Travelers Best

When travelling to Athens the first thing that attracts attention is the unique mix of modern day city buildings blended in with historical gems, making the city a gold mine for those that like to explore. The striking look of a modern city, in which the ancient past still makes up for a large part of it, almost looks magical, especially against the setting of the blue Aegean Sea. No matter where one goes in Athens, reminders of it being the start of western civilization are always present, giving the city a unique, almost surreal look and feel.

In 2004, Athens went through a complete makeover in order to be prepared for the Olympics that were being held there at that time. Due to this makeover they discovered that because of the high level of smog historical artifacts were affected by it and eroding fast. Out of this need to decrease the smog the makeover also included a new concept for transportation through Athens, which makes the city now very easy to navigate through because of its well marked streets. Transportation in Athens is now regulated better than ever before.

In the first century Greece was at the height of its society, it was the time when beautiful monuments like the Temple of Athena were created on Acropolis while schools were created by Plato and Socrates to spread their so called western thinking. All these famous constructions of that era reside in the heart of Athens, but a visit to other parts will also bring encounters with many significant places of that golden era of Greek society. Not only the influence of ancient Greece is seen in Athens, but also the Turkish and Persian elements, remnants of many wars, between those nations. These wars went on throughout all ages until the twentieth century when the great Ottoman Empire collapsed.

While ancient Greece is fabulous and a source of inspiration to many there is more to Athens than old artifacts alone, like excellent restaurants and cafes located on almost every street corner and clubs one can visit in the evenings. Athens is famous for its sparkling nightlife that comes to life as tourists return from their explorations in and around Athens. Whether one visits Athens for exploring the ancient artifacts, a wild party vacation on one of the surrounding Islands, or a peaceful holiday enjoying the sea, Athens has it all and will please even the most demanding tourist. With its large cultural influence still very much present in today’s modern life Athens is one of the most unique places one can choose as a holiday destination.

A journey to Athens is a trip that will take you through the golden age of Greece while enjoying the unique modern day facilities one can expect from a modern city. After the wars that destroyed large parts of its historical legacy, once again Athens as the capital city of Greece is an example of the great society it used to be, built on the foundations of their ancient history.

M.A.H.