Layover life - Greece

Jodi-Ann
Jul 22, 2017
2 min read

My Big Fat Greek Wedding reenactment came true when I landed in Athens Greece last week - okay not completely true as I wasn't getting married, nor did I have the crazy Greek family to accompany me.

However, one of the things that was emphasized in the movie by the patriotic Greeks, is that everything at the end of the day has a Greek origin... and this seemed remotely true when I visited the ancient ruins, dating back to nearly 500 BC (it was too much for my brain to even fathom how old these buildings were). Myself and a few crew set off in the 37 degrees heat, and summited the top of Acropolis. It contains several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance. The most famous one visited was the Parthenon, a temple built for the goddess Athena (I suggest doing some research prior to your visit, it makes the entire experience a lot more fascinating and perhaps in cooler weather, as you melt in the heat). The Acropolis then becomes majestical at night, when the South Slopes are lit up with lights. A good seat for this view would be "A- for Athens" or "360 degrees" -outdoor rooftop restaurants with amazing ambiance.

On that note, how can one leave Greece without having Greek food - mandatory! The Greek cuisine is delicious and I definitely over indulged. They are big on both their grilled meats and seafood. A lovely area, known as 'Plaka', decorated with authentic Greek style houses, and cobble streets, is the home for many amazing Greek restuarants. It became an eating marathon when I tried famous dishes such as Moussaka (looks like lasgna), Souvlaki (kebabs) served with pita, tzatiki sauce and for dessert some Baklava (nutty, cinnamon, phyllo pastry).. hmmmm haha.

In the area are lovely souvenir shops, where I picked up my Greece magnet (I've started a collection from every country I go to) and a post card, which I always send home to my mom back in Cape Town... Okay, maybe I bought a few other things, like hats and sun glasses etc..(I've got a shopping problem)

Furthermore, it's really cheap to get around Greece with Uber. The Uber drivers are local and are awfully friendly, greeting you with a smile as they open doors for you and eagerly teaching you the Greek language. And no need to buy a tour, as many of the historical sights and restaurants in town are all within walking distance - just slip on some trainers... besides the exercise is much needed after all the yummy food ;)