I was so excited to get this incredible trip to Athens. Athens is full of vibrant culture, thousand of years of history, delicious food and friendly people! I can say it is one of my favorite places so far without even setting foot on one of it’s gorgeous beaches!

Before I went out to explore Athens, I visited our rooftop pool at our hotel. At night it is lively with a DJ.

ATHENS

Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. Athens houses many historic landmarks. It is known to be the birthplace of democracy and idea that all citizens should have a voice in governing their society.

PLAKA

We went to the Plaka neighborhood. It’s in the shadow of the Acropolis and ancient temples. Hillside Plaka has a village feel, with narrow cobblestone street lined with tiny shops selling jewelry, clothes and local ceramics. Plaka has lots of cafes and restaurants and of course my favorite, rooftop bars.

HYPER ASTRO ROOFTOP BAR

First stop was to the Hyper Astro Rooftop Bar in the heart of Plaka. It has a pretty terrace which offered a stunning backdrop of the Acropolis.

Fun time at the rooftop with my coworkers Annette and Margie.

After the rooftop, we met up with another flight attendant from SFO. She is Greek and took us to her favorite spots.

As we were walking up to the Acropolis, I noticed so many cats just relaxing or roaming the streets. I had to look into this phenomenon. I didn’t see any dogs. I found out that many cats were left on the streets by citizens and tourists, who often picked up cats during their stay in Greece and then discarded them at the end of their trip. Furthermore, since neutering was considered to be an unnatural process, pet cats were usually not neutered. This resulted in a large population of stray cats.

ACROPOLIS

The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. The Acropolis was a fortress and military base during the Neolithic period, due to its position which offers a great view of the land and the sea.

So lucky to be in Athens with my Greek speaking friend Kim.

Now it was time for dinner. Kim took us to her favorite restaurant.

The view from our table at the restaurant was amazing!

I love Greek food!

Dinner was full of great food, delicious wine and fun conversation.

We made every minute of our layover count. It was getting dark so we needed to head back to our hotel. We had a 30 minute walk ahead of us.

As we walked, I looked back and I could see the beautiful Acropolis lit up on the hill. It certainly was a sight of greatness!

PANATHENAIC STADIUM

On our walk home, we came upon the Panathenaic Stadium. This spectacular stadium was home to the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 in Athens. This stadium remains the only stadium in the world built entirely out of marble. It is the oldest operating stadium in the world and it has hosted three Olympic Games.

Athens, this Ancient Greek metropolis has a lot to see and do. It has so much rich culture and history. I was so blessed to get such a wonderful layover. I can’t wait to come back. Next time I will enjoy Greece’s stunning beaches! For now, I will treasure the unforgettable memories of the vibrant city called Athens!