My last blog was about Rome. One of the great civilizations to this day. 

Soon to be visiting Rome and then Greece are my concierge Dr. John Norris and his wife Kathryn, together with their two youngest children Katie and Kiki. A great family trip. 

I share my recollections of Greece’s capital city Athens today.

Appears more than one set of friends are traveling. Buffalo’s Fran and Tom Dixon. Their plane from JFK will land today in Barcelona, Spain, the beginning of a several day cruise.

Lets visit Athens first. A stop the Norris family will make.

Any visit to Greece begins with Athens. The capital and largest city of Greece.

Let me begin with the Greek people. Whether Athens itself or one of the thousands of Greek isles, Greeks are ultra friendly. A contrast from Italians.

Athens is the leading city of ancient Greece. The birthplace of Western Civilization. A city like no other. I visited many Greek islands in addition to Athens. Greece my favorite place!

A step back in time. Reflected in places to visit in Athens. I mention only a few. So many. A walker’s paradise. Sore feet at the end of each day. However, well worth it!

Again I will mention only a few. Your feet will discover many.

Athens is filled with ancient wonders and incredible food at every corner. The City filled to the brim with history.

An Athens trip begins with Acropolis and the Parthenon. A day time and night time favorite.

Acropolis is a huge rocky hill in the center of Athens. Referred to as “high city.” On the top of Acropolis sits ancient Greece itself. The Parthenon. Structures constructed in the Fifth Century BCE. Dedicated to the Goddess Athena. Athena the Virgin.

Parthenon is mystical, monumental, impulsive, and unquestionably reflective of the Greece of yesteryear. The key, main thrust, of any Athenian visit.

From one’s first step, there is no question you are walking in history. Extremely ancient history. Buildings and temples galore. Some remain in disrepair. Others in the repair process. The remaining repaired.

A major negative to visiting Acropolis and the Parthenon. The walk up the hill a killer! I foolishly walked. Could have rented a cab or took a bus. I wanted t do it in what I considered the right way. Like an ancient Greek. I was lucky I did not join any of them before reaching the top.

I was fortunate to have survived. I had to stop and rest five times. This was some 18-20 years ago.

Worth the trip! 

Half way up the hill is a museum dedicated to the Parthenon. Many Parthenon artifacts on display. For another day however, if you wish to survive.

Plaka my second favorite place. Partially surrounds Acropolis. One side top shelf restaurants. The other ordinary restaurants, bands, dancing and everything pure unadulterated Greek. My favorite place. I spent my evenings in Plaka the cheap side. Inexpensive food. Everything casual. Dancing out of sight! I learned to dance Greek style. With women and men separately.

The best part of it all is that Parthenon sits between the expensive and cheap Plaka. Lit by bright lights at night. Sitting and looking up at such glory a special treat. 

Walking through Plaka by day had its special treats also. Greeks aways digging. Digging to discover and uncover the Greece of thousands of years ago. Room by room, wall by wall. All beneath the ground level from which you will be watching.

Greeks are a vocal people. Always protesting. Generally surrounding the capital building. A wide expanse of concrete. I used to walk by day on occasion among them. Totally unaware of what they were screaming about. Enjoying the activity, however.

I recommend a visit to Hadrian’s Museum. Only visible from the outside. A structure as old as the Parthenon, though constructed on a street in Athens and not up the rocky hill.

There is so much more to Athens. My advice is you walk and discover. Sit when tired. Enjoy the Greek food while  doing so.

Tomorrow some of the Greek isles. Mykonos, Santorini and Amorgos. Each different from Athens.

I assume the Dixons have landed in Barcelona by this time. They will be sailing on the Viking cruise ship the Sea.

They told me they were most anxious to visit the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. I have never been to Spain. What I write re Barcelona is what the Dixons shared with me and I have researched.

The Sagrada Familia is a world renown Catholic Basilica in Barcelona. It is crowned by a nearly completed central statue of Jesus Christ. Already Sagrada is acknowledged as the tallest Church in the world.

So much for today.

Enjoy your day my friends!