Exploring Athens
Updated: Aug 10
I started my journey in Athens, and I'm impressed by both the city and Greece. I had imagined it to be a more rundown, gritty place with honking horns, chaotic streets, and litter, but instead, I was pleasantly surprised by how modern and clean the city is. It's been hot, but not unbearable. Flying in to Athens, you see a city surrounded by rolling hills and valleys, making this a hikers paradise.
Visiting in August is manageable, though not ideal. Today, I managed to enjoy a full day of sightseeing despite the heat, walking everywhere. After sleeping through most of my first day, I felt refreshed this morning and walked from my hotel (The Modernist) to the Acropolis. I spent several hours exploring the Acropolis and climbed a nearby hill for a better view. I chose a digital audio tour, which was satisfactory, although I would have preferred an actual guide. I arrived at the Acropolis in the morning before the crowds gathered. I might not have had the patience for a guided tour in this heat, and the digital version allowed me to move quickly and find shade when needed.
Afterwards, I visited a few museums - numismatics, technology, and culture. All were fantastic, with the technology museum being my favorite and most interactive. One neat contraption was an water based alarm clock, concieved of by Plato. According to the museum guides, Plato believed that humans needed 7 hours of sleep, and any more was wasteful. I'd take issue with him if I lived during his day.
The food so far has been amazing, fresh, and healthy. In this hot weather, you can't go wrong with a traditional Greek salad.
Also, the first phase of my trip is coming together: tomorrow, day trip to Idra, 12th - travel to and explore Delphi, 13th - travel to and explore Meteora, 14th - travel to Mt Olympus and begin climb (or do so on the 15th). Around the 17th, visit Thessaloniki.
Off to find another dinner spot to rival the first one (Mpirmpilo), if I can. I feel some jet lagging starting to hit, so hoping to stay awake a few more hours before calling it a day (productive first day). Maybe I'll have some Greek wine on the rooftop as sunset approaches?
Fun fact -- Greeks, Romans, and many others of antiquity drank diluted wine. Only barbarians drank wine at full strength.
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