Ever thought what it would be like to travel back in time, and see how past generations used to live. Well, it turns out, that you don’t need a time machine to do that. Instead, all you need to do is book yourself a ticket and head on to the amazing Athens. It’s a one of a kind trip, which offers a unique experience, unlike anywhere in the world.
PREPARING FOR THE TRIP
My reason for traveling to Athens was the fact that I have always been mesmerized by Greece’s rich history, and Athens has always been on the top of my list. Therefore, I knew that if I wanted to see this place, now was the time, so I booked myself a plane ticket and went on my way. As it turns out, I was in luck, since I found a real bargain and traveled from Thessaloniki to Athens for only about 20$ with Ryanair.
My plan for this visit was to spend three days in the city so that I could see and visit as many places as I could. For that reason, I went on booking.com and booked myself a nice hotel called London for a price of 50$ per night. This hotel located in the region called Glyfada is a couple of kilometers away from Athens. It was either this or Exarchion Hotel. This hotel was a little cheaper, about 40$. However, wanting some peace and quiet, I finally decided to pick London, as I loved the neighboring area.
CLIMBING THE HILL OF ATHENS’S PRIDE AND JOY – THE ACROPOLIS
As soon as I stepped in Athens, it was time to start my adventures. The first thing that I was dying to see was Athens’s pride and joy, or the Acropolis. Located on a hill, the Acropolis is a true sight, regardless of which side you see it. As soon as I walked up the hill, I was immediately taken aback by the massive entrance that I had to pass through to get to the top. However, it was what awaited me beyond the entrance that took my breath away. There, standing front and center, was the embodiment of Greek art and history, the Parthenon. This massive structure is, even more, jaw-dropping in person. It’s so unique in its architecture that you can’t, but wonder how they were able to build such an extraordinary piece of art, with the technology of that time.
Another equally monumental building that I saw on my trip to the Acropolis was the Athena Nike, which is a magnificent temple, dedicated to Athena, the Goddess of war and wisdom. Erechtheion, another temple is yet another building with a one of a kind architecture. However, I was mostly interested in seeing the Theatre of Dionysus, since being a drama lover, it was an honor to gaze upon the structure that was said to have hosted the beginnings of drama as we know and love it today. If history and architecture isn’t your cup of tea, then the view from the top of the hill is definitely worth the climb.
TAKING A TRIP TO THE PAST
My second day was one that I was really waiting for since I finally got the chance to visit a place which is so ancient that it’s a miracle that so much of it is still standing. The place that I’m referring to is the ancient town of Mycenae. I was really surprised to see the remains of this place preserved so nicely. As I was walking through the winding paths, I felt as if I was transported to a time long past. Seeing the outer walls of halls, private rooms, it was amazing to witness how civilizations used to live, and how similar we are to them.
Another place which I really wanted to visit was the famous ancient theatre, which is said to be one of the best preserved ancient theatres still used even today. The thing that makes this theatre so amazing is the incredible acoustics. When I say incredible acoustics, it’s said that you can hear the actors’ whisper clearly even from the top row. If that isn’t amazing, then I don’t know what is.
EXPLORING ANOTHER KIND OF WONDER
Something that might not be as ancient as the previous places, but equally interesting is the Corinth Canal, which is a canal that connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. Stretching only 6,4km in length and 21,4m in width is only used for tourist transport since only small boats can pass through its narrow walls. I was really lucky to see a boat passing through.
VISITING THE GOD OF THE SEA
The two days so far had been amazing, so I was really looking for my final day. The first thing on my list was to go and see the temple of the God of the sea, Poseidon, located at Cape Sounion. Something that caught my attention about this temple was that unlike all the others, this had the most magnificent backdrop or the beautiful Aegean Sea. Located on a cliff overlooking the glistening waters of the deep blue sea, it was truly a magnificent sight. Just like all of the other structures I’ve seen so far, I was once again left breathless.
From there I went to a charming seaside restaurant and had some of the best seafood and a glass of Greek ouzo. The restaurant was called Elias Fish Restaurant, and the food together with the amazing view makes it a great place for a great lunch and a nice cup of coffee.
ESCAPING THE CONCRETE JUNGLE WITH A WALK TROUGH NATURE
From there I went on to see yet another temple and this was the Temple of the Olympian Zeus, with the remaining four columns still standing tall. This piece, just like every other structure I’ve seen is massive and amazing in its architecture. A true piece of art. The final building that I wanted to see was called Zappeion. This building was built in honor of Evangelos Zappas, who laid the basis of the modern Olympic Games. Therefore, it’s no surprise that this building is just as spectacular and massive as the rest.
Finally, all I wanted to do was sit down and relax, and as it turns out, I found the perfect place for that, just behind the Zappeion building. Not hoping to see anything like that, I accidentally stumbled across the National Gardens, which was the place I didn’t know I needed until I saw it. Having seen so much stone and rock, I was glad that I got the chance to have some peace and quiet in a place filled with greenery, wooden benches, and a small pond. It was a perfect place to unwind and collect my thoughts before my journey back.
Athens, thank you for exceeding my expectations!
