Greece has it all - Athens
Greece has it all - Athens
Athens was the final destination on our Greece tour and we headed to Athens on the sixth day of the tour. After checking out from the hotel in the morning, we had to drive 350 km on the autobahn from Kalambaka to Athens. Under normal conditions, this would take no more than five hours. But on the calendar we have January, and the weather in the mountains is unpredictable. Leaving Kalambaka on a clear and sunny morning, as we approached the pass, the weather began to deteriorate. And then the sun was covered with heavy dark clouds, and the snow began to fall.
I would never have thought that in Greece there could be such a snowfall. The road was quickly covered with snow, traffic almost stopped. The bus moved very slowly, we stood more than we drove. After a while, they appeared on the autobahn
snowplows. It took about half an hour for the cars to clear the road, and we drove off again. At 13:30 we were already in Athens at the bus stop under the Acropolis.
In Athens, our guide Alexei met us at the parking lot, and the excursion to the Acropolis began. The entrance ticket costs 12 euros. Upstairs, except for our group, there was no one. A piercing cold wind and fine snow accompanied us on excursions. The cold weather did its job, and our group also went down very quickly. Already at the bottom, Alexei continued his story about the Acropolis. Now the Acropolis looks more like a construction site with high-rise cranes all around. Having taken a photo for memory against the backdrop of Athens and the Acropolis, we again get on the bus and continue our journey through the center of Athens. There was also a photo stop near the park and the new Olympic stadium.
Then we go to the hotel for the settlement. Our Mirabello Hotel is located in the city center next to Piazza Omonia in a quiet side street. The location of the hotel in the historical center of the city made it possible to explore it on your own. On this day, according to our program, the evening program "Greek Night" was offered, but it did not take place. The local taverns did not accept an order from such a small group of tourists.
Thus, we had a free evening, and we used it for fur shopping. After checking into the hotel, we were taken directly from the hotel to the fur salon by the car of the owner of the salon, and then from the salon they were also brought back to the hotel. Not everyone found their fur coat in this salon, but I found what I wanted. The price of fur coats started from 500 euros and up to several tens of thousands. There are no discounts in January yet, and they are given very reluctantly.
On the second day we have free time in Athens until 16:00. Part of the group gathered again and left for fur shopping, but I decided to dedicate this day to an independent walking tour of the historical center of Athens. My bus neighbor joins me, and after breakfast, after loading our things on the bus, we slowly begin to get acquainted with the center of Athens. The group meeting is scheduled for 16:00 in the hotel lobby.
In seven hours of free time, we walked a huge circle through the historical center from Omonia Square to the Acropolis, then from there through the Plaka district to the city park. After resting there, we went to the Parliament. There was just a changing of the guard. I enjoyed watching the whole attraction, taking a lot of pictures.
We also witnessed how several dozen people blocked traffic on the street next to the parliament. After shouting some calls into a megaphone for several minutes, they got on motorcycles and drove off. The police watched this action from the sidelines.
After the Parliament, we walked along the main avenue with a photo session near the University, the National Academy and the library.
During the walk, we went to the old churches, and cozy courtyards. In the courtyard of the Museum of Numismatics, we rested a bit, surrounded by interesting copies of famous sculptures.
On the Republic Square, I went to the metro station to see the ancient finds during the excavations during the construction of this station.
Our free time is coming to an end and we are heading to the hotel. When we passed a street cafe, we decided to have a cappuccino in front of the road. We went inside, took a large cup of cappuccino and a huge croissant with chocolate. They just sat on the chairs under the window, and on the street again a new attraction: policemen on motorcycles are chasing the militants. My companion at that moment took my photo, and this moment got into the picture. But this attraction will not surprise the Athenians. They don't even pay attention to these races.
After a rest, we again walk around the city, this time we are heading down from Omonia Square to the aviation school. From the bus window, I saw an interesting modern obelisk dedicated to the dead pilots. I captured this obelisk in the photo, and we go back, and here I saw the Arab ghetto. Women and children sat and lay right on the street on the sidewalk on some rags and boxes, next to dogs and cats. And I remembered the same picture in Paris. Perhaps this problem is typical for all European capitals.
Before boarding the bus, we were all allowed to visit their toilet at the hotel reception. This hotel is most likely the base for groups from Ukraine, and it had a very good attitude towards us.
Thus ended our free day in Athens. I completed my personal program for the external inspection of the historical center, now I can devote my next visit to visiting museums.
Today the weather improved and the sun shone all day. Athens in this weather was much more attractive than yesterday. And the day brought many good impressions.
Now our bus is heading back to Ukraine. See you soon Athens!
