Athens, Greece

Tap into this post to read about some of our sightseeing, fun facts, travel tips and many pictures of our time in Athens, Greece.  We encourage you to get out and see the world if you are able, and if not, we will bring it to you through our posts.  We hope you enjoy!

The Athens Riviera

One spring my kids flew over and met me in Athens for their spring break from University and we spent a week on the Athens Riviera and touring the ancient sites in Athens.  The Athens Riviera (also known as Apollo Coast) is a beautiful stretch of beaches and harbours along the Saronic Gulf to the south of Athens that is very popular among tourists and within a taxi ride into busy Athens for sightseeing.  We stayed in a beautiful 5-star resort in Vouliagmeni.

Ancient Athens 

Facts & Figures

—  Athens has been the center of Greek civilization that dates back 3,400 years

—  Construction began on the Temple of the Olympian Zeus in the 6th century B.C. but was not completed until the reign of Roman Emperor Hadrian some 630 years later in the 2nd century A.D.

—  The Acropolis is a limestone outcrop that stands 156 meters (512 feet) high and provides a great view of the city of Athens

—  Ancient Greek ruler Pericles had the Parthenon constructed starting in 447 B.C and the structure was completed in 432 B.C.

Travel Tips

—  Sadly, at the time of our visit in 2013, the economic crisis in Athens had taken a noticeable toll on the city; obvious cuts to city public works had resulted in trash/rubbish in public places, overgrown grass and weeds in public areas such as some parks and highway medians, public buildings unkept/unpainted, and graffiti was everywhere

—  On a positive note, it is still safe to travel throughout Greece and the ancient historical sites are amazing!

—  Currency used in Greece is the Euro (€)

If you are a worldwide trekker like us and want to become more ‘worldly’, then you will want to try our books below.  Thanks to the former British Empire and current Commonwealth, the English language is widely spoken across the world, however it is spoken quite differently depending on where you are traveling.  We believe the books below are essential to worldly trekkers and think you will find them both fun and informative.  The books include a dictionary of everyday words and phrases, traditional cuisine, some history and culture, and other handy information.

Simply click on the book covers below to find out more:

Thank you for visiting!  Cheers!