To Athens I Go!

Yesterday we landed in Athens, Greece:) Now this all may seem a bit backwards but I am going to post my days in Greece as we go and add in my preview days on Cyprus throughout because I just was so busy in Cyprus to even comprehend writing everything, but now I have gotten into a process so I have time.

So, Athens is an interesting city, it is my second time visiting Greece and I have also been to Athens when I visited so I have an idea where I am going which is nice. We are staying in the Plaka District of Athens, which is one of the largest shopping and eating areas of the city. There are restaurants and shops everywhere and every single employee wants you to go into their store or eat at their restaurant. That is something which is really different in Athens than Nicosia (the capitol in Cyprus where we were staying) shop keepers and restaurants are much more aggressive about getting you to buy things or eat at their restaurant in Athens then they are in Nicosia. Something which you should know about Athens is it is one of the top places to get pick-pocketed, there is not a high rate of violent crime but lots of pick pocketing so ladies bring a purse with a zipper and just be aware of your belongings. If you walk up to the top of the Plaka district there is the Parliament and the tomb of the unknown soldiers with two Greek Guards there. Every hour these guards change which is very interesting and I suggest that you go and see it since it is a lot like the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace in London, but in Greece.

I was happy to be back in Athens, but then again I really like big cities with lots of people who are different. I must say though Athens is not a pretty city. There is a lot of graffiti, trash, people, traffic, abandon places, and not really aesthetically pleasing buildings. I really do not know the reason for this but many people get shocked about Athens because it is not beautiful to many people I think. While in the United States so much is put on having a city look good with its buildings and suck but also coming from the United States you need to remember everything is so “new.” But I must say being surrounded by ancient Greek ruins is something I am perfectly fine with compromising for to look as some not so attractive buildings.