Days 25 and 26 Athens
I’m putting these two days together as not much happened on the 25th Day, my first day in Athens. As I have 4 days here this first day is very much about relaxing and getting my bearings as well as finding a laundry to do some washing.
Where I’m staying in Koukaki it looks run down, old (some in very poor state of repair) buildings and graffiti on most walls but I found out later that this is a new and up and coming area; property is being zapped up here because it is so close to the Acropolis and the Plaka (1Km straight up Viekou St.). I felt I needed a bit more space than the confines of a hotel room so have a small apartment which has everything accept a washing machine - rats! It’s compact (wouldn’t like to swing a cat in the lounge - could be rather messy) but has a decent size kitchen and bedroom with a balcony across the lounge and bedroom. Unfortunately it only has air-con in the bedroom and if I open the balcony door the traffic noise is horrendous - buses, trucks and even a tractor (what’s a tractor doing in the middle of Athens - perhaps it got lost) rattled by, so no sitting out on the balcony!
So did a reccy of the area, sorted out that everything was up-hill (I hate hills) and I was soon to get sick of walking up Viekou St every time I went out. But found a great laundry and spent a happy hour or so talking to some New Zealander’s whilst my knickers and things had a wash and tumble.
Checked out what was on and bought some tickets for Vivaldi’s Nabucco Opera on at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (open air Greek Ampitheatre built around 160AD by Herodes in memory of his wife - ah bless him. Anyway, as this was on the list of ‘Top 10 things to do in Athens’ I had to get a ticket. Unfortunately on the booking site it doesn’t tell you that you have to print the ticket before you pay for it, so that presented me with another issue - how the hell do I print it. Long story short, found a hostel/ hotel up the road (yes you guessed, up Viekou St) and they agreed to print for me - happy days as also later had the same issue with my bus ticket to get to Patras - I’m beginning to love hostels for their flexibility and helpfulness, they also gave me a map so I could plan the next few days.
Dinner was fairly local, in a taverna on a square about 200mtrs up Viekou St.
Day 26
Nice to be able to make my own breakfast. Today is major sight seeing day - first stop the Acropolis Museum followed by a wander around the Acropolis. Amazing structure and its a real shame that through the centuaries people have had a go at dismantling it. We (the English) even had a hand in it’s destruction with Lord Elgin pinching great big chunks of it and shipping them back to the British Museum. Luckily the Greeks are now a little more conservation savvy and are repairing some of the damage. Definitely do the museum first as enable you to get a good perspective on the Acropolis once up there.
As expected the Acropolis was teeming with people (lots of Chinese with their cameras stopping at the most awkward times to take photos) but most tend to go up with the tour companies early in the morning so, even though it was baking hot (30 degrees) I was able to wander around comfortably but be prepared there is very little shade so lots of sunscreen is required.
Bought a multi-sight ticket which get you into other historical areas - Zeus Temple; Acient Agora; Roman Agora and Hadrian’s Library. These were to be left for another day as it was going to be a late night for me as the the Opera doesn’t start until 9.
Mid afternoon headed back to the apartment for a cool down with a cold shower and get ready for the evening. The Odeon was amazing and packed with nearly 5000 people. I can see why it starts late as the whole theatre and Acropolis is lit up by floodlights.
I was a little nervous about walking back to the apartment at 12.30 but there were still people walking around, it was only as I got to the lower end of the street that it was a little lonely, but there’s a police station up the street so should be safe.
Where I’m staying in Koukaki it looks run down, old (some in very poor state of repair) buildings and graffiti on most walls but I found out later that this is a new and up and coming area; property is being zapped up here because it is so close to the Acropolis and the Plaka (1Km straight up Viekou St.). I felt I needed a bit more space than the confines of a hotel room so have a small apartment which has everything accept a washing machine - rats! It’s compact (wouldn’t like to swing a cat in the lounge - could be rather messy) but has a decent size kitchen and bedroom with a balcony across the lounge and bedroom. Unfortunately it only has air-con in the bedroom and if I open the balcony door the traffic noise is horrendous - buses, trucks and even a tractor (what’s a tractor doing in the middle of Athens - perhaps it got lost) rattled by, so no sitting out on the balcony!
So did a reccy of the area, sorted out that everything was up-hill (I hate hills) and I was soon to get sick of walking up Viekou St every time I went out. But found a great laundry and spent a happy hour or so talking to some New Zealander’s whilst my knickers and things had a wash and tumble.
Checked out what was on and bought some tickets for Vivaldi’s Nabucco Opera on at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus (open air Greek Ampitheatre built around 160AD by Herodes in memory of his wife - ah bless him. Anyway, as this was on the list of ‘Top 10 things to do in Athens’ I had to get a ticket. Unfortunately on the booking site it doesn’t tell you that you have to print the ticket before you pay for it, so that presented me with another issue - how the hell do I print it. Long story short, found a hostel/ hotel up the road (yes you guessed, up Viekou St) and they agreed to print for me - happy days as also later had the same issue with my bus ticket to get to Patras - I’m beginning to love hostels for their flexibility and helpfulness, they also gave me a map so I could plan the next few days.
Dinner was fairly local, in a taverna on a square about 200mtrs up Viekou St.
Day 26
Nice to be able to make my own breakfast. Today is major sight seeing day - first stop the Acropolis Museum followed by a wander around the Acropolis. Amazing structure and its a real shame that through the centuaries people have had a go at dismantling it. We (the English) even had a hand in it’s destruction with Lord Elgin pinching great big chunks of it and shipping them back to the British Museum. Luckily the Greeks are now a little more conservation savvy and are repairing some of the damage. Definitely do the museum first as enable you to get a good perspective on the Acropolis once up there.
As expected the Acropolis was teeming with people (lots of Chinese with their cameras stopping at the most awkward times to take photos) but most tend to go up with the tour companies early in the morning so, even though it was baking hot (30 degrees) I was able to wander around comfortably but be prepared there is very little shade so lots of sunscreen is required.
Bought a multi-sight ticket which get you into other historical areas - Zeus Temple; Acient Agora; Roman Agora and Hadrian’s Library. These were to be left for another day as it was going to be a late night for me as the the Opera doesn’t start until 9.
Mid afternoon headed back to the apartment for a cool down with a cold shower and get ready for the evening. The Odeon was amazing and packed with nearly 5000 people. I can see why it starts late as the whole theatre and Acropolis is lit up by floodlights.
I was a little nervous about walking back to the apartment at 12.30 but there were still people walking around, it was only as I got to the lower end of the street that it was a little lonely, but there’s a police station up the street so should be safe.
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