16th-19th of March 2018
Introduction:
End of November 2017, Julien turned 30 and this trip was a gift from 4 of us: Doria, Sandra, Thomas and me.
The destination has been chosen based on the results of the ratio: sun/distance/history and dates of departure. Nothing better than Athens!
I was even more excited by the destination for several reasons:
In January we all booked our tickets. As I didn't know yet if my boss would let me get my entire Friday off I booked a strange flight via Amsterdam leaving in the afternoon but having a 5h stop over. Well that wasn't really a problem because I really love Holland and I knew I could get out for a beer or something during the stay... And I knew it could be an opportunity to catch up with some folks there.
So two weeks before going I sent a message to:
Here we go:
Friday 16th of March
I didn't take any warm clothes as the expected temperature in Athens was around 20s. Smart decision especially when the temperature in Rotterdam was around 1... However, meeting Tim made me forget about the temperature outside and I didn't see the stop over passing... I got back to the airport a bit tipsy a sign of the quality time we had together :).
I reached Athens at 1 and an hour and half later I was already in the apartment where everybody was almost asleep. I was so excited that I new that the next day, no matter the fatigue, I would wake up early... and I did. At 8h30 I was already out looking for a bakery which Google had suggested to me. Once inside, a childhood memory came back to me after seeing the tiropita, a breakfast I used to eat every morning during the break back in time... I couldn't wait going back home to have a bite and almost cried when I did. Enough emotions...
At 11am we were already out to explore the city. We followed a Lonely Planet itinerary and as suggested by Iliada we bought a 5 days entrance tickets for different monuments and museums.
End of November 2017, Julien turned 30 and this trip was a gift from 4 of us: Doria, Sandra, Thomas and me.
The destination has been chosen based on the results of the ratio: sun/distance/history and dates of departure. Nothing better than Athens!
I was even more excited by the destination for several reasons:
- deep in my heart I cherish this country. Indeed, spending an year at school there when was 10 had contributed to my curiosity regarding the world. My biggest regret is that I have forgotten almost everything in Greek, which on the other hand wants me to go back there one day and learn it again.
- one of my first trips abroad was in Greece with my father right after I finished my first grade at school in Bulgaria.
- my father is half Greek and there is always a thought for my grand mother when I am going there obviously because she was Greek and because I am named after her.
In January we all booked our tickets. As I didn't know yet if my boss would let me get my entire Friday off I booked a strange flight via Amsterdam leaving in the afternoon but having a 5h stop over. Well that wasn't really a problem because I really love Holland and I knew I could get out for a beer or something during the stay... And I knew it could be an opportunity to catch up with some folks there.
So two weeks before going I sent a message to:
- Tim, Julie's boyfriend, to set a beer meeting in Rotterdam (where we met last year)
- an Indian survivor, Iliada, who lives in Athens asking her for tips but also to meet up as we haven't seen each other since we left India I.e. 7 years ago.
Here we go:
Friday 16th of March
I didn't take any warm clothes as the expected temperature in Athens was around 20s. Smart decision especially when the temperature in Rotterdam was around 1... However, meeting Tim made me forget about the temperature outside and I didn't see the stop over passing... I got back to the airport a bit tipsy a sign of the quality time we had together :).
I reached Athens at 1 and an hour and half later I was already in the apartment where everybody was almost asleep. I was so excited that I new that the next day, no matter the fatigue, I would wake up early... and I did. At 8h30 I was already out looking for a bakery which Google had suggested to me. Once inside, a childhood memory came back to me after seeing the tiropita, a breakfast I used to eat every morning during the break back in time... I couldn't wait going back home to have a bite and almost cried when I did. Enough emotions...
At 11am we were already out to explore the city. We followed a Lonely Planet itinerary and as suggested by Iliada we bought a 5 days entrance tickets for different monuments and museums.
- First stop: the Arch of Hadrian
- Then the temple of the Olympian Zeus . OK this used to be something huuuge. I am still wondering how people were able to build something like this and so long time ago... But for sure you feel quite small when you walk around the few columns left.
