Athens isn’t what it used to be; it’s better. People used to say "get to Athens, see the biggies (Acropolis, Ancient Agora, museum), then get out of town pronto.” But the city launched a big clean up project during the past few decades and it worked. The thick visible smog that used to regularly blanket the city is gone. To ease congestion, cars with even and odd numbered license plates would take turns driving in certain areas on alternating days; although Athenians with the means would skirt around that law by owning two cars - one with odd number plate, the other with even number plate.
Still, Athens is very "worn out and lived in.” It's huge, but most travelers don’t venture out of the old town center; there’s no reason to. With many pedestrianized streets, most major sights are walkable.
Look beyond the concrete buildings, traffic and noise that surrounds the city and see the locals, tourists, culture and history of this amazing place.
Changing of the guards (Evzones) in front of the Parliament building in Athens. Evzones are most distinguished by their unusual looking shoes sporting "pom-poms" (tsarouchi) and their deliberate slow and robotic-like marches in exacting synchronization.
Evzones in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Athens have what locals call Sleeping Dogs. This one was sleeping but perked up as I approached. Although many have collars, they don't belong to any one person but rather, to an entire community. Locals and merchants feed them and even take them to the vet when they appear sick. These dogs simply wanders, and plop themselves somewhere to sleep. One tourist I met even described how she saw one cross a congested street: the dog walks, stops, looks for cars, walk, stop, looks for cars until it gets to the other side.
The Parliament building sits behind Athen's main square (Syntagma Square). Syntagma Square is the hot bed for political rallies and protests. I had received a text alert from the U.S. State Department that a major rally will be going on here on May 21st. The Parliament building just got paint bombed hours before I snapped this photo and by the following, morning it was painted over.
This view from the top of the Acropolis shows just how big Athens really is. This is only one angle, you have to imagine it 360 degrees.
The Plaka, a touristy area of Athen's old town is filled with eateries, shops, and people watching each other. You can find fun tavernas with live Greek music and dancing towards the later part of the evening. Getting up for audience participation is encouraged.
The work of some of the best graffiti artists around the world can be seen in Athens. Like in many major cities, some are commissioned and some are not.
A cute little café with a tribute to Mary Poppins.
This eatery called Hoocut has one of the best Souvlakis and Gyros in town. For about 3 euros, it's the best deal in town for a quick meal.
A local café serving Greek coffee, traditionally served with coffee grounds. Don't worry - if you don't care for that sandy texture in your coffee, there's plenty of other options!
Monastiraki Square with the Parthenon in the background.
These famous Caryatid statues in the Acropolis are actually replicas. The originals have been removed are in the new Acropolis Museum just down the hill from the Acropolis (next photo)
The original Caryatids in the Acropolis Museum. The arms of all of them have broken off and one even lost her head. Experts of antiquities have determined that these statues are so fragile that they should not to be moved again from this spot in the museum.
One of several amphitheaters in the Acropolis. This one is still used for special concerts.
The Parthenon has been undergoing a massive restoration. Thousands of years of wind, pollution and human desecration has eroded this magnificent structure. The white spots in the columns are new marble and will eventually weather to look like the original marble.
Two of three types of columns are represented here - the simple plain Doric (top), and the ornate Corinthian (bottom). Not shown is the Ionic - a style between plain and ornate. How can you remember this? Simple, the more syllables, the more ornate the style - Doric, Ionic and Corinthian.
The Parthenon at night.