Back to Athens in September, new sights and flavors

After spending the summer of 2020 on Kefalonia island I've returned to the capital of Greece. Still a bit shook after the Medicane that hit the island in the middle of September, I was looking to relax and recharge my batteries. The last week of September surprised me with new sights and flavors that I'm going to share with you all.

I've been to Athens couple of times in my life. When I was younger I was rushing to visit as many places as I can as the time was short and I was full of energy, plus I had to take advantage of the free entrances as I was still a student. Nowadays I like to take it slowly, pace myself and enjoy the small details.

First stop was enjoying this little colorful coffee shop in Monastiraki called The Little Kook. It is an absolutely delightful place, a whole street that changes completely its scenery 4 times a year. This time it was Halloween theme and it was worth it. The cakes are a bit expensive but they are quite big so you can share, plus they are tasty and colorful.

Except the long walks in Monastiraki and Plaka, near a multitude of shops, ruins and tavernas, I wanted to try something new. So a trip to Piraeus was an ideal choice. The weather was still perfect for sunbathing. One day I've spent it on Votsalakia beach enjoying the last swim of the year in the Aegean Sea.

Another spot that I've visited in Athens was the Monument of Philopappos on the top of the hill with the same name. It offers 360° view of the city, from the Acropolis and the museum all the way to Piraeus and the Aegean Sea. It is free admission and it is a pleasant walk from Monastiraki Square. You can enjoy different ruins, history and nature at its best.

Meeting friends and spending quality time with them was also one of  the highlights of my holiday. I enjoy the most catching up with them while walking the beautiful streets of Athens near thousands of years old ruins, vibrant cafes and restaurants.

Two of my favorite spots for sunset in Athens are Areopagus Hill and City Zen Restaurant. For the latter I must add that the food is amazing, the view of the Acropolis is a plus and the service is great. More sunset spots and places to visit in Athens you can find in one of my posts HERE.

On the 2nd of October came the time to say good bye to Greece. It was my 12 summer spent near the sea, among amazing people and making lifetime memories. Despite the pandemic, while being on Kefalonia, I forgot about all the craziness going on in the world and I just lived in the moment. Thank you, Greece, for the wonderful time and see you soon!

During my stay I had a one day trip to Cape Sounion that you can read about RIGHT HERE.

'till next time, take care.

Beldi

Cape Sounion and dinner with a view

The summer is now a memory. Back from Kefalonia to Athens, it's a full circle. I was here back in June and here I am once again. It is 27th of September, a sunny day, ideal for a road trip.

It is Sunday and it's World Heritage Weekend so I decided to drive to Cape Sounion and visit the Temple of Poseidon. 

Approximately 70km from Athens lies this perfect blend between a man-made wonder and nature. The road is wonderful, beautiful beaches on the right side and hills and mountains on the left. It takes us almost an hour and a half to get there. The Athenian Riviera offers a bit for everyone, restaurants and bars, long, sandy beaches, amazing sea views and wonderful marinas.

I have first visited the Temple 5 years ago. It is a wonderful sight with an extraordinary 360 view. It is part of the Sacred Triangle in Greece. 

"These temples are the Parthenon, Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, and the Temple of Aphaia in Aegina. When seen on a map, these three temples seem to form an isosceles triangle. Even more interestingly, all 3 temples were built within a few years of each other, adding to the theory their positioning formed part of a grander design. 

Some suggest that the temples were positioned on points of natural energy. Others, that they perhaps mapped the stars above. If they were built according to a grander design, it’s possible we will never know their true purpose." (greekmythologytours.com)

"The earliest literary reference to Sounion is in Homer's Odyssey (III. 278–285). The story recounts that as the various Greek commanders sailed back from Troy, the helmsman of the ship of King Menelaus of Sparta died at his post while rounding "Holy Sounion, Cape of Athens". Menelaus landed at Sounion to give his companion full funeral honours (i.e., cremation on a funeral pyre on the beach). Archaeological finds on the site date from as early as 700 BC. Herodotus (VI.87) mentions that in sixth century BC, the Athenians celebrated a quinquennial festival at Sounion, which involved Athens' leaders sailing to the cape in a sacred boat.

