Long on everyone’s travel list, Greece. I’ve attempted to stop here before.. but logistics and flights where always unfavorable. This year… it was time.
After 6 months of world travel, including a loop thru East Africa… it is time for a rest. Time for a little luxury and an easy adventure!!
So, Greece is it… Aristotle, Alexander the Great, Socrates, Plato, Homer …. The volume of genius ancient Greece produced is astonishing.
As my normal; I only book my first hotel. 3 nights in Athens. So, I’ll be working onward travel in Greece straight-away.. There is so much to see; I decide to limit this visit to three destinations; Athens, Mykonos, and Santorini. The ‘tourist loop’.
It’s summer in Europe.. and that means peak season for Greece. Pre-EU,, Greece was a cheap holiday. Those days are long gone. Greece is now a major tourist destination, and extremely expensive in summer,,, also packed with tourists.
Athens first: on arrival, my pre-arranged transfer fails to show. Oh well, no big deal.. this is Europe.. with a thousand Taxi’s just outside the airport.. $50Euro to downtown… OK, this is back to high-inflation pricing. … that’s the going price!
I’ve arranged a hotel just near the historic old-district of Athens. Plaka district. A fantastic plan!!! It’s perfect to walk; packed with restaurants, interesting architecture and entertaining markets. I spend a ton of my time in Athen’s walking and walking. I circle the Acropolis at-least 3-4 times during my visit. It’s a tourist magnet!!! I love the place. The food is crazy great !!! The history, ancient ruins, wow,, this is cool.
The Acropolis is a high-mountain plateau that towers over the city. You can see the Parthenon at its peak from almost anywhere in Athens. After finding my hotel, relaxing with a breakfast café on the streets… I start exploring. Its random at-first… Left/right … it doesn’t seem to matter, there is something interesting everywhere.
My flight from Africa was an exhausting .. a red-eye.. so after a few hours on early morning streets,,, its time to crash … pushing too-hard is a bad plan with the way I travel!!
So, the next morning.. I’ve got a plan…… head for the Parthenon. I had walked outside the entrance last night.. just 15 minutes from my hotel… But, when I arrive this morning,,, at-least 1000 people are in the queue…WTF?? There were 5 people last night!! Timing, timing,,, everything in life is timing.
So, I adjust the plan. Walk the streets, find different Athens ruins to explore. I find my way to Acropolis Hill.. a Hilltop with fantastic views .... getting a perspective on Athens. Then – I head to the Acropolis Museum. No pre-arranged ticket.. (risky!!)… I wait in a queue. But I’m just early enough to get in. Pheww.. When I leave the museum,,, hundreds are in the queue. Lesson: if its summer …. plan, plan plan ahead in Athens.
The Acropolis Museum was outstanding. One of the finest museums I’ve ever visited. Including a Magnificat bust of Alexander the Great,,,,and my favorite Greek art-form ‘Caryatids’ … Stone sculptures of women, carrying heavy burdens.
Most-cases, Caryatids are pillars. The museum has some original masterpiece Caryatids… from the Temple of Athena.. (upon the Acropolis) ,,, just next to the Parthenon.
It’s the peak of summer; a hot summer day!! but there is too much to see!!! I push onto the Temple of Hephaestus, Hadrian’s Arch and Library. I dig this old archaeology!!
Time to rest-up.. I spend a few hours back at my hotel. Regrouping..
Back to see the Parthenon around 6pm.... It’s late now, avoiding the queue.
This time around: I’ve pre-purchased my ticket.. I’m in; just a 2 minute wait. And the sun is setting, what great timing!! – Yeah, visiting the Acropolis in the evening is definitely the better plan.
And WOW, it’s the real deal. The columns of the Parthenon are the tallest, largest I’ve seen anywhere in the world! Scaffolding still surrounds much of the Parthenon; inside and out… Wonder how long restoration work will continue .. ? or if I’ll ever be permitted to walk inside ? But for now, the tourists just circle the masterpiece…and also the Temple of Athena.. and several additional structures on the Acropolis …A privilege, and a bucket-list experience. Check.
Relaxing into the Athens city vibe makes this visit worthy. Athens might be the coolest place in Europe now. No homeless on the streets, no hawkers, no tents, no fear of pick-pocketing... I’m totally amazed by this place!!!
Exploring more of Greece: It’s time to island hop … I book last second Ferry transfers…and hotels in Mykonos and Santorini. The two most famous, ‘romantic’ Greek isles.
The Ferry rides were all very comfortable. The seats outstanding.. I just book economy, and it was fine. But no-matter what ticket you book,,,boarding and disembarking from the Ferry’s is a chaotic event. I’m a cow…in a herd!!!
I have stored my dive-gear back in Athens.. so have only one small piece of luggage and my backpack!!!! Definitely the right plan. In-theory;;; It is possible to bring large luggage on the Ferry,,,but you’ll be sorry. Just take the minimum you need !!!
4 nights in Mykonos. I rent a motor Scooter straight off…and head into Old-town Mykonos. It is crazy beautiful !! Whitewashed buildings, narrow alleys filled with shops and café’s. I find a parking spot for my scooter outside of town,,,,make my way to the famous Windmills for photos.
Mykonos is a world famous destination… and its summer in Greece; so that means thousands of tourists. I count 5 cruise ships and countless Ferries, and a busy airport..
From what I notice; Italians and Americans are the most common tourist on these famous islands.. But it seems almost every country of the world is represented…
Yes,,, Mykonos is packed with visitors. It’s a small island and feels more crowded than Athens ☹ not cool. But wow, its views and vibe are amazing.
I loved the scooter plan. The roads are traffic jams of autos.. I just slip around them. Driving the island, to remote locations without the tourists. The coastline beauty is insane!! The Aegean Sea, rocky islands, whitewashed building with blue trim… This is as picturesque as it gets!!
I’ve arrange one day of scuba diving here. Finding my way to a bay not far from my hotel,,,,,,I’m back in the Ocean. The viz was excellent,, but the marine life very modest. Some fun small flounder, an Octopus, one Nudibranch.. but not much else. The water was surprisingly cold…. 21C - I had a 5m and a second layer to stay warm. All rental gear. … and just my GoPro. Still,,, I’m diving the Mediterranean and another country. .. Cool.
Pushing onto famous Santorini next, another 4 night stop..… Another Ferry. Again my hotel transfer doesn’t show.. This is the 3ed on in Greece. I’m jinx’ed here on hotel transfers. Oh well, fighting for a taxi.. I make it to another hotel…..no-matter.
Santorini, and maybe all the Greek islands geography seem similar.. Rocks, Rocks, Rocks. But Santorini is gigantically tall. The Ferry port is at the base of sheer cliffs… straight up. The Santorini main town of Fira sits at the top of the island plateau. Overlooking Magnificat cliffs….
Dinner, looking out over the cliffs at sunset .. in Fira is epic. Everyone is gathered on the sidewalks or in the restaurants to watch… it’s a sight as beautiful as anywhere on the planet.
Time flew by in Santorini,,, Get ready to travel again.. Another ferry and back to Athens.
Spending another few nights in Athens. Eating, eating, eating!!! I think I’m gaining weight in Greece !!
I track down a backpack patch, my souvenir from Greece … time to fly.
I don’t get to explore the interior of Greece.. Or get to Delphi. That must wait for another visit..
Onward.
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