Athens

We had a great short stay in the cradle of western civilization. With a golden age stretching back to the classical era some 2500 years ago, it’s no wonder the city feels ancient and full of history. On the mountain at the center of the city on which the great classical temples stand, the views of the sea and surrounding valleys are tremendous; you get the sense that this is the mythical place where Greek legends of Athena and Poseidon may have originated. The lighting across the valleys as the sun sets is stunning.

Side note on Greece, we had an absolutely tremendous travel experience. We heard “so-so” things about Athens in particular, and were pleasantly surprised. Athens is a big city where everything feels small scale relative to the other big capitals of Europe. It seemed like every shop/restaurant/hotel was family owned (or at the very least locally run) and big multinational chains seemed like a rarity. We had the experience of being in Greece in the days leading up to the historical referendum on creditor austerity measures in July 2015. Cash was a commodity. Greeks had every reason to be anxious or surly during a time of countrywide frustration but we saw not an ounce of that. The locals were inviting and almost always both boisterous and friendly.

Enjoy the Gallery!