Athens, a city worshipped by people and gods. The beautiful capital of Greece is one of the oldest cities in the world. It is said to be the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of democracy. Named after the goddess of warfare and home to Plato’s Academy, this city gave rise to many wise men of ancient times.
My introduction to the magical city began at the Acropolis, where I was enchanted by the beautiful remains and the stunning Acropolis Museum. There I also learned about the city’s “catch, neuter, and release” program, which populated the streets with stray dogs. One of these free spirits, which I named Atticus because he found me and my friends at ‘the Roundabout of Atticus’ and because I’ve always wanted to have a dog by that name after reading To Kill A Mockingbird, followed me and the gang loyally from the Acropolis all the way to the Temple of Olympian Zeus, where we sadly parted ways when us humans headed for the subway.
Between visiting the Port of Piraeus and walking around Old Town Plaka, I also visited the Poet Sandal Maker who directed me to his favourite Greek restaurant nearby. After a satisfying feast there, I ended the day at the top of Lycabettus hill, overlooking the entire city. When the red and orange colours burned in the sky as the sun set over Athens, I remembered a great piece of advice I once heard: see the world as a traveller, not a tourist.
It’s posts and photos like this that make want want to travel! Great photos, especially the one of this kid playing the accordion.
Do you shoot with film?
Hi Mitchell, I used to shoot film. These are all digital, but I sure miss it.
Wow, Tracy.
Fantastic picturse and I love the narrative.
Can’t wait to get there in a few.
Keep posting!
Gosh, these are wonderful, and that advice is perfect.
Love the warm feeling in these shots – I just want to laze on those stones and bask in the sun.
i love it
These pictures are amazing.
Beautiful!
What stunning photos…thank you for sharing, and congrats on Freshly Pressed! 🙂
Beautiful pictures. I’m going to Greece in May, so thanks for stoking my excitement!
great photography!
Wow! You totally captured it- beautifully done! I lived there just over a year ago, you encapsulated the Athenian experience. Love it!
Nice to see pictures(superb) of my hometown!!! Athens is beautiful through your lenses.
I love Greece! We took our honeymoon there 10 years ago then went back in 2003. I particularly remember the leash-less dogs running around the platka – and your picture reminded me of that. funny. Have you been to Delos? It is essentially an open air museum that has yet to be fully excavated. You can touch 2000 year old pots in the ground with your toe, nothing like that! I just wrote about the Venus De Milo (which was found on the island of Milos) on my blog. It’s a humorous take on the statue and why it was found without its arms. Hey, loved the pics! Love your blog.
AMAZING
lovely ….. i ll add to my wish list for places to visit .. thanks for sharing.
BEAUTIFUL PICTURES!!!
Oh I miss my Greece so much!! T^T <333
For me, Greece is a dream destination with my girlfriends !! Looking at your photographs it makes me want to go visit right now! Amazing pictures. Kudos on being ‘freshly pressed’!!
Wonderful images! Really makes me want to go there NOW!
I hope to visit Greece soon. Great photos. Congrats on FP
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the pictures!!! So amazing. -Thank you
Gorgeous photographs of such a beautiful place! Looking through them makes me go there now.
wowzers. Great shots. I’m infatuated with Greece and will be teaching there soon! I love how you captured the beauty and everyday life.
I am greek and I really like when I hear or read that somebody loves and likes his/her visit here. Imagine how I feel when I read this wonderful post for the city where I live for the last 6 years. I am really glad and proud!
I fell in love with Athens and Greece in 2007! Your pictures bring me back, thanks for sharing and congratulations on Being Freshly Pressed.
What gorgeous pictures & most excellent advice. I just want to linger at that bread stand as well … congrats on freshly pressed, too!
Cheers .. MJ
I really like your photos. They are the perfect means to get in touch with faraway places, never seen. Luv, Nicoletta from Italy
Beautiful
Wonderful pictures!
wow youre pictures are amazing! i love the quote you left that said “see the world as a traveler, not a tourist” LOVE LOVE your pictures
Beautiful photos! What camera did you use? You should have kept the dog with you!
Awesome history and looks like a crazy hectic city. Great pictures! I’ve always wanted to visit Athens, now you just gave me more reason to, thanks!
Great shots!! As a Greek, I commend you for capturing the city so beautifully.
Being Greek these are like looking at my Baby pictures. Great post, great pictures grteat fun!
Blessings,
Ava
xox
some great advice on seeing the world as “traveler, not tourist.” beautiful candid shots, as well.
Awesome photos, I am an indepent travel agent and just started a new blog and am looking for followers. The title is Dream Come True Travel and my business website is :
http://www.dreamcometruetravel.biz
it’s like an alternate universe. i have recently just returned from athens too and visited all those places u have been. but they look different simply because of the different season! currently im trying to log down my recent travel down on my blog too! http://hearttypat.wordpress.com
The history in the old architecture is just amazing, you captured it nicely…when I see blogs like this I want to get on a plane to far away places and bask in the differentness of the world…thanks for sharing
Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing it with us. I’m from Malaysia and lived in the UK while I was studying there. London’s amazing and I hope you have a blast there!
Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures. It shows Athens in another way outside the common tourists’ leaflets! Excellent narrative. Athens has a very long history and the photo’s show it. Congratulations with your very nice blog.
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These are lovely pictures. The interesting thing is, I visited Turkey, and I believe they have the largest number of Greek structures and artifacts after Greece itself, so it was great seeing Greek civilization there. Greece itself is on my list and I intend to get myself there as soon as I can manage it.
the city of the ancient gods. . . . how i dream of coming to this place, oh how i ever wonder will i ever get the chance? or maybe in the next life when we’re all CATS. . .
So wonderful. What it must be like to turn a corner and find the ruins of a temple, I can’t imagine. Thank you for sharing.
And please take into account that Athens doesn’t have favelas and the like phenomena, as it happens in countries with great gap between rich and poor. Until now, the average Greek can live with dignity. Of course, I don’t know what exactly the plans of big bankers are for Greeks or for Europeans in general…
Beautiful photos. Thank you for sharing them and the advice on how to see the world.
I have only been to Athens for one day so far, but it’s a beautiful city indeed!
L-O-V-E the pictures!
Your pictures are wonderful, I really like the one where the kid is playing the accordion.
Fabulous pictures but the finishingas are even more incredible. Very beautiful!
great photography!