ATHENS (Greece)
I felt “the vibe” the moment we drove into the city: that warm, welcoming feeling that emanates from every cell in your body, screaming “I’m home”. I felt it in London, I felt it in Cardiff, I felt it in Florence…and I definitely felt it in Athens. A city of pulsing, modernism and anicent wonder, mixed up together on the shores of the sunny Agean in as pleasing a way as I could have imagined. I must return sooner, rather than later…
(1) ATHENIAN SUBURBS - KINETTA BEACH
This was the location of our hotel…could it have possibly been more beautiful? The most perfect pebble beach, on the most perfect Agean shore…it shattered any expectations I had, and I could only imagine it in the hot, humid summer. Again, I must return SOON…
(2) ATHENS - PANATHINAIKO STADIUM
The original stadium used for the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, and fashioned out of pure marble. It was a gorgeous sight to see in the early morning sunshine.
(3) THE ACROPOLIS
Any words I could come up with would never do justice to this mountainous slab of astonishment and wonder. Suffice to say, this series of pictures includes the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Dionysos Theatre, and spectacular shots of Athens down below…
(4) ATHENS - AGIA IRINI
An exquisite church, smack-dab in the middle of the Eolou shopping street…it even smelled wonderful once we made it inside!
(5) ATHENS - GENERAL SIGHTS
Shots include the shopping streets Eolou and Ermou (with the ancient monuments visible in the background), the Greek Parliament & main square (SYNTAGMA) — complete with its own version of the unblinking palace guards, Platia Kodzia (with nearby ancient Athenian wall excavations), and the Panagia Hrissospiliotissa Church.
And that’s it…the end of my big fat Mediterranean adventure. It was, quite simply, an exploration of paradise that contributed to helping me feel happy for the first time in a very long time…and I would do it again in a heartbeat (and thanks to my friend Ron Paleczny for organizing it…and if he’s reading, he should note that I FINALLY mentioned his name). Travel broadens the mind, and feeds the soul…and I can’t wait until the next adventure.
Which I will document on-line, once again… ;-)
