Athens and All of its Glory!

A June 2006 trip to Athens by Melanngw

Quote: I had 3 days in wonderful Athens, where the air was warm, the food delicious, and the soul of the city captures you.

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Athens and All of its Glory!

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Overview

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When you first see or enter Athens, it can be a bit underwhelming. No one has ever claimed that Athens is a beautiful city, but what it lacks in aesthetics it more than makes up for in history, food, and culture.

Athenians know how to live, and live life to its fullest, and this involves partying and staying out to the wee hours. In the Psiri district of Athens you will find any club, restaurant, art gallery, or bar to suite your taste.

The Plaka, the old town, is where you think of when you think of Athens. Old ancient ruins and churches scattered throughout the district, where the end of every street seems to give you a glimpse of the Parthenon, Athens most famous site. The Plaka may be considered one of the main tourists attractions but for good reason, it gives you sense of the bygone years in Athens which, for better or worst is almost all but gone now.

Athens is growing tremendously and doing its best to modernize. Part of this modernization was putting pedestrianized streets in, but since the Greeks love to break the rules, cars do tend to try and get through some of these streets including Monastiraki Square. Monastiraki is a great area for high street shopping and shoes galore! If your feet get tired out, take a load off at one of the outdoor cafes and do as the Greeks do, sip on the ubiquitous frappe.

Before reaching Monastiraki, you will come to Syntagma Square, (or Constitution Square.) This is home of the Greek parliament, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Changing of the Guard. The soldiers who guard the tomb still wear fustanella, a kilt like uniform and red clogs with pom poms.

Another neighborhood I explored was the posh Kolonaki which rests below Mount Lycabettus and where you will find a funicular that will take you up the mountain to see some of the greatest views of Athens. Near the square, there are numerous upscale shops and cafes, perfect for people watching or for the Athenians, to be seen.

Omonia Square was once a shady part of town, but thanks to Olympic beautification has been cleaned up. Here you will find the working class and the Central Market selling everything from meats to sunglasses.

Quick Tips:

While in Athens, of course you want to take in the Beautiful Parthenon, Acropolis, the ancient Agora, and such, but I also suggest just spending your days as the Athenians would. Now, I am not suggesting smoking a pack of cigarettes a day, but take your time to enjoy life and do not expect to go to bed before 2am. Athenians eat late and party until the early hours. They are lively people and love to talk about politics and discuss what is happening around the world that day, whilst sipping on a frappe of course.

Be sure to go to an ouzerie and try all the different mezzes they have to offer. Mezzes are Greek appetizers or the equivalent to Spanish tapas, washed down with Greek wine, it makes for a fulfilling meal. Though it is not for everyone, try Ouzo a Greek alcohol that is usually prepared over ice or with a splash of water. It makes for a nice aperitif. While eating out, try to go to a taverna or ouzerie that has traditional Greek music being played live.

If you have the time, a book I would like to suggest, Eurydice Street – A Place in Athens, by Sofka Zinovieff, is a great read and will give you a decent background on Greeks/Athenians culture and what to expect.

Best Way To Get Around:

I think the best way to get around Athens center is by foot, which is the way I discovered it. I did not use the public transportation but was told that the new underground subway that was built for the 2004 Olympics is clean and efficient. There are plenty of taxis in Athens, but catching one is the tricky part. A taxi driver will slow down and you must shout out your destination and if he is going your way, or feels like it, he will pick you up. Also beware that a taxi driver can and will pick up other people along the way, the fare will be calculated accordingly. If you are staying at a hotel in Athens it is best to book a taxi through them, they will tend not to rip you off that way as they do not want to tarnish their relationship with the hotel. This is the best way to and from the airport. As I mentioned a bit ago, the taxi driver will try to rip you off 4 out of 5 times, so beware and if you need help, do so at your hotel. Read Less

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Hilton Athens

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Hotel | "Athens Hilton"

Hilton Athens Photo - Hilton Athens, Athens, Greece

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The Hilton is located in the Embassy District which makes for easy walking to Kolonaki and further down the road to Syntagma and Monastiraki Squares and the Plaka. Right across the street is the National Gallery that has ever changing exhibits and a nice café to relax in. Across from the hotel you will also find The Runner, a statue made of layered green glass plates. And from a distance you can see the Parthenon in all of its glory—not to mention a fabulous view of all of Athens.The hotel has undergone a huge renovation for the Olympics and is beautiful and shiny new. There are four restaurants; three bars; outdoor freshwater pool; health club and spa with Jacuzzi, plus a game room. The Gal...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on June 26, 2006

Hilton Athens
46 Vassilissis Sofias Avenue
Athens, Greece 11528
+30 (210) 7281000

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Ouzadiko (To)

Restaurant | "To Ouzadiko"

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This ouzerie in the Lemos Building is always bustling. It is a popular place amongst the locals, so reservations are recommended, but not required. It closes at 11pm on Saturdays and midnight on weeknights and is closed the month of August. There are a ton mezzes and ouzo to choose from, there is so much choice that it is not a bad idea to ask for a suggestion or just ask for a different selection of mezzes. The atmosphere is one of genuine Greece, Athenians eating, drinking, and talking passionately and gives you a good sense of the people and food in Athens.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on June 26, 2006

Ouzadiko (To)
25-29 Karneadou Street, Kolonaki
Athens, Greece 106 75
+30 210 729 5484

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Cafe Styl

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Attraction | "Styl"

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Styl was a bar that we went to on a Friday night. It was just as its namesake says, stylish! Inside, the decor was tasteful and modern. Styl, like most other bars in Psiri during the warm months, has outdoor seating and that is where we had our drinks. I, being a big nerd that I am, believe, "When in Rome..." so I had an Ouzo over ice while everyone else tended to stick to a cool cosmopolitan or refreshing, chilled glass of white wine. It is a great location to people-watch, although the mopeds coming through constantly, was a bit annoying. The service was great and kept on top of our orders and continued to fill our table with snacks. A great place to start your all-nighter in the Psiri district!

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on June 27, 2006

Cafe Styl
1 Evagelistrias Str
Psiri, Athens, Greece