We have now been travelling for 2 months! Time sure flies…
Athens is a city currently on the upswing. Never really a major tourist
destination on the European circuit, and having a bad reputation for things
like pollution and lack of pedestrian space, this city is now modernizing,
cleaning up, and trying to build on the success of the 2004 Olympics to
bring in more tourism. While the city is currently one of the more
expensive in Europe to visit, now is a good time to come, because I am
guessing that inside 5 years the tourists may be over-catered to here.
The city is a mix of new and old — very old. Many archaeological sites go
back to the 5th century BC, and are scattered throughout the city, as the
city has simply grown up around these locations. Our first exposure was
walking from the Sindagma (Centre) Square, and seeing the massive pillars
emerge from behind the city streets. Before we knew it we were looking at
the larger than life columns from the Temple of the Olympian Zeus.
We intentionally went and lost ourselves in the narrow roads of the Plaka
district, immersed in the Greek/European flavour of street shops and cafes.
Afterwards we saw the changing of the Greek guard, and the old Athens
Stadium.
Today we took a cable car up Likavitos Hill, which is fairly central and
provides an arial view over most of the city. This was one of the most
breathtaking views we have encountered on the trip so far. We were both so
surprised at the sheer size of the city! It isn’t that it is spread out so
much, but all you can see are white or tan apartment buildings all tightly
packed together! It is amazing!
Today we had an all day pass for the metro and public transit (€3), so we
also went out to see the Olympic Stadium from the 2004 Olympics. And when
we got there, we found the whole Olympic Park… closed. Apparently they
still need to learn how to cash in on the tourism industry, but for me it
looks like I will not get to see this area save for the fence closing me
out.