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//Day 46 /26-04-22 /Athens

Yesterday evening I discovered a new neighbourhood in Athens, full of hip bars and  smaller restaurants. A lot of local people, slightly less touristically. I had a simple dinner of salad, squid and a beer. Around 22.00 I was back in my hotel room and fell rather fast asleep to wake up the next day around 8.15, which was later then usual.

My plan was to visit a couple musea, do some errands, discover the city and have dinner with an old working-friend George in the evening.When I left the hotel the streets where much busier then the days before during the Easter weekend. A lot of cars and people in the street and all the shops open. My hotel is near Athens central market, a covered market where mainly fish, meat and vegetables are sold. I made some small talk with the vendors and tasted a sort of mature feta cheese which was really great. 
Prices are non-comparable to Belgium Lamb : 6 Euro / kilo , most fish around 5 euro,…great place the central market. 













After my central market visit I walked to the Benaki museum. Upon arrival the museum was closed….as it always is on Tuesdays..At least it was a nice walk through a part of the city that I didn’t had seen before and passed the tomb of the unknown soldier. 



I returned direction Plaka in search of a bike drink bottle, which I eventually found in a bikeshop with a very friendly owner. The walking had made me tired and thirsty. Time for an espresso freddo, not yet 1 week in Greece and already adapted to the local coffee drinking customs…..After my coffee intake I visited the Temple of Olympian Zeus with the plan to go afterward to the Panathenaic stadium, which is close by. Eventually I saw the stadium only from the outside as I found the admission of 10 euro somewhat overpriced (I’m getting stingy). 






The rest of the day I strolled around the busy streets in the city, sometimes visiting a church, listened to some street musicians,  arranged my dinner meeting with George later in the day, made some photographs, ate an ice cream and stopped for a dinner on terrace located on a quite little square not to far from the Acropolis. After my dinner I took a long route back to my hotelroom for some rest and watched how the Germans occupied Paris in WOII. 



























Athens is a great place to visit and a much better experience then what I remember from my short business trips (limited to Airport-Hotel-Office-Restaurant) I made in the past to city: great culture, food, atmosphere…and only met friendly and helpful people (except the waitress this morning). I’m happy I spend 3 night here and I definitely will not have a problem to return. I can also recommend the hotel I’m staying, simple but clean, comfortable, friendly reception and smack in the middle of the city. After 3 night the road is calling though….I’m looking forward to take Black Horse out of the basement, where it has been safely stalled the last 3 days, and hit the road again. Tomorrow I have planned a relatively short route of around 85 K as it will take some time to leave through a much busier Athens then when I arrived.I also need to take 2  short ferries to reach Corinth, my next destination. But this are “worries” first I’m looking forward to catch up with George.

Lessons learned :
  • Better to check the opening hours before walk across the city. 
  • The Athens musea combi-ticket is a bargain. 
  • The next 3 days it will be sunny and 27 degrees, a jacket will not be required.
Song of the day : Breathe, Sail on - Madensuyu





Comments

  1. Liliane vanlee4/26/22, 8:17 PM

    Ziet er echt schitterend uit, daarvan krijgt.men zin om te reizen.
    Geniet er maar ten volle van en ook van jouw afspraak met jouw oud collega

    ReplyDelete
  2. Leentje Vanlee4/26/22, 10:17 PM

    Since the weather is improving... don't forget to buy some swimsuit! That ice cream eating... is that a Vanlee thing? I also eat my daily ice cream! Love the views of Athens! Enjoy your dinner with George... have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lieve meirsman4/27/22, 8:16 AM

    een heel leuke dag gehad met veel bezienswaardigheden , een echte citytrip , zou daar ook wel eens naartoe willen, prachtige foto's,

    ReplyDelete

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