns a car. Smog hangs over the City despite the fact that people are only allowed to drive their Cars on alternate days. Drivers are impatient and have on hand on the steering wheel and the other on the horn. Taxi Drivers will start a fist fight with each other because you made a mistake and got into the wrong Taxi’s.
At the Airport, Port and major Hotels is where you can find a Taxi. There is such a shortages of Cabs forget about hailing one down on the Street.
Athens was built on a series of Mountains and Valleys over 3, 000 years ago.
THE ACROPOLIS , (the translation means ’’high city’’), is an ancient Greek Temple that is in ruins. It sits high on a Mountain top, (512 feet up), that over looks the City.
At night there is always a light and music show in the ancient Theater. Often famous people, (such as the ’’Three Tenors’’ or Yani), hold a Concert here.
I always walked from the Hotel, (with a stop at one of the small Cafes across from the Parliament Buildings).
CONSTITUTION SQUARE is the site of Ex-King Othos’ Palace and has been turned into the Parliament Buildings. While I’m having my coffee I watch the changing of the Guards.
There are Cafes across the street and most of the Airline Offices are on this Square. There is a small Office that you can buy day Cruises or Tours.
There are two streets that are on either side of the Cafes. I always take the one that is not the one that the Office that sells the Tours is on. This is the street that will take you up to the Acropolis.
For the first few blocks is in you will see a lot of Leather and Jewelry Shops. When the Stores Start to look ’’touristy’’, (you’ll be in the Plaka area), look to your left and watch for a tiny Church. It is the smallest Church in the World.
The area close to the Acropolis is called the Kolonaki, (higher Plakea). There are a lot of Shops, (that you should bargain for items that you want) and Cafes. Please don’t be conned into going into any of them. There are excellent Restaurants on the small Streets behind this one but you have to be with someone from Athens to find them.
SYNATGMA SQUARE, (I call it the small Square), is the place the rich people of Athens go to have their morning coffee. There are a lot of Designer Shops and a few ’’knock off’’ Jewelry Shops there. It is only a few blocks from Constitution Square. If you pass by the Chocolate Shop pick up some delicious Greek Candy, (Greek Delight).
THE ORIGINAL OLYMPIC GAMES PARK is on a street that the Hilton is on. The Hilton is on the tip of a wedge. The Street that I take to get to Constitution Square has most of the Embassies on one side and a park on the other. So the OLYMPIC Park is on the other side of this Park. In the Park is a War Museum. At the larger edge of the park is a huge Fountain and the Parliament Buildings.
THE PARTHIAN is on top of another Mountain. You half to walk up part of the way and then you can take a Tram to the top. You can go at any time of the day but I suggest you go just before sunset. There is a bar at the top of the Parthian and we always buy a drink. They we circle the building and see all of Athens below us. The sunset is quick in this part of the World and the Sun looks like it suddenly drops into the sea.
PIRAEUS is a suburb of Athens. The small Port in the Mikrolimano Harbor and this is where the Yachts dock and the fresh fish Restaurants are. On the other side of the hill is the large Port where the Cruise Ships depart from.
GLYFADA is another suburb of Athens. It is where my friend Nini lives. The first time I visited her there was a small square with a few Shops and Greek Cafes. Two years later there was a wonderful Shopping Center. It was build for the United States Military People who have a Base in this area.
I don’t need to tell you how much I love Athens, (because I keep going back). If you haven’t visited this wonderful City I hope you will.
©LL2002