Hello from Greece! Our trip was lovely and was such a nice trip away from Napoli. We got super cheap flights direct from Napoli to Athens for only about $100 pp so we took advantage for Memorial Day weekend and our four-day break.
I learned, among many other new and surprising revelations about Greek culture, that while Greece lies on the Mediterranean Sea just like Italy and would appear to be similar in culture given their shared histories, that the two countries are worlds apart culturally. This sounds sort of obvious now, but I distinctly remember while landing in Athens that I felt very unimpressed - a "this doesn't look any different from home, so it's not going to be different" mentality. I could not have been more wrong! I was blown away the entire time we were in Greece, in all different locations, regarding just how friendly, welcoming, respectful, and fun-loving the Greeks are. I have rarely ever met a nicer group of people!
I'm already looking forward to going back. I highly recommend you visit as soon as you can!
Approaching Athens, this appears to be the port area of Piraeus where we later visited, I think.
The guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Syntagma Square by Parliament in the center of Athens. Every hour on the hour the guards change, and they continuously march here 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Syntagma Square is the main public square in Athens, surrounded by the Plaka District on one side, the National Garden and the Presidential Palace and Parliament on the other.
I love the guards pom-pom shoes! They do this really neat march where there's a lot of tap-dance style shoe-stomping and leg movement. Very dance-like and purely historical.
The pleated "skirts" the guards wear are rumored to have 400 pleats - one pleat for every miserable year Greece was ruled by Turkey!
My husband standing military-style next to one of the cute Greek guards.
First meal in Athens at a wonderful restaurant on the edge of the Plaka district. This is sauteed and baked eggplant with tomatoes, zucchini, and potatoes with Greek spices. Delicious!
D's first kebab with tzatziki!
Wandering around the Plaka by our hotel.
Greek ruins by the ancient bath-house in the Plaka.
Drama - "talk to the hand!"
Monastiraki Square, just outside our hotel. Every day this square hosts large flea markets and art stalls. The Acropolis is just behind it.
The ancient agora at the foot of Acropolis hill. This long, pillared building was re-built using the stone foundations and ruins of the ancient agora built on this site during the time of the Parthenon. It has been built to historical accuracy and is quite long, with open market stalls and stone columns and seating areas just like what would have been seen during the time of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle (who were all said to frequent this very place). As a fun tidbit, the word "agoraphobia" - the fear of public spaces - is derived from this word.
Looking down to the Plaka.
Good morning! Time for our cruise!
A lovely morning in the port of Piraeus!
On our boat ready to take off!
Open water and sunbathing time.
We passed dozens of tiny islands on our way to our first stop on the island of Hydra, about three hours boat ride from Athens. This geography is what the real Greece looks like!
Approaching Hydra
Hydra is a tiny island and cars are almost nonexistent (only necessary government-owned vehicles and two shipping trucks are allowed to transport groceries). All transportation here is done by bicycle or donkey! Here are the donkeys lined up, ready to take tourists for rides!
The hillsides of Hydra - one of the most beautiful places I've ever been!
Stray cats and dogs are EVERYWHERE in Greece! It's just like what you see in the movies or on travel shows - pretty Mediterranean cats sunning themselves on whitewashed steps with blue Greek doors and windows and potted plants. For the most part they're all healthy and chubby and communally cared for. This one grabbed a spot of shade under a shop awning for a little bit to beat the heat!
Hydra has an old fort on one side of the island with cannons (not very functional now, but was a great help to the islanders back in the day!). It's also worth noting that every island in Greece has a different accent!
LOOK! ASSES!!! HAHAH!!
Uh oh, the little calico on the left sees me!
Yep! She found me! She wormed her way over my purse and onto my lap, where she proceeded to boom-purr and make biscuits on my lap. She almost ripped my dress! :)
Wandering aimlessly up a side-street on Hydra.
Sorry to leave you, Hydra. Next island! Taking refuge in the shade on the boat.
Love this island - highly recommend you visit!
On our way to Poros next.
Port of Poros Island
Fresh seafood waiting to be cooked for lunch!
Poros is larger and has cars, but is still nice and very laid-back.
Approaching our last island, Aegina.
Aegina is the largest of the three islands we visited, and is home to ancient Greek ruins at the Temple of Aphaia.
Looking towards the coast while on Aegina.
This shot was totally unintentional, but D did a great job!
While on Aegina we visited the Agios Nektarios, a church built to worship St. Nektarios.
Greek Orthodox Church (I should have covered my hair, too).
Several million pilgrims come here every year to pray to St. Nektarios.
Aegina is also very well-known throughout the Mediterranean as being one of the largest pistachio producers. There are hundreds of acres of pistachio groves and I managed to capture a shot of some immature nuts on a tree as we sat at a red light!
Greek dancers on the ship.
I had a super fun dancing lesson with a very cute "good Greek boy" on the boat... HAHA!
Street art back in Athens. As a city currently undergoing a lot of change and turmoil (i.e., protests and riots happened recently due to unfair austerity measures imposed by the government of Greece via the EU), there is a lot of street art related to social upheaval.
The door of a small Greek Orthodox church in Athens by our hotel.
Sleeping stray dog by a shopping center.
Dinner out in Athens in the Plaka!
D's kebabs (again)...
My squid-ink risotto.
For dessert - Greek yogurt with cherry preserves, and Greek yogurt with honey and preserved orange peel. IT. WAS. AMAZING.
OBEY!
I'm pretty sure this is either Banksy or very reminiscent of him, especially the staircase to nowhere!
Creeeeeepy.
I still think this is awesome. :)
Steps leading up towards one entrance to the Acropolis.
Climbing up the Acropolis.
Nicest views in the city and SO MUCH COOLER at the top! Nice sea breeze!
Hello, Parthenon!
We found an Acropokitty! A very nice tourist next to us took the top off his water bottle and poured her a little cupful. What a sweet little gattino!
Later in the afternoon we walked over to the National Museum, then found this Egyptian restaurant. D ordered kofta, which are made of lamb and ground spices and buckwheat, skewered and grilled. The tzatziki was amazing!
One of the best meals I have ever had - turmeric and coriander-spiced chicken breasts, grilled, with salad on the side and excellent Greek tomatoes. Thank you, Alexandria Egyptian restaurant!
The National Museum
Street art while walking through the Plaka.
I really like this artist's style!
Metro stop at Syntagma Square.
Outside the metro at Syntagma Square.
We took a walk through the National Gardens on our last day. Several acres of gardens with fountains, mazes, playgrounds for the kids, a small zoo, and pretty groves of trees to walk under.
Beautiful cypress tree.
In the zoo at the National Gardens there were these fantastic goats with their enormous horns - loved it! Even the females have horns!
Very proud of his new Blackhawks hat - GO BLACKHAWKS!
Tallest point in Athens.
Between the Plaka and the edge of the National Gardens.
By our hotel.
Ancient bathhouse.
Last morning in Athens, D had to get souvlaki!
Heading back to the airport. How sad to leave!
Goodbye Athens - you are lovely and we are so thankful to have visited you! xox!
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