For the month of March, I decided to take a trip to Athens, Greece. I wanted to actually spend my birthday week there, but something called Greek Orthodox Easter happens on 2 May. You silly religious people, there is no god. Oh well. Greece, the birthplace of homosexuality, and some other stuff, I’m told. Greece is a large country with a diverse landscape. The islands will be calling my name once summer begins, but for March, I want to soak up the amazing history Athens has to offer.
The airport in Athens is east to navigate and in no time I was waiting for the metro to take me downtown. To get to my hotel it was about an hour ride, but it didn’t feel that long at all. The metro was easy to understand and I even switched lines with no problems. My hotel was the Athens Key Hotel and it was a pure delight. Checking in the staff were incredibly friendly and provided me with a free upgrade to an Executive Suite. The rooftop garden had a restaurant and bar that provided delicious food and attentive staff. The view of the Parthenon though is what it’s all about. I do have to say I was very uneasy about the amount of graffiti in the city. You would think spray paint was one of the many inventions of the Greeks. The city wasn’t dirty, but the amount of graffiti did make me clutch my purse a little tighter than usual. My hotel was an easy walk anywhere in the Athens City center, which was perfect for my first time there. I walked around the city, enjoying the food, the sights, the markets. Ruins were abundant, and so much history, it was a perfect place for me. The first night I headed to a restaurant and bar called the Rooster. The place is open all day long and the bartenders know what they’re doing. The espresso martinis were outstanding and addictive. My two bartenders were Aris and Antonio and they were adorable and sweet. Although the free shots were greatly appreciated, tequila and kiwi juice isn’t really my go-to beverage of choice. The Dj, Nicky or “The Queen” as Aris called him, played some amazing tunes all night. I knew it was going to be a good night because when I walked up to the place, Spice Girls “Who do you think you are” was blasting out. Around midnight I asked the guys where I should head to next, they told me to start at Shamone club then make my way over to Sodade 2. I did that. At Shamone I met Dave (English) and Alex (German) both on Holiday. Another patron, Kamil (Polish) celebrating his birthday went with us to the dance club. It was an awesome night, and when I walked in the hotel at 6am, the concierge gave me a warm and all knowing smile and told me breakfast was being served on the rooftop.
Saturday started with me walking into my hotel room and taking a nice cold shower to wake me up for the day ahead. I grabbed a double espresso a bit of chocolate and headed out. My first stop was the National Archeological Museum just a few blocks from my hotel. This museum houses one of my favorite pieces, the Zeus or Peseidon statue. I’ve always loved this piece since my first Art History class. I maintain it must be Zeus because the angle his hands are in would fit a lightning bolt perfectly, but a trident would just look weird. Anyway, this museum has a number of beautiful pieces dating back ages. If you are ever in Athens, make this a must-see on your list. Souvlaki and Moussaka are both delicious. I definitely ate more than I should on this trip, but it was totally worth it. The wait staff were so charming and friendly, I got free desserts, free drinks and when I did pay, I never paid more than 15 euros for a full meal, usually I paid only 5-6 euros total. I went to a few open markets looking for any goodies I may want. I never did find anything that made me have to have it, but I hot some treats for my colleagues back at the office and a pin for my mom’s Terrible Towel. The ruins of Hadrian’s Library, The Prison of Socrates, Hadrian’s Gate, Kotzia Square….you really can’t walk more than a few blocks to see historical sites.
The Acropolis of Athens! So, Acropolis translates to Highest Point and City, which makes sense. It’s intimidating as all get out. You look at it and wonder how the hell am I going to get up there? Then you realize there is no way the Chipmunks and Chipettes went from an open air market to the top of the Acropolis all while their song started. (P.S. Watch the Chipmunk Adventure to understand that!) I wanted to recreate the Boys/Girls of Rock & Roll number, but my resources were limited. If you go, I highly suggest getting tickets for first thing in the morning. 8am is when it opens and it’s the best way to get a lot of photos with few to no tourists in the background. The sights are magnificent, and to think this was civilization thousands of years ago. It’s humbling.
Overall, Athens is a gorgeous city filled with eons of history, an abundance of culture and a palate of spices that will rival any gourmand’s known palate. The people are friendly and hospitable, Athens is not to be missed!
Kevin Nicholas Gavit 