Third stop in Greece: Athens!
Why do people say you only need 1-2 days here?? No way. There is SO much to explore, especially if you consider day trips to beaches and other sites. Fortunately we didn’t listen to that advice and spent 4 days there, but surely could’ve added a few more.
Some highlights:
• We stayed in a terrific neighborhood near the Central Market at the family-friendly boutique hotel @thepinnacle.athens – many pedestrian-only streets to wander, excellent restaurant options.
• a guided city walking tour (that includes Acropolis skip-the-line tickets) helps to understand everything you’re seeing (and to imagine what it used to look like in its heyday). Mornings are the busiest at the Acropolis so some choose to visit in the late afternoon/evening for sunset. Regardless, it’s a manageable yet steep walk to the top but once you’re up there, even with the endless renovations, it’s simply incredible.
• We loved our #AirbnbExperiences food tour with the top-rated Julia and family. In our small group experience Julia shared her passion for Greek foods and cooking. Some favorites were ‘bougatsa’ (egg-free custard pastry with cinnamon and powdered sugar) and Greek coffee at Crème Royale; @fotsi.spices teas and spice blends; tasting our way through the Central Market the week before Easter; and learning how to make proper tzatziki from scratch. We ended with a delicious lunch feast at a special spot with Acropolis views.
• Thanks to Nana’s babysitting, Dave and I took a daytrip to the Cape Sounion peninsula and watched the sunset from the stunning Temple of Poseidon. Apparently this spot is the second-best sunset in Greece, after Santorini.
We’d definitely return to Athens. April was a nice month to visit before the intense summer heat and crowds.
This first trip in Greece was wonderful but also bittersweet, as my parents had always planned to visit Greece together in retirement. Dad would have loved touring the antiquities and visiting way more museums with Dave while Mom, Jacob, and I went shopping. As we make new memories on multi-generational trips with Nana, we continue to deeply feel his absence. ❤️
