With a mere day and a half off to see Athens, I’d say we powered through it pretty well. My full day off in Athens might even be one of my favorites on tour ever. The city is massive and amazing, yet somehow still feels walk-able and personal.
On our first night in a few friends and I went out to wander. Our little boutique hotel on the hill opposite the Parthenon was in an adorable and high-class area of Athens called Kolonaki. Walking down the hill, we could see the glorified Parthenon entirely lit in the dark night sky. Just a couple blocks down from our hotel were streets full of amazing boutiques and vintage shops; and little restaurants, bars, cafes, and bakeries. Kolonaki is an upscale neighborhood in Athens known for being a bit modern and hipster… think of Soho in New York City. The first place we ate became a favorite of the week, called “meat meat meat,” where ironically, I got a completely delicious meatless dish of grilled veggies and polenta cheese. We then found an adorable café for decaf coffee with baileys and a beautiful slice of carrot cake.
On our first night in a few friends and I went out to wander. Our little boutique hotel on the hill opposite the Parthenon was in an adorable and high-class area of Athens called Kolonaki. Walking down the hill, we could see the glorified Parthenon entirely lit in the dark night sky. Just a couple blocks down from our hotel were streets full of amazing boutiques and vintage shops; and little restaurants, bars, cafes, and bakeries. Kolonaki is an upscale neighborhood in Athens known for being a bit modern and hipster… think of Soho in New York City. The first place we ate became a favorite of the week, called “meat meat meat,” where ironically, I got a completely delicious meatless dish of grilled veggies and polenta cheese. We then found an adorable café for decaf coffee with baileys and a beautiful slice of carrot cake.
Kolonaki:
Acropolis and Parthenon:
The next day, a girl in our cast had planned a group tour of the Acropolis and Parthenon. Many of us started there, and ventured off to do our own things as the day went on. Walking up to the Acropolis, we passed a few random excavation sites in holes beneath the ground... just casually in the midst of busy city streets and sidewalks. We also passed a number of school groups headed to the Acropolis museum. I could not help but think how I went on class field trips to the NC museum of art, and the NC Museum of Life and Science. Both wonderful museums and great tributes to NC, but very little in those museums are studied in history books worldwide. Little in those museums pertains to the earliest ancient civilizations that everybody learns and reads about. These school kids get to walk the grounds of ancient Greece, go to the Acropolis museum, or the Byzantine Christian museum, or the Temple of Zues on their class trips, which is entirely amazing to me.
On our tour, we learned a bit about the ancient history of Acropolis hill, which is actually the large limestone rock ridge that rises 70 feet above the Attica plateau. Our hotel sat beneath another risen limestone ridge called Lycabettus, from which we could see across the city of Athens with a clear view of Acropolis (see photo above). It has served as an area for habitation and worship since the prehistoric area. Atop the Acropolis sits the Parthenon, the largest Greek Temple originally built to be the place of worship of the Goddess Athena, and has been in use for various purposes for thousands of years since it was built in the years 447 to 432 BCE. Being there in the off-season, the ancient structures were under construction for preservation, yet it was still magnificent to stand among it all.
On our tour, we learned a bit about the ancient history of Acropolis hill, which is actually the large limestone rock ridge that rises 70 feet above the Attica plateau. Our hotel sat beneath another risen limestone ridge called Lycabettus, from which we could see across the city of Athens with a clear view of Acropolis (see photo above). It has served as an area for habitation and worship since the prehistoric area. Atop the Acropolis sits the Parthenon, the largest Greek Temple originally built to be the place of worship of the Goddess Athena, and has been in use for various purposes for thousands of years since it was built in the years 447 to 432 BCE. Being there in the off-season, the ancient structures were under construction for preservation, yet it was still magnificent to stand among it all.
Theatre of Dyonisis:
The first recorded public theatre in the history of civilization: I learned about this theatre and read several of the Greek plays performed here. I learned about the mutual impact of theatre, government, and cultural change that all began here. I’ve always been interested in theatre, always loved seeing plays and musicals, and currently work in a job that wouldn’t exist if theatre had never become an industry. Being a performer, the experience of sitting in the actual seats (or at least, what is left of them) of the Theatre of Dionysis was truly incredible. We had a ton of fun re-enacting ancient life on the ground where it all began...
Panathenaic Stadium:
The Panathenaic Stadium was yet another personally meaningful place to see, as the Olympics are really what drew me to skate in the first place. During ancient times, the stadium that stood on these grounds hosted the athletic portion of the Panathenaic Games. Later restored and rebuilt, the stadium that stands today hosted the very first modern Olympic Games in 1896. I have always loved the passion that goes into the efforts and competition that takes place at both the winter and summer Olympic games, and have always been profoundly fascinated by the peacefulness in which so many countries (even those in political conflict with one another) come together for such an event. To stand on the grounds on which this concept was born and first played out was amazing. A little museum beneath the stadium seats plays great tribute to all Olympic Games since the entity began. We had even more fun re-enacting the ancient Games here...
Our journey then took us around the center of the city (the area called Syntagma, where the main government buildings are), to a few more ruins of temples, through the National Gardens, and on a tram towards the coastline.
Temple of Zues:
National Gardens:
Coastal Tram, Lake Vouliagmeni Mineral Hot Spring, and Dinner along the Coast:
Not having the time to take a trip to Santorini or any of the Greek Islands, I at least wanted to see some of the coast of Greece. Fortunately, the 2004 Olympics in Athens prompted the city to create a coastal tram that follows from the main port in Athens about ¾ of the way down the western coast. Two friends and I decided to make it slightly past the last tram stop to Lake Vouliagmeni, a natural hot spring spa. Word on the interweb told us that a spa had built up around this natural hot spring lake, which is open for swimming and is home to those tiny fish that eat the bad bacteria off of your feet. Being figure skaters with pretty gross feet, we simply had to go and experience these fish for ourselves. The trip down the coastline was beautiful and well worth two euros, and as for the fish… well, they definitely made us squeal!
Syntagma in the Evening:
Byzantine Christian Museum:
The vast amount of incredible museums that exist in Athens can be overwhelming, but on my one morning off during the show week, I decided to walk to the Byzantine Christian Museum. One of my favorite parts about being in Athens was simply being on the land at which so many critical events happened in Christianity, and the Byzantine Christian Museum shows an amazing display of all things pertinent to the history of Christianity. I absolutely loved it.
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