Greece > Wandering through Athens

We’re finally starting to get over the time lag. Today, we sleep in. The day begins with a walk around the center of Athens. The sole of my right sneaker is coming off. There’s already a hole across the entire width of the shoe. Nobody believes they’re brand new. Hopefully they last through this vacation, but I have my doubts. From Omonia Square, we walk toward the Acropolis.

Greece - The overview of Athens

Along this road, the Athinas, there are various market halls full of butcher shops, fruit stalls, and more. Slowly, we wander past the stalls and streets until we get close to the Acropolis. It’s too hot to visit the Acropolis now. Tomorrow, on Sunday, a visit to the hill won’t cost 1,500 drachmas (about €16.50) but will be free. We buy some food at various shops—a few sandwiches, bananas, and a melon—then retreat to the park for a siesta. Around four o’clock, everyone has eaten, finished the newspaper, and written postcards. We set out again, full of energy, to tackle the 300-meter-high Lycabettus Hill. Through small paths, steps, and our own routes, we reach a road where the normal trail runs. After a long climb, we reach a small church at the top. From here, in all directions, you can see how enormous Athens really is. At this beautiful viewpoint, we plan to wait for darkness. Meanwhile, Ron reads from the guidebook about Athens while we can clearly see the relevant buildings from above. Inside and in front of the church, a real Greek baptism is taking place.

Greece - Panorama towards the Acropolis

We watch as the child is baptized amid a lot of fuss and trinkets. As the sun slowly begins to set, the hill becomes increasingly crowded. Many tourists climb the hill specifically to witness this spectacle. After sunset, we stop halfway up the hill to eat. Again, we are mistaken for Germans, which we quickly correct. On the terrace outside, it’s beautiful to see all the city lights gradually turning on. Of course, we also want to see this from the top. Sandra and Monique have a bit more trouble with this—not because of the hill, but because they repeatedly double over laughing at innocent words like “poop” and “pee.” Maybe it’s mostly the way the words are pronounced…? Even on the way to the top, they keep laughing for a long time, and we encourage it by repeating the words. Once we finally reach the top, we enjoy the stunning view. We decide to stay an extra night in Athens and then see if it’s possible to cross to Turkey via the islands. This also avoids the potential Greek train strike, which we’ve already heard so much about. Back at the hotel, Ron and I play cards and read the fresh copy of the Telegraaf, while Monique and Sandra have already gone to bed.