For graduation, Maile decide to go to Greece; more specifically, to “the island where Mama Mia was filmed”. Eventually, we will get there, but this trip to Greece–like most–starts in Athens. It has been 22 years since we were here last, and much has changed. Even the historical sites are different: more excavated, more ruins to see, and a modern museum for the Acropolis are just some differences. And more people. Travel has become more popular, so crowds are inevitable. With the bad also comes some good . . . More and better restaurants, better local wine, and even the already amazing cuisine has been elevated.
View from our rooftop terrace.
Another difference the years have brought is an upgrade from a backpacker budget to a rooftop penthouse in Monasteraki. Our view of the Acropolis was fantastic!
The Parthenon–certainly one of the most iconic sites in the world.
Another improvement was hiring an archeologist to lead us through the sites of the Acropolis and the new Acropolis Museum. At her suggestion, we pre-booked our timed entry to both sites, saving time standing in line at the site. Purchasing a combined ticket to the Acropolis and several of the surrounding sites allows entry into another highlight of Athens, the Ancient Agora. Also included are the Temple of Zeus, Hadrian’s Library, and the Roman Agora, all a short walk from Montastiraki Square.
The Haephestion, in the Ancient Agora. It is like a scale model of the Parthenon which is much better preserved (the best-preserved Doric temple in Greece)