Travel-and-Leisure
Athens - A Walk On The Wild Side
Athens is known for archeological sites and history. If you want a break from history, Athens has much more to offer travelers.
Athens
You?ve seen the Acropolis, you?ve hit the museums and you?re trying to figure out if it is time to head to the islands. Wait! You?re missing much of the modern charm of Athens.
There is a conundrum with many historically significant cities. Guidebooks tend to send you off to every site with any potential historical significance, but leave out any mention of the modern attractions of the city. In the case of Athens, slavishly following your guidebook is a very bad choice and you?ll be the worse for it.
As with any city, there are two good ways to see the charms of modern day Athens. The first is to get out and just start walking. The second is to befriend some local residents and let them show you the city. Either way, you?ll do fine in Athens.
The charm of Athens is found in the hubbub of daily life on the streets. The city and residents exude energy and character. If you get off the tourist tracks, you?ll find little neighborhoods with outdoor cafes and no tourists. This is where the action is in true Athens. Just plop yourself down at a caf? and start people watching.
One particularly good spot is in the Plaka neighborhood. A nineteenth century quarter, Plaka has a mix of Turkish and Greek influences. From Plaka, you can head to the shopping bazaars found throughout the city. The bazaars in Athinas and Eolou are a bit touristy, but no excessively. With a mideastern feel, you can sit down and drink tea with local shop owners while they hock their wares.
From there, the city is wide open. If you dare, grab a taxi and tell the driver you just want to see the real city. It will be the ride of your life.
Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more about travel to greece and Adventure Travel. |
Richard Chapo
Similar articles
Are Forest And Savannah Elephants Of The Same Species?
There is much debate on whether the forest and savannah elephant are two different species. The impetus of the trip to Ghana was to assess if the forest elephant - Loxodonta Cyclotis also known as the Pygmy Elephant represents a distinct anatomical or genetic form from the other elephants. Read more →Arizona Exposition and State Fair
Phoenix, Arizona comes alive in mid-October as its State Fair starts the three weeks of exposition and entertainment that young and old anticipate throughout the year. Read more →Athlone: An Introduction
Athlone in Ireland?s midlands is almost the centre point of Ireland. The name is derived from the Irish ?Ath? and ?Luan? which is the crossing point of the Luain ford. Read more →Attractions of Barcelona
One thing you should be prepared for when visiting Barcelona for the first time is that you will have to go back again. You will never be able to cram all the sights and activities into one trip, and you will be left wanting to know more about this very special area. Read more →Aphorism
There is no looking at a building here after seeing Italy.