Our grand Hellenic adventure began with a pre-dawn arrival at Athens International Airport. Bleary-eyed but buzzing with anticipation, we were immediately greeted by the one thing every traveler secretly fears: the serpentine immigration line that seemed to stretch all the way back to Mount Olympus.
Mercifully, the gods smiled upon us. A sharp-eyed officer waved us into a much shorter line, and what looked like a Herculean ordeal turned into a relatively painless 35–45 minutes of shuffling. Small victories count when you’re operating on minimal sleep.
Outside, our driver and the ever-efficient Galena (our local fixer extraordinaire) whisked us through the city streets to our hotel. To our immense relief, the staff allowed us to check in early. There’s no sweeter gift to a weary traveler than a hot shower and a change of clothes before facing the world. Suitably refreshed, we set out for breakfast at the delightfully quirky Holy Llama — because honestly, if you’re going to have avocado toast and oat lattes, why not in the company of a divine llama?
A Day of Wandering Antiquity
Fueled by caffeine and curiosity, we embarked on our whirlwind tour of Athens.
- Hadrian’s Arch greeted us with its stoic elegance, a silent sentinel linking past and present.
- We strolled through the First Cemetery of Athens, a surprisingly serene space where marble sculptures outnumber the living.
- The Temple of Olympian Zeus beckoned like a pricey nightclub with its €20 cover charge. We admired it from afar, wallets intact, and rationalized that Zeus himself would approve of our fiscal prudence.
- The Panathenaic Stadium, gleaming in white marble, practically whispered stories of Olympic glory.
- The shaded paths of the National Garden of Athens and the stately Zappeion offered a welcome breather.
- At Syntagma Square, we joined the throngs to watch the precision and pomp of the changing of the guard.
- The charming Panagia Kapnikarea Church, tucked neatly between modern shops, was a delightful reminder that history in Athens doesn’t just whisper—it collides head-on with the present.
- The Tower of the Winds stood proudly, an ancient timekeeper that once put sundials and water clocks to work.
We toyed with the idea of entering the Ancient Agora of Athens and the nearby Temple of Ares area, but between the high ticket prices and the looming closing hour, we decided our euros would be better spent on dinner.
Of Wine and Whoopsies
Back at the hotel, comedy ensued. A staff member appeared with a complimentary bottle of wine, only to realize — mid-delivery — that it was intended for someone else. Apologies were profuse, the bottle whisked away, and minutes later another bottle magically materialized, this time correctly addressed to us.
The punchline? It was vegan wine - a very thoughtful gesture from the travel agent, Ielyzaveta Hano, that had made all the arrangements for our trip to Greece and it absolutely made for a perfect ending to our first day.
Evening in Monastiraki
As twilight descended, we wandered through the vibrant, labyrinthine lanes of Monastiraki. The streets pulsed with life — street vendors, buskers, and the mouthwatering aroma of sizzling souvlaki (which we bravely ignored). Eventually, we found our sanctuary: Vegan Beat, a cozy little eatery serving cruelty-free comfort food. Dinner was hearty, delicious, and the perfect capstone to a long day of exploration.
By 9:30 p.m., our bodies waved the white flag. We collapsed into bed, dreams of marble columns and mythical gods swirling through our weary but happy minds.
✨ Day 2 verdict: Athens dazzles with history, overwhelms with heat, and redeems itself with vegan wine.
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