History, food, wine & islands. What more could you want from Greece?

We heard a lot of good things about Athens and the isles of Greece. We decided to spend a few days exploring Greece and this part of the world. I have to admit we were a little nervous. There had been demonstrations and a riot the previous year, and we really hadn’t done much international travel before. We decided to give it a try.

We flew from Rome, Italy, which is a short flight. Our cab driver from the airport to the hotel put us at ease. He told us about Athens and the sites that we were passing. He was accommodating and gave us a few tips on where to go and what to do.

Our hotel wasn’t the most luxurious place we’ve stayed in. It was clean and close to all of the sites. The staff at the hotel were delightful and helpful when we wanted directions or advice. Our room had a balcony where we could stand and see the Acropolis in the distance. The Parthenon was lighted and glowing that evening.

Exploring Greece

The following day we started our walk with a map in Rick Steve’s book on exploring Greece. If you don’t have one and plan to go, it’s a must-have addition to your trip. He explains what you’re seeing and helps you navigate through the streets. It’s an easy walk, and there are many shops and cafes along the way. You can grab a bite to eat or an espresso before taking your tour.

The Acropolis

We took our time walking the path and many steps, working our way to the Acropolis. By the way, Acropolis meant the upper city and was where the people who lived at the base and in the area could go in invasions. On the way to the entrance, we stopped and toured Herod Atticus’s theater, built around 161 AD. It is still used for performances, such as concerts and ballet (Photo 3). We took some time here for photographs and to rest a bit before continuing to the entrance.

At the entrance, you’ll find a smaller temple to Nike Athena, which commemorates the Athenians’ victory over the Persians. There’s a lot of restoration work. Pieces of the original buildings are numbered so they can be put back into the proper place later. Don’t let that stop you from visiting as you look beyond that and see the beauty of the structures and buildings that are standing even though incomplete.

The Parthenon

Pericles built the Parthenon and other buildings in the fifth century BC. My wife and I had been looking at all kinds of tour and photo books of Greece, but it’s never as beautiful or impressive as when you’re standing there. We were there in November, and it was still warm as we stood at the base of the Parthenon steps. You can walk all the way around the structure, and on one side, there’s a wall where you can stand and look over if you’re not afraid of heights. You can look straight down to the Acropolis base, and there’s a great view of the city. (photo 4)

The huge pillared structure was built as a temple to hold a giant statue of Athena. It took nine years to build the temple. In the late 1600s, the temple was used to store Turkish gunpowder and was blown up by a Venetian cannonball. People have been restoring it for decades. From what I’ve read, it’s an amazing piece of architecture, and people are amazed that a structure like this could have been built so long ago.

The Erechtheion

Once you’ve experienced the Parthenon, make sure you see the Erechtheion, which is where Poseidon and Athena had a contest over who would be the Patron of the city. Poseidon thrust his trident into the rock, and a spring burst forth. Athena touched the ground with a spear, and an olive tree grew. Athena was victorious, and the city was named after her.

You can spend hours here taking pictures of the buildings and relics and the surrounding countryside and the city of Athens. You can see many of the other sites from this vantage, including the temple of Zeus and the stadium where the Olympics were held so long ago.

Walk where Saint Paul spoke to the people of Athens.

On your way down the hill, there’s a huge rock at the base of the Acropolis. This is where Saint Paul spoke to the people of Athens in 51 Ad, and some of his words are on a tablet embedded in the stone. (Photo 2)

We then walked through the Agora below the rock and the Acropolis, where you can walk the ancient Athens streets. A museum houses found artifacts. Thission built in 449 BC is a smaller temple. The Agora has building foundations and statues dotting the landscape.

Take time to rest and enjoy the wine and food.

We did a lot of walking in the ancient ruins. Hungry and tired, we stopped at a little cafe along the street near the exit (Photo 1). There were many locals there, and we’ve found that usually if there are local people there, it will be a good place to eat. We had wonderful wine, food, and our first taste of ouzo, a classic Greek drink.

We wandered the streets, took a day cruise/tour of 4 Greek islands. We’re pleased that we decided to visit this amazing city and surrounding sites. If you like Greek food, drink, and mythology, you’ll love exploring Greece and this amazing part of the world.

Other great places to visit