A Trip to Greece
Posing in front of the Parthenon.
At the beginning of this month, I went to Greece. This trip marked the first time that I had ever been on holiday with just my sister and my dad, along with the first time I had ever celebrated my birthday abroad. From the iconic Acropolis in Athens to the breathtaking Ixia beach on Rhodes Island, I had various opportunities to experience some of the most beautiful sights that the country has to offer.
Athens
The first three of our seven days were spent in Athens, one of the oldest cities in the world and the birthplace of modern democracy. After an early morning flight from London, we landed at Athens International Airport before taking a yellow taxi to our hotel, located in the Syntagma region of the city. A bustling area, Syntagma is full of cafes, supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants and ice cream shops, all lining the main road. Lucky for us, we were only a 25 minute walk from the main centre of Athens, home to the Greek Parliament, Syntagma Square and the ancient ruins. An extremely diverse area, it is full of Greeks, along with North and East Africans (mainly Ethiopians and Somalians), and Asians, all of whom have left their mark through the various food shops.
The streets outside of our hotel.
On the second day we decided to jump on a ‘hop on, hop off bus’, allowing us to tour the city and the main attractions. Of course, this was full of other tourists also hoping to get a look at the city - both the ancient and modern sides of it, along with the riviera and beach - and we joined these enthusiastic faces, all donned in summer wear (caps, dresses, shorts, sunglasses etc). Traditional discourse about the country revolves around the fact that it is always hot and that a few minutes in the Greek sun means that you will get a tan. Unfortunately, that is not always the case and when we were in Athens there were a few occasions of rain and cold weather. Luckily for us, we were still able to carry on our day to the fullest, spending the time between morning and evening venturing around the city. On the first day of the tour bus, we went to the riviera, seeing the yachts on the docks and walking around the steep roads - the bus ride there was only 30 minutes.
A pigeon and the National Archaeological Museum in the distance.
The third day we hopped back on the bus and went to the ruins. Located on a mountain, the Acropolis is home to the Parthenon and the Theatre of Dionysus, amongst other ruins. The Acropolis of Athens is one of the most famous and important archaeological sites in the world, known for its historical significance, architecture and cultural significance dedicated to the ancient gods and goddesses. Like many others, learning about Ancient Greece is a core part of childhood, and so seeing it all in real life was the highlight of the Athens portion of the trip.
Rivalling some of our modern football stadiums, the Theatre of Dionysus could seat 17,000 people.
Rhodes
The last four days and the majority of the trip were spent on Rhodes, the largest and capital of the Dodecanese islands. Located a mere twelve kilometres from Marmaris, Turkey, Rhodes hosts some of the most beautiful landscapes that the country has. From sand and stone beaches to the vibrant blue sea, the island also has its own ruins - the Old Town and the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes. These two areas are on the Northernmost point of the island connected through the cobbled stone pathways, surrounded by cats, greenery and of course, tourists.
Relaxing with a view - Ixia Beach.
Compared to 'city' like features of Athens - slightly run down and dangerous, with its graffiti driven buildings, the sea added another dimension to Rhodes. It provided a neverending canvas of colour, exuding a freshness that you would not have access to in Athens (or even London for that matter). The deep blue sky was reflected in the sea, making it utterly mesmerising, which was emphasised particularly on our boat ride to Symi Island. There was also green everywhere - the trees, the grass, even the colours within our hotel. If we weren’t exploring the island, we spent much of our free time on the beach or in our hotel, relaxing in front of the pool or in our rooms. Our hotel was located along a strip of road full of other hotels lining the beach, enabling them to take full advantage of the views the island boasted.
Symi Island
On one of the days, we decided to take an hour coach ride to Lindos Village. This was a smart choice, given that we were advised by our taxi driver (who picked us up from the hotel) not to experiment driving on the island especially since the roads were long, narrow and dwindling. We were also able to hear the rich history of both the village and the island from our enthusiastic tour guide. Lindos Village is known for its clifftop acropolis, its whitewashed buildings and its stunning beaches. We spent our time exploring the village, eating delicious grilled meats and sunbathing on the beach.
The view from above of Lindos Village.
As a whole, the people and food in both Athens and Rhodes were immeasurable, making them the reasons why I would travel back to Greece. The people were warm and hospitable, taking an interest in our lives - including giving us suggestions of where to go and even taking the time to explain the Greek food to us. When it came to lunch and dinner, we received gargantuan portions of fresh and delicious food - including grilled meat and fish, bread, vegetables, cheese namely feta), honey and olives - all of which was between 10-15 euros per person.
Traditional Greek gyros
