Athene

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Op maandag 24 januari 2005 11:33 schreef littledrummergirl het volgende:
maarehm van smog word je toch niet ziek ofzo, das toch alleen maar erg vervelend als je astma ofzo hebt?

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Op maandag 24 januari 2005 12:25 schreef Hik het volgende:

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Mwa... zolang je er niet gaat wonen...

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...en het is vies als je 's avonds je neus snuit, dat wel!

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Op dinsdag 30 januari 2007 20:37 schreef Douwe het volgende:
De berg waarop de Acropolis staat is vrij groot, en is heel erg groen en je kunt er leuk doorheen wandelen, verder is Athene een waardeloze stad. Weinig te zien, weinig te beleven, goor, lelijk... maar die berg is wél erg leuk hoor!

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Op dinsdag 30 januari 2007 20:40 schreef Suuz_ het volgende:

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ook geen leuke winkeltjes, cafétjes, restaurantjes enz?

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Op dinsdag 30 januari 2007 20:40 schreef Suuz_ het volgende:
ook geen leuke winkeltjes, cafétjes, restaurantjes enz?

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The actual Gazi gas works are worth it. Also a visit at the main Olympic Complex, no visitors allowed I think but you get excellent views from neighbourhoods on the other side of Spyrou Loui highway or from the hills of Filothei neighbourhood. Eirini metro is on the other side of that so you will have to walk a lot, unless they are open.

Piraeus port is not anything great, but Pasalimani, Zea and Tourkolimano are very vibrant and lively.

For panoramic views go up Lycabettus Hill with the funicular railway.

Thiseion is also very lively, you might want to walk from Metro Syntagma (Parliament exit) to Amalias, Dionysiou Aeropagitou by the Acropolis, around Filopappou and Pnyka to Thiseion. Then from there Keramikos, which is the ancient burial grounds is also great and so is the Agora. In Thiseion try booking a table in the roof garden of Filoistron restaurant, dinner with a great view.

Nice bars around Exarcheia Square (very alternative/underground neighbourhood close to Pathsion St and the National Technical Uni old buildings/central Athens campus), try Kallidromeiou St. Also nice is Kifissia at the end of the Ilektrikos railway. (the old metro)

For something truly posh and very unique there are two cafes/bars in Vouliagmenh. 'En Plo' and 'Agnanti', literally on the beach and very nice. They are a-ma-zing. You need a car to go there, in general you need a car to go in most places in Athens, the problem is where to put it. Taxi wil cost 10 euros from the centre.

For a rather interesting tour of Athens, get off at Omonoia Metro, go to Athinas Street and walk along it, you will pass the Municipal building and the square opposite it. The central market is around there. If you continue straight you reach Monastiraki and if you turn left there you will be in Psyrri, full of bars and stuff. The streets in the south of Omonoia are full of migrants (Metaxourgeion, Koumoundourou Square, areas behind the municipal building) so you will find lots of Egyptian, Nigerian and Chinese stuff.

In monastiraki square try souvlaki from Mpairaktaris, expensive but good.

Another unique souvlaki experience is 'To souvlaki tou Pappou' (grandfather's souvlaki) there is one of those in Dafni Metro, on the square. They serve enormous souvlaki (pitta as big as a pizza with anything you can imagine inside it). One person can cope with one of those giants...barely. The taste is OK.

Interesting metro stations, with antiquities or art, are Akropolis, Syntagma and one with an Olive grove multiplied by mirrors inside which I think is Ethniki Amyna.

By the way, the cheapest way from the Airport is the bus, which is also quite fast. You can take the underground as well but I do not think the suburban train is worth it unless you want to go to Korinthos.

Food standards I bet you know: Gemista (stuffed vegetables, off season at the moment), Papoutsakia (aubergine stuffed with meat), Gyros pitta, spinach pie, cheese pie, pie with wild greenery called horta (hortopitta), horiatikh salad with feta on top, lamb chops (paidakia), moussakas, marida or gavros (small fried fish), fried zuccini or aubergine. More extraordinary are giaourtlou (meat with yoghourt), imam, any meat stew in a pot, soutzoukakia (meat balls in sauce) or keftedakia (meatballs plain).

Two very good restaurants: 'Athinaikon' in the arcade next to the corner of Kolokotroni St and Stadiou Street, opposite the Old Parliament Building and 'Alexandra' midway on Leoforos Alexandras in Plateia Argentinis (on your left when walking towards Patission St). I have not been there for a year but I think they are still open.

Clubs are located along the Paraliaki (Leoforos Poseidonos) which is the beach highway, extreme traffic at night and usually you get stopped at the door. Also interesting clubbing stuff in Pireos street and Rouf area, spillovers from Gazi. Greek music in Iera Odos.

Word of caution: Taxi drivers are the worst this side of Baghdad, be very paranoid about them and what they charge, anything above 5-6 euros is strange unless you travel long distances or are jammed in traffic. The most expensive route is from the airport which should be around 15 euros max. It is usual however to have many people on the taxi going in different directions, that is OK provided that the taxi keeps the priority i.e the first one who gets in goes to his place first. If you want to be safe better avoid taxis and rent a car, it will cost you the same without the hassle and the paranoia. Ofcourse, you will use all the cd collection because the traffic jam is eternal if you take the wrong turn, keep on the main streets or the highways.

That's it, good luck and have fun in Athens!!