Greece not grease

[ScottM]

I am of to Athens, Greece on Saturday for a few days. I have part of Sunday and all day Wednesday to goof around. Outside of the obvious places anything that is a really cool must do while I am there?

It is my 2nd time there but the first that I will get to leave the airport.

 

[alaskaflyer]

Tell me more, tell me more...

 

[Ghery]

Sounds good. That's on my wife's list of places she wants to visit. Maybe next summer (2009). Let me know what you find out and see.

 

[Dart]

The Acropolis and nearby sites are enough for a day. Be prepared for a lot of walking on hard marble. Finding incredible food is no problem in Athens! With more time I would say Santorini (and the Akroteri dig) is second on the "must see" list. For me, it was actually a much nicer visit than Athens. But the trip there from Athens (unless you fly in and out) would chew up half a day and then you have to come back . I visited Santorini in a day trip, but we were already close so we took a hydroplane in to get there early then a slow (and cheap) traditional ferry back our our harbor.

 

[ScottM]

The Acropolis and nearby sites are enough for a day. Be prepared for a lot of walking on hard marble. Finding incredible food is no problem in Athens! With more time I would say Santorini (and the Akroteri dig) is second on the "must see" list. For me, it was actually a much nicer visit than Athens. But the trip there from Athens (unless you fly in and out) would chew up half a day and then you have to come back . I visited Santorini in a day trip, but we were already close so we took a hydroplane in to get there early then a slow (and cheap) traditional ferry back our our harbor.

I had planned the Acropolis. My hotel it very near there. Do you have any good restaurants that are a must?

 

[flyersfan31]

Visit Syntagma Square for the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier. Prettty fancy outfits, if you're into guys in skirts with pompoms on their shoes. Not quite as precise a drill as at Arlington, but still a worthwhile trip.

See Cape Sounion at sunset. It's down the coast from the city, IIRC about a 30minute drive. I had a car, but you could probably catch a cab down there. It's an iconic sight, with the temple of Poseidon. Spectacular!

Food's pretty easy (if you like Greek). So many of the little restaurants have great food, intimate settings, it's hard to go wrong. If you're looking for 5 star, I dunno, but if you're near the Acropolis there are plenty of little shops and restaurants down below in the Plaka to wander thru. BTW, try a real gyro (yghEE-Ro) - same meat on skewers as you'll find here, but it looks a lot nastier than the homogenous pressed stuff they carve in the US. Looks nasty, but tastes PHENOMENAL!

The National Garden (near Syntagma) is nice to stroll through, beautiful grounds with LOTS of stray cats.

 

[mikea]

When you go into a restaurant tell them you're from Chicago and see if can you find any Greeks you talk to that DON'T have a cousin who owns a restaurant in Chicago.

 

[flyersfan31]

When you go into a restaurant tell them you're from Chicago and see if can you find any Greeks you talk to that DON'T have a cousin who owns a restaurant in Chicago.

Same thing is true in Poland. EVERYONE has a cousin in Chicago!

 

[rottydaddy]

When you go into a restaurant tell them you're from Chicago and see if can you find any Greeks you talk to that DON'T have a cousin who owns a restaurant in Chicago.

Petsi, Petsi, Petsi, Petsi... cheeboogah, cheeboogah, cheeboogah...!


Visiting crumbly ruins, etc would be neat, but if I had any time in Greece I'd be off to the nearest GA airport for some low 'n' slow sightseeing.

 

[ErikU]

I'd say that you know about the major tourist spots.. and they are pretty touristy, but worth doing once.

One of my best days there I took the subway/train to the port city of Piraeus, then transferred to the tram that runs south down the coast. It was beautiful and relaxing once you get out of the city a bit. Just get off the tram anywhere that looks interesting, then hop back on for more. I found uncrowded beaches and seaside resorts. Had a beer or two on the beach, it was really nice.

You could also squeze in a visit to the island of Hydra for the day... it's about an hour each way and a picture perfect destination. No cars allowed on the island, all walking or donkey travel!

 

[Dart]

...Food's pretty easy (if you like Greek). So many of the little restaurants have great food, intimate settings, it's hard to go wrong. If you're looking for 5 star, I dunno, but if you're near the Acropolis there are plenty of little shops and restaurants down below in the Plaka to wander thru...

Like he says! We were also walking distance from the Acropolis and we just strolled until we spotted an eatery that caught our interest.

 

[ReverendSlappy]

When you go into a restaurant tell them you're from Chicago and see if can you find any Greeks you talk to that DON'T have a cousin who owns a restaurant in Chicago.

It's funny because it's true: I used to work with a Greek guy whose family was in the restaurant business. We were talking about how many Greek-owned restaurants there are around here, and he said, "It sounds like a stereotype, but it's true: we really all do know each other." I was like, yeah, uh-huh, whatever, and said, "Okay, so do you know the <surname> Brothers who live out in <my hometown, some 80 miles from where this guy lives>?" And he's like, "Oh, yeah, Billy and Gus? Their restaurant is pretty good." Good times.

 

[snowbird]

Just don't look at the airplanes too much...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_spotting

Excerpt:

The potential legal repercussions of the hobby were dramatically shown in November 2001 when fourteen aircraft spotters (twelve British, two Dutch) were arrested by Greek police after being observed at an open day at the Greek Air Force base at Kalamata. They were charged with espionage, and faced a possible 20-year prison sentence if found guilty. After being held for six weeks, they were eventually released on £9,000 bail, and the charges reduced to the misdemeanour charge of illegal information collection. Confident of their innocence they returned for their trial in April 2002 and were stunned to be found guilty, with eight of the group sentenced to three years, the rest for one year. At their appeal a year later all were acquitted. [1][2][3]

 

[Tristar]

Sounds like an adventure! I've never left the US. I'm sure we'll enjoy a report afterwards!