The Temple of Poseidon is perched above the sea at a height of almost 60 meters. Only some columns of the Sounion temple stand today, but when intact it would have closely resembled the contemporary and well-preserved Temple of Hephaestus beneath the Acropolis, which may have been designed by the same architect. The columns are of the Doric Order. They were made of locally quarried white marble.

Cape Sounino is a popular day-excursion for tourists from Athens, with the sunset over the Aegean Sea, as viewed from the ruins, a sought-after sight since the first development of modern tourism in the early 19th century. Cape Sounion itself is located between the villages of Kato Sounio and Legrena. 

Forming the southeastern endpoint of the Athens Riviera, Sounio is now an upscale summer home location for Athenians. Construction of villas across the bay northwest of Cape Sounio flourished in the 1960s to 1970s. The Grecotel Cape Sounio luxury resort was built in 1973. The project Arrangement of the Archaeological Site of Sounion (2011–2013) was co-financed by the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports and the European Union (ERDF)." (Wikipedia)

After wondering around the ruins we went down to Sounion beach. It is the first time I experience such an amazing feeling to swim next to the ancient ruins of such a beautiful temple.

On the way back we passed Lake Vouliagmeni and we decided to have dinner by the sea side. We chose Γαλήνη Restaurant, in Palaia Fokaia. A well deserved dinner by the sea side and admiring a wonderful sunset are all I need after such a long yet exciting day.

You want to discover more amazing places to visit in Athens? Look no further: HERE they are!

Otherwise delight your eyes with some of the most breath taking beaches in Kefalonia: Petani and Agia Eleni. 

'till next time, take care.

Beldi

Athens in June - a rollercoaster of quality time with friends, culture and culinary delights

Excited to revisit it and after a cruel start of the year, I jumped on a plane and on 25th of June I landed in Athens. Except the mask and no service in the airplane nothing had changed. The Athens airport is a bit emptier than the usual. The people are unbothered, having coffees and slowly doing their jobs. There is a strike, surprise, surprise, so the subway is not running all afternoon. Luckily the shuttle bus is still running all day long.

The 4 days that I've spent in Athens were a mix of long walks in the heart of the town, watching sunsets from some of the most amazing locations that the city has to offer, tasting the greek cuisine and diving into the history.

The first evening found me in Alou Fun Park on the Ride Star Flyer, enjoying the view of Athens from a height of 72 meters, at a speed of 30km! "An unforgettable ride with your hands and feet hanging free!" It felt exhilarating and the child in me was thoroughly happy.

On the 2nd day I've decided to go to Piraeus and discover new places such as Δον Κιχώτης - Don Quixote Bar which offers incredible coastal views. The air was hot. The beers and the long walk made me hungry. I stopped to have lunch at Παράγκα - Paraga. The table was full with greek salad, calamari, grilled vegetables, fried potatoes and wine. Cats were lurking around. A few seagulls were floating between the fishing boats as the sea breeze helped me cool down a bit.

Later in the afternoon I had a stroll around Monastiraki and watched a beautiful sunset from the Areopagus hill near the Acropolis. The sound of bouzouki and the laughter of the people made me forget about all the craziness that was going on in the world this year.

On the 3rd day in Athens I came back to Monastiraki but this time to revisit The Ancient Agora and Hephaistos Temple. It felt like a private tour as almost nobody else was around.

 

For sunset I've decided to walk all the way up to Lycabettus Hill. I wasn't disappointed at all. The 360 degrees panorama of Athens include views of the Acropolis all the way to the Saronic Gulf and Koutalas Mt..

The last day was a lazy one. I've ran away from the heat and hid under the palm trees of the National Garden, near the Hellenic Parliament. Parrots, turtles, goats rabbits and many more are here to be found. In the evening I caught up with some friends at a terrace in Plaka.

 It's pointless to say how amazing were the dishes, drinks and desserts that I've tasted while in Athens. I am a very big fun of the mediterranean cuisine. I will just leave some photos below.

Summer started a bit late this year and with incertitude, but at least it started. The next day I went on my journey to Kefalonia where I've spent my 7th summer among beautiful people and places.

In the next article I'll be back to Athens, this time at the end of September, for new exciting places and experiences.

Explore Vouti, an exotic beach with crystal clear water

Dive into the Ionian blue at Petani beach

'Till next time, take care.

Beldi