Athens

Athens Part 1 - For my 30th birthday I went to Athens for 2 full days and 3 nights with Holly. I've always wanted to go to Athens as I've always been fascinated with Greek mythology and I love going to see ruins. Athens has been on my bucket list and another capital city to tick off as well as the Acropolis.

We flew from Manchester with Jet 2 6:30am on Thursday. Which meant I had to get up at 2:45am and be at the airport for 4am. Was in bed for 9pm and didn't sleep well guess the excitement of going away. Due to air traffic we didn't take off till 7:16am and landed 15 minutes later.

We got the tube from the airport to the hotel and by the time we got there it was after 3pm.

We booked a package with Jet 2 - flights and hotel as the flights were so expensive to fly to Athens. It was cheaper to get this and we got breakfast - we had to pay to not have breakfast which made no sense at all so obviously we got it!

There was mixed reviews for the hotel saying the area was a bit dodgy but it was absolutely fine. The tube was right outside in the square and it was busy and no-one bothered you. On Google maps street view it did look a bit like the slums but it wasn't bad and just looked like typical Europe if you've been to Spain.

The hotel had a weird 70s disco vibe going on. Hotel was nice but because of the 70s brown theme the room and bathroom was a bit dark and lighting wasn't great. It was modern and clean which is what we wanted.

There was a rooftop with a bar and where breakfast is served.

Was clearly half asleep why these photos are so wonky...

The first glimpse of the acropolis.. Annoying the obstructions but a great view from the hotel rooftop.

After we'd wandered around the hotel we went out. There was a bakery right next door.

I seen ice cream for €1.50 but he was crap could have done this better myself! It was really icy and not creamy was disappointed.

Holly got a pistachio gelato from the bakery which was better than my ice cream.

Then we went for a walk to find the Plaka area

National Historical Museum

A lot of street art around Athens

Hadrian's library which was €6 to go in but you could see everything anyway...

Hardian's Arch

The Acropolis Museum was on the list of things I wanted to do and since it was quiet we thought we would get it done and out the way as we only had 2 days to get everything I wanted to see and do.

The museum is massive, very new and modern and only opened think in 2014. It costs €15 (£12.85) and there's a lot to see in there.

So you're not allowed to take photos in this section but we didn't know because the way we came in there wasn't any signs.. There's only signs from one side so the lady in the suit and face mask is coming over to tell me off...

Would love this lego set!

The museum was really good and informative but the info reading were way too long. Full on paragraphs that you just can't take in. They need to be short and sweet as I don't have the concentration span for it whilst on holiday!

After we went for dinner. Every where pretty much did the same thing and similar price so it was a case of where we thought looked the best and we settled on here..

Deconstructed gyros

Moussaka - basically a Greek lasange crossed with a cottage pie

Greek salad

 The food was nice enjoyed it - not a fan of feta cheese. Weird how they shaved the skin off the cucumber as well. This came to €17 so around £15 which isn't bad at all. Greek food defo not an issue unlike when we went to Austria in December but even if I didn't like Greek food every where does pizza and pasta so I wouldn't starve!

After dinner we walked back to the hotel and went up to use the hot tubs as we had to try it out.

The first late afternoon, evening of Athens was great. Loved it and it did not disappoint. Athens is a real place and not this mythical place that hardly anyone has been to. (Was asking for recommendations and no-one seems to have been but then started to notice a lot of people going this year after we booked - not sure if that was a coincidence or because we had booked we were more aware).

Plenty more Athens to come and I'm off to Paris tomorrow to see Mickey Mouse and the Eiffel Tower so a lot to blog about in the coming weeks!

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