- We finally reached the Acropolis... The masterpiece of Athens ! It is the monument which is visible from every corner of the city. It had changed a lot since the last time I have been there. It is now much more impressive thanks to the restauration in the recent years.
- We pursued to the Antique Agora: a mandatory stop over with a lot of Antique statues in a beautiful park.
- Of course we stopped for the first giro near Manostiraki square.
The funny part: Foursquare had suggested to me going to Kostas which had a high ranking on the app. So we did but it was closed... afterwards Iliada told me that this guy is so famous that he opens only during weekdays... awesome and I really mean it, because I am not sure how many restaurants are able to do so. - and we finished the journey by walk around the Plaka district which is surrounded by cafés, shops and churches. I was really impressed (but not surprised) by all the small and big churches around the city which were basically on every corner.
In the late afternoon we came back home and got ready for the night. Camille, a friend of ours who was having a business trip in Athens joined us so Iliada did. Gosh, meeting her again after 7 years... okey it might look long but for me it seemed like yesterday. Her shining smile hadn't changed at all so I guess even without FB i would be able to recognize her if I see her on the street.
She organized everything for the night and I guess without her implication it wouldn't be so amazing... Indeed, it is always great going out with locals as you can see things which "normal" tourists usually don't.
So she brought us to Gazi district for which Iliada explained that had recently developed itself from a poor class to a middle class district. It is where you can also find the Chinese district and the street art area.
The restaurant: Seuchellés (Keramikou 49, Athina 104 36, Greece). It took around 15min for Iliada to order almost all the available food in the menu (lamb, octopus, salads...) :) but Gosh it was just excellent!!!
Small memory arrived when I tried one of the salads. As soon as my tongue tasted it sent me back in time: xorta (herbs)! Complicated to explained but it was awesome to rediscover a familiar taste !:)
We then moved to the bar "Beauty Killed the Beast". I agree, the beauty can kill a lot of things :). It was a cocktail bar in a old house. It is kind of bars I like going to Paris full of young people, nice cocktails and service. As the place seemed famous it was really crowded but still great. Iliada's friends joined us and after few drinks we decided to finish the night at the Tokyo club. I really liked the place because it mixed commercial, house and Greek music.
Btw I found a lot of similarities with the Bulgarian way going out: restaurant where you eat well, then bar where you get tipsy and then clubbing where you party (another reason of loving Greece) .... a bit different from what is usually done in France or countries where the alcohol is more expensive.
She organized everything for the night and I guess without her implication it wouldn't be so amazing... Indeed, it is always great going out with locals as you can see things which "normal" tourists usually don't.
So she brought us to Gazi district for which Iliada explained that had recently developed itself from a poor class to a middle class district. It is where you can also find the Chinese district and the street art area.
The restaurant: Seuchellés (Keramikou 49, Athina 104 36, Greece). It took around 15min for Iliada to order almost all the available food in the menu (lamb, octopus, salads...) :) but Gosh it was just excellent!!!
Small memory arrived when I tried one of the salads. As soon as my tongue tasted it sent me back in time: xorta (herbs)! Complicated to explained but it was awesome to rediscover a familiar taste !:)
We then moved to the bar "Beauty Killed the Beast". I agree, the beauty can kill a lot of things :). It was a cocktail bar in a old house. It is kind of bars I like going to Paris full of young people, nice cocktails and service. As the place seemed famous it was really crowded but still great. Iliada's friends joined us and after few drinks we decided to finish the night at the Tokyo club. I really liked the place because it mixed commercial, house and Greek music.
Btw I found a lot of similarities with the Bulgarian way going out: restaurant where you eat well, then bar where you get tipsy and then clubbing where you party (another reason of loving Greece) .... a bit different from what is usually done in France or countries where the alcohol is more expensive.
Sunday 18th of March
Quite a hard recovery from the night before but at 15h-15h30 we were already out.
