In all my travel, I’ve learned that some of my favorite cities contain both historic, natural, and modern day elements. In Athens, for example, there are fun restaurants and shopping, but from just about anywhere in the city, you can look up and see the Acropolis. I love that! I love walking strolling down a street and being able to look up and see something that has stood the test of time. Many future blog posts will be dedicated to my favorite cities, but we’ll focus on Athens for today. I’ve been lucky enough to travel to Athens multiple times, so I’ve had the opportunity to do the tourist thing, as well as wonder around without much of a plan to see what I could find.
One of the greatest things about Athens is that it’s so walkable. On first glance, it is a big city with so much to see, but most things are centrally located and not that far away from each other. Also, major landmarks like the Acropolis are elevated so all you have to do is look up to find your way. There are lots of little alleyways and paths leading to major landmarks, so you can take different ways and maybe find cool street art or a fun shop.
The food. Yall…the food. Greek food is amazing. You can go family style at most local restaurants and try a bunch of things. There is fried zucchini everywhere and they do magic things with feta cheese. I never got tired of eating the local food. There are so many outdoor areas to eat with a view of the Acropolis. My favorite included live music. When they started the one traditional tune that everyone knows…everyone in the place lit up…it was so fun.
My favorite place in Athens is Mars Hill. It is a small rock face just below the Acropolis that allows you to see the whole city. Paul also hung out there which is pretty overwhelming to think about. You can read about it in Acts 17.
If you only have a few hours or a few days, Athens is a great stop. Don’t pass by the local food or you’ll be sorry. You are guaranteed to find the perfect leather sandals as well. Win. Win. Win.
Wander Susan Wonder 