For the months leading up to our cruise, I assumed Athens would be my least favorite stop. I heard it was incredibly hot in the summer, as humid as Florida and extremely crowded. And although it was all of these things, it was ALSO:
BEAUTIFUL,
VIBRANT,
RICH IN HISTORY
and
FULL of KIND PEOPLE!
We heard there were many pick-pocketer in Athens, but we had the OPPOSITE experience! After paying for gelatos, Matthew accidentally walked away- leaving his water thermos on the counter. When the business owner realized this, he immediately left his business alone, yelling and chasing us down the busy street, trying to RETURN it!
Aside from using a cab (to get to the train station) then the train (to get to a few areas), we skipped all the recommended tours, guides and simply walked around the entire city. It was a long day (and Ruthie got terribly hot), but I wouldn’t have changed a thing!
We visited:
the small, colorful town of Anafiotika (don’t get your hopes up about seeing a lot of cats),
the Acropolis (students were FREE with an ID),
Partheno,
Plaka,
Monastiraki Flea Market
and Areopagus Hill (or “Mars Hill” where Paul preached, recorded in Acts 17).
Next stop… Santorini, Greece!
