Greece Day 2: Athens - A Walk With The Spirits of 3500 Year Old Ghosts

Before I start with today's adventures, please visit Darlings Google page for reviews https://maps.app.goo.gl/uAei6XrPoTs2nP7Q9 

This is the page for the bar I got scammed at in Athens.

Where do I begin with today's story.  The beginning is probably just as good a spot as any.  Having done a little bit of research before heading here, I knew that if we wanted to experience the Acropolis in a timely fashion we needed to be lined up well ahead of opening time to beat the crowds.  We originally planned on getting up around 6 to head out for breakfast before lining up for 8am, but we decided to sleep in an hour and have breakfast after touring the Acropolis.

My research told me we should buy the combo pack ticket for 34 euro which included many of the top historical and archeological sites and that it included "skip the line" privileges.  Well I knew damn well that "skip the line" privileges were nonsense since everyone else who bought the tickets would have the same privilege. So it was at no surprise when we showed up to the entrance of the South Slopes, that a lineup of people had already been growing, seemingly since sunrise.  Despite the lineup, we thoroughly enjoyed the awe inspiring moments that the sights of the Acropolis brought.  Literally thousands of years of history.  You could almost feel the energy of 3500 year old ghosts walking about as we molested their grounds with our 21st century footwear.

I really can't explain the feeling I get when amongst these ancient relics.  It's simply astonishing to me to stand on the same ground where Athenians invented democracy and went about their days without a hint that future generations would travel from all around the world, just to stand next to their monuments and shrines.  Not to mention the ongoings of thousands of other citizens of the era. 

So although Jes and I had managed to climb our way almost to the top of the Acropolis via a network of dark winding alleys on the previous night, this visit to the top of the Acropolis was well worth the wait.  Considering the oldest things in Canada for us to admire are a few hundred years old, these thousands of year old ruins are simply amazing to me.

When planning this trip, I knew there were specific sites that were a must.  What I didn't realize is that those sites would be strewn across the city for everyone to walk into on their daily commutes.  Site excavations next to busy fairways are quite common, and as interesting, if not more, than the popular tourist sites.

As we started our descent to find our delayed breakfast, we noticed hundreds of people queueing up for... Well I wasn't quite sure...so I simply picked out a stranger and asked "What are you guys lined up for?".  "The Acropolis", one member of the group replied, and was kind enough to warn me, hoping I already had a ticket.  "Oh no, I'm good, we got in at 8.  We're done", as I kept walking, feeling very proud of our decision to get out early.  So my initial thought of the day that my YouTube creators had deceived me, was well squashed in realizing that our 15 minute wait was nothing compared to what these poor people would have to endure.

Next stop was the Ancient Athens Agora, but we agreed we needed to eat first.  First restaurant we ran into was called Sycophants where we both enjoyed an excellently prepared Eggs Benny.  This is also where I was taken aback by our waiter who asked where we were from, and when I answered, proceeded to tell us about the couple from  California he'd met the previous day.  Mentioning how large America was.  I thought this was an odd mention since, what does California have to do with Canada.  But then I thought about it a bit and figured, how much do I really know about European geography?  I'd have to assume the same for someone who'd only learned about North America in books and movies.  We paid the bill and We kept going to what we though was the Athens Agora but we got turned around a little and ended up at Hadrian's Library, which was fine since that was on our list as well.

There were 7 attractions included on our ticket, and between sightseeing and the odd break here and there for a drink, including one at a bar we'd frequented the previous day for a pint of Vergina beer; No, that's not a typo; It's Vergina beer.  We managed to fit in 6 out of 7 of those sites.  We visit Aristotle's school tomorrow as well as the site of the very first modern Olympic Games.  Our afternoon had us leaving an ancient graveyard, back to our apartment for a short respite before dinner reservations at NYX Japanese Rooftop Bar.

NYX, a famed Japanese fusion restaurant, would prove to be worth every single one of the euros we paid.  But before heading up, we thought we'd check out Plato bar on the main floor for a pre-dinner cocktail....or 2.  I ordered an Old Fashioned and Jes a Mojito.  Not sure how the Mojito was but the Old Fashioned sure was top shelf.  Great conversation with our bartender was had, as well as a great laugh as he told us a joke he'd written and translated to English.  I'd tell you the joke but I'm not sure it would have the same effect in writing.  At that point, Jes reminded me we had reservations, so we hopped on the elevator for the 8th floor rooftop restaurant.

As we were seated, I was happy to find that the 4.8 star review on Google wasn't bullshit, at least about the view.  The Acropolis was in full view, without other tourists impeding our view.  Well what about the food? Restaurants really are about the food after all.  Well, I will say this... I've eaten at world-class restaurants in my short 45 years on this planet and I would easily place this one in my top five.  The sushi was incredible (and I've had Suhsi at the Tokyo fish market), and when we were done that, and just had to have more, we simply resigned to our waiter's suggestions which didn't disappoint.  We (and when I say we, I mean Jes) definitely enjoyed the recommend Greek wine which he ordered until the third glass and our second hour at the table came to a close.

After two and a half hours over-indulging, we decided to make our way back to our Airbnb by way of the Plaka district, which is a lively food and entertainment district...especially at night.  Jes, being about 6 drinks deep at that point, just wanted to find more beer to take back to the apartment.  So we did.  We also found some Greek donuts, cause we definitely hadn't had enough food.  We sat out front of the donut shop, eating our sweet and delicious honey drenched "timbits" while cracking open a cold beer on the street.  Apparently, drinking on the street in Athens isn't technically legal, but no one enforces the law unless you're drunk and disorderly.  I should probably take him home before that happens.

And here were are...drinking our cold beer on the balcony as I recount today's journey.  Tomorrow, after Aristotle's School and the Olympic Stadium, we'll be hopping on the subway for the port of Athens where we'll spend the day.

Tell you all about it tomorrow.  Καληνύχτα.