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Walking in Athens

Click on any photo for a better view

Above, the monastery for which the "Monastiraki" district is named. Note the Parthenon in the background. Even we (who get lost everywhere) were able to find our way with such a conspicuous landmark in view.

Some pigeons from the nearby plaza enjoy the open bags of pet food at one shop. The owners didn't seem to mind.

We’ve read advice on some travel-oriented web sites recommending a 2-day stay in Athens at most, followed by excursions to nearby areas. We think maybe they were writing about this Athens or this Athens. For us we're sure a week would not be enough to enjoy all the city has to offer. We do agree that the outlying areas have much to offer but that will have to wait for another trip.
Our first hotel, the Attalos, was in the Monstiraki district, and we liked the area immediately. It was full of small shops and open-air stalls. No Starbucks, Benetton or McDonald’s to be seen anywhere. The people were nice and the Metro was inexpensive and convenient. The hotel even had a free Wi-Fi hotspot in the lounge, which Regina appreciated immensely. Above and below are scenes in the area of Athinas Street, where our hotel was located.

At left is part of the pedestrian market that's been a part of Athens for hundreds of years. The vendors were VERY friendly. All you had to do was linger in front of their shop windows and they'd rush out and immediately offer you a better price than what appeared on the price tag. And the prices were good! We came home with lots of Greek olive oil soap, a rug, two hand-embroidered pillow covers, a golden cross pendant studded with sapphires and rubies, a wallet and a pair of sandals. (The sandals were for Ron.) We don't ordinarily spend that much on a trip, but the quality of the merchandise was good and the people were nice.
One jeweler was familiar with Kansas as the home of the writer William Burroughs; it seems his mother had translated Burroughs' book The Naked Lunch into Greek. (Click for a sample but Caution: Let's just say that the book is not family reading material. The jeweler said his mother didn't like it at all.) The door-knocker is typical of what we saw all over; in fact, there were many for sale in the flea market, shown in the 3rd picture. Finally, at right, a dog waits patiently for its owner to finish shopping. Well-trained dogs, often off-leash as this one was, were a common sight.

There was a major meat market just a few blocks from our hotel. As you can see above it is not like your friendly Shoprite or Kroger where the source animals are never in evidence. At left we have two smiling pigs with assorted chunks of their bodies around and about. And at right a goat carcass dangles out into the aisle, headless and skinless. We found it a little shocking at first but then noticed that the area was spotlessly clean, the cut meat thoroughly iced and there was no hint of any foul odor.

Speaking of foul odors... Athens is a city cursed with motorbikes. They swarm the streets spewing exhaust fumes, many without mufflers. And if there is a speed limit it is hardly at all enforced.

Ron recognized this immediately. It is what remains of an ancient observatory. Among its features was a very accurate calendar and clock.