We arrived in Athens, Greece on May 7th, and were pleasantly surprised by our hotel. Having spent over a week in a problematic hotel in Beirut, the clean room in Athens felt like a luxury. While it cost $50, it was worth much more compared to our previous experiences.
The hotel owner seemed puzzled when we asked to see the room first. I almost explained that our last room was extremely below standards, so we had to check this one out just to be sure. Thankfully, this room was perfect, so we decided to keep it and explore the city.
On our first day, we walked to Monastiraki Square, a lively cobblestone area popular among both locals and tourists. Along the way, we explored a bustling outdoor market with vendors loudly promoting their goods. It felt great to be back in a place where free samples actually existed. Tired from our early flight, we went back to the hotel as the sun was setting, only to realize that we were staying in a somewhat questionable neighborhood. There were many prostitutes and intoxicated individuals around, but I found it to be fascinating people-watching while Dariece had some concerns. We slept incredibly well that night, likely due to the clean sheets, comfortable mattress, and the absence of disturbing noises.
The next morning, we enjoyed a delicious free breakfast at the hotel, including hard-boiled eggs, bread, cheese, Greek yogurt, orange juice, fruit, ham, and coffee. Feeling refreshed, we set out on a walking tour of Athens, following suggestions from our guidebook. Since it was Sunday, we witnessed the changing of the guards ceremony at the parliament buildings. We had missed this event in England, so it was a treat to see it here. However, one guard slipped on the marble ground, causing quite a scene. While most of the crowd gasped, Dariece and I couldn’t help but laugh.
The ceremony was interrupted by a group of school children whose teachers elbowed their way to the front, much to the annoyance of some tourists. We eventually departed the crowded area and continued our tour, passing impressive Roman ruins and finally reaching the Acropolis, with its crowning jewel, the Parthenon. Although beautiful, after seeing sites in Egypt and the Middle East, we were slightly underwhelmed.
After exploring the Acropolis, we returned to Monastiraki Square for a delicious Greek lunch, savoring warm pita with tzatziki, lamb skewers, and feta cheese drizzled with olive oil and oregano. The food in Greece is some of my favorite, perhaps due to my Greek heritage or my love for lamb.
Our last day in Athens was dedicated to errands. We attempted to mail items home and do laundry without success, but we managed to get new passport photos, buy groceries, and Dariece got a haircut. We also spent some time watching professional skateboarders perform tricks in the main square, capturing some amazing footage and photos.
The following day, we boarded a ferry to Santorini. The 8-hour journey was rocky, rainy, and cold until we discovered a warm indoor area with comfortable seating and outlets for our laptop. Settling in, we watched some Modern Family episodes as we cruised toward our first Greek island. Santorini, here we come!