The plan: Syntagma square where at 16h we could assist to the changing of guards in their traditional uniforms.
We pursued by a gyro nearby and went to the Olympic stadium where another one of my childhood memories appeared: visiting the stadium with my mom and running around. We didn't get in and decided to go to the Lycabettus hill where we met Iliada. We all went up to enjoy the view and the sunset... which I guess we have missed. The 360 degrees view was awesome. Athens made me think at this moment of Rio where also you have this combination of small hills all around the city, nice houses and sea. Another city on my check list of places where I could live along with Barcelona and Rio.
We went for diner to a taverna in the Monastaraki area. Again, the spices used for the preparation of the souvlaki (meat stick), made me travel back in time to the taverna of Tio Tasos (Uncle Tasos) where I used to go eating souvlaki with my parents every time I had a good mark at school...
We finished the night by taking a cocktail on a rooftop bar with an great view over the Monastaraki square and to the Acropolis located on the top of the A for Athens hotel (here i can only congratulate the creativity of the people who named this hotel :)). The cocktails were really good with some very inspired names :).
Quite a hard recovery from the night before but at 15h-15h30 we were already out.
The plan: Syntagma square where at 16h we could assist to the changing of guards in their traditional uniforms.
We pursued by a gyro nearby and went to the Olympic stadium where another one of my childhood memories appeared: visiting the stadium with my mom and running around. We didn't get in and decided to go to the Lycabettus hill where we met Iliada. We all went up to enjoy the view and the sunset... which I guess we have missed. The 360 degrees view was awesome. Athens made me think at this moment of Rio where also you have this combination of small hills all around the city, nice houses and sea. Another city on my check list of places where I could live along with Barcelona and Rio.
We went for diner to a taverna in the Monastaraki area. Again, the spices used for the preparation of the souvlaki (meat stick), made me travel back in time to the taverna of Tio Tasos (Uncle Tasos) where I used to go eating souvlaki with my parents every time I had a good mark at school...
We finished the night by taking a cocktail on a rooftop bar with an great view over the Monastaraki square and to the Acropolis located on the top of the A for Athens hotel (here i can only congratulate the creativity of the people who named this hotel :)). The cocktails were really good with some very inspired names :).
19th of March - day of departure
Thomas had left in the morning but we still had some time with Doria, Sandra and Julien. With Doria and Julien we decided to go the Philipappos hill and then meeting Sandra and Iliada for a lunch around Monastaraki
The walk was great as we were passing by the small streets going to the hill. All of them were colorful with small cafés where the tourists or the locals were enjoying a drink.
The hill Philipappos was a great idea as it gave us another view point over the Acropolis.
We finally met Sandra and Iliada for a lunch at Kostas and I agree it was just delicious!!! I can understand why is having his weekends off... it was full of clients enjoying his food :).
Thomas had left in the morning but we still had some time with Doria, Sandra and Julien. With Doria and Julien we decided to go the Philipappos hill and then meeting Sandra and Iliada for a lunch around Monastaraki
The walk was great as we were passing by the small streets going to the hill. All of them were colorful with small cafés where the tourists or the locals were enjoying a drink.
The hill Philipappos was a great idea as it gave us another view point over the Acropolis.
We finally met Sandra and Iliada for a lunch at Kostas and I agree it was just delicious!!! I can understand why is having his weekends off... it was full of clients enjoying his food :).
In conclusion, what should I say about this trip: great time spent with the team members. We managed to combine great visits and party which was our goal!
Meeting Iliada after so long was just great ! This made me realize how great the people I met in India were and at what point we need to keep in touch and see each other... so let's see if we could make it happen.
In the meantime Evxaristo, Greece! You will always have a special place in my heart and maybe one day we will be reunited again :)
Meeting Iliada after so long was just great ! This made me realize how great the people I met in India were and at what point we need to keep in touch and see each other... so let's see if we could make it happen.
In the meantime Evxaristo, Greece! You will always have a special place in my heart and maybe one day we will be reunited again :)