Wandering Athens: A Day of Ruins and Restaurants
(37 Reviews)
100% Recommended
Gabrielle Estel
Cedar Rapids, IA
International Travel Leisure Specialist
I live to travel. I’ve invested over 4 years of my life living abroad.
I lived in Taiwan and explored Asia. Then, I moved to Egypt and explore the Mediterranean and the Sahara. From living with a host family in Spain as you...
I live to travel. I’ve invested over 4 years of my life living abroad.
I lived in Taiwan and explored Asia. Then, I moved to Egypt and explore the Mediterranean and the Sahara. From living with a host family in Spain as young teenager to honeymooning in Italy, travel has always marked my life milestones. Now I’m back in my Iowan home state to help others plan their own dream experiences across the globe. Travel is my life.
Let me share my life with you.
ARTS & CULTURE
My husband is my main travel buddy. He’s a history guy; I’m a literature girl. Between the both of us, we have to see every museum, temple, cathedral, statue --- you name it!
Over my years of travel, I’ve learned art and culture is more than the highlight real. It’s also exploring a local Greek market, listening to a Korean grandmother describe her love of fan-painting, trying homemade Italian dishes at a rooftop dinner party, having a quiet moment in a café watching uniformed King’s College students rush through Canterbury to their morning classes, bargaining for a brick of tea in China.
These little moments of life are art and culture.
FOOD & WINE
Food is the heart of a country. Food tours are journeys to the heart of a place---and the locals. Local food tour guides know every alley, and cooking instructors always welcome travelers into their family. They’re the best to ask for any last minute recommendations and to have a better understanding of culture through the kitchen. Sometimes the kitchen is the desert, like roasting chicken in Egyptian with a side of koshari. My personal favorite are moon cakes to celebrate Mid-Autumn festival and Scottish eggs in Bath.
Nothing is as engrained in a place as food. It an easy way to experience a place’s every day.
EXPLORATION & ADVENTURE
Let’s take the path less traveled.
That path might be a horse ride through the mountains, a dune buggy through the dunes, a hike up an along the spine of a mountain, a gondola ride above the jungle outside Hong Kong, or a peak at North Korea at the DMZ.
Whatever type of heart racing you’re looking for, I can find.
After a day of exploring the famous Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, I decided to save one day to wander Athens and stop whenever somewhere piqued my curiosity without any plan at all.
Wandering around the slopes of the Acropolis, I found myself in the historic district of Plaka, a charming neighborhood with narrow cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and countless tavernas. The aroma of Greek cuisine filled the air, enticing me to try souvlaki and savor the flavors of tzatziki and feta. No morning is complete without coffee, and I found a café that uses the 500-year-old Greek/Turkish technique of brewing coffee through heated sand.
Continuing my journey, I crossed the bustling Syntagma Square, where the Greek Parliament Building and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier added a touch of modernity to the ancient city. I couldn't resist watching the changing of the guards in their traditional attire, a mesmerizing display of precision and discipline.
I ventured into the Ancient Agora, once the heart of Athenian life, where Socrates and Plato had walked and debated. The Temple of Hephaestus, standing proudly amidst the ruins, was a testament to the city's enduring devotion to its deities.
My next stop was Hadrian's Library, an impressive structure that once housed countless scrolls and served as a center of learning in ancient Athens. The towering Corinthian columns and intricate facades of the library spoke of an era when knowledge and philosophy thrived. As an avid academic, I couldn't help but imagine scholars and philosophers discussing ideas that would shape the world for centuries to come. Then, I noticed a charming café nearby. It was the perfect spot to enjoy a light lunch and take in the views of the ancient library's grand façade from the shaded patio.
From Hadrian's Library, I continued my journey to the National Archaeological Museum, a treasure trove of ancient artifacts. I was captivated by the exquisite sculptures, intricate pottery, and priceless relics that offered a glimpse into the daily lives of the Greeks and their myths.
As the day drew to a close, I made my way to the Panathenaic Stadium, a breathtaking marvel made entirely of white marble. It was here that the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896, a perfect blend of ancient and contemporary history.
Finally, I made my way to the ERGON House Athens, one of Athens’s top Michelin-Award restaurants, for quality Mediterranean dishes using local, seasonal produce (and the only thing I had reserved in advance for our day of wandering). My husband and I shared a lamb roast and a truffle mushroom risotto. That risotto changed my life.
My walk through Athens was not merely a sightseeing tour; it was a profound journey through time. Each step I took, each historical site I visited, deepened my appreciation for the enduring legacy of this extraordinary city. Athens had not only preserved its history but had embraced it, ensuring that its past continued to inspire and shape its present. It was a day I would treasure forever, and I couldn't help but feel grateful to have experienced the magic of this ancient city.