Athens -Day three -The Riviera and Psyrri

 Our third day started as we walked over to the nearby Tram system and hopped on a tram towards the "Athens Riviera". Our first stop was at the Archelon sea turtle rescue center.

We then walked along the beach front Paralia Asteria  with its Crystal clear waters. Paralia Asteria is situated in the coastal area of Glyfada, a popular and upscale suburb of Athens. It’s known for its relaxed, yet chic vibe. The beach has a stunning view of the Saronic Gulf, with clear blue waters and a soft sandy shoreline.

We then stopped off for a lovely  lunch at the Edem fish restaurant, enjoying cuttlefish, Cod balls and fresh salad.

Our final stop was for a cooling drink at a small beach cafe with views of the Port of Piraeus in the distance across the bay.

In the evening we once again took the Metro heading towards the Psyri district of the City. The first stop was the bustling square of Monastiraki square with the

Virgin Mary Pantanassa Holy Orthodox Church sitting in the heart of this famous old meeting place.

We walked on into the Psyri area with its numerous quirky shops and characters strolling the area. Psiri is a lively, bohemian district that has undergone significant gentrification in recent years, yet retains its quirky, artistic vibe. It's a place where old meets new

We then stopped off in the square for a cooling drink at Beer o'clock bar and a spot of people watching, of which, there were many.

We then found a real gem for our dinner, En Iordani claims to be the oldest traditional Tavern in Pysrri. The interior is highly decorated with all kinds of memorabilia. But the most important aspect was the food and service which was top notch.

The walk home was magical with the famous iconic buildings lit up as a backdrop to the city.

Athens - Day two and Andre Rieu

 Our second day in Athens began with a stroll over to the Acropolis museum, with views of the iconic temple high above us. At the museum we were met by long lines of people and hordes of kids that put us off going inside, but we did view the ruins that lye below the museum.

So we decided to amble over toward the botanical gardens, passing Adrian's Arch and the Temple of Zeus.

We then entered the gardens and noticed how quite and shaded it was away from the City streets.We even saw wild colourful parrots hopping from tree to tree. We then came upon the impressive building of Zappeion hall, these days used for conferences. We stopped off here for a cooling drink and in the distance we could view Lycabettus hill in the distance.

As we were leaving the park a number of jet fighters roared overhead, along with other various aircraft, they were practicing for Next month's annual Greek day parade. The noise that the low flying jets made was deafening

After a brief lunch stop at Thea By Latifis for crusty bread rolls, the ladies then decided to go shopping and Rob and Steve headed to the narrows backstreets of Plaka. We came across a small restaurant called "Anefani" were stopped off for a couple of well deserved beers on their roof terrace over looking the City.

In the evening we jumped on Athen's clean and efficient Metro and headed towards the Marousi district of the City where we enjoyed a delicious meal at the Tavern Epirus. After our meal we jumped into a cab and dove to the Nikos Galis” Olympic Indoor Basketball Court" where we had tickets to see The Andre Rieu concert.

The concert was spectacular, with a talented "Johann Strauss Orchestra",  individual singers and even some comedy thrown in. The three hour concert was a vibrant and somewhat emotional experience, blending classical elegance with festive celebration.

A visit to Athens

On a beautiful Spring morning, we boarded a Ryanair flight from Paphos to Greece's capital city of Athens.

We were joined by our friends, Steve and Mary for our visit and the flight from Cyprus took just over one and a half  hours.

We were picked up by our driver and whisked to the outskirts of Athens were were met by the City's famous chaotic traffic.

We finally made to our hotel in just over the hour mark.

Our base for our visit to Athens was the Plaka Arch suites hotel, this was a real find, a beautiful small hotel right in the heart of the city and a very short walk from the famous Acropolis and the local Metro station.

After check in we went in search of some lunch and had a lovely meal at Ionis taverna in the heart of Plaka, they even provided complementary wine and shots of the local ouzo. 

After lunch we decided to head over to Lycabettus Hill, the steps up to this are quite steep and we were glad to arrive at the funicular station. A short, but very steep ride brings you out into the viewing area, where the 360 degree views m the  City are nothing short of stunning.

In the distance you can make out the cranes from the port of Piraeus, the Acropolis and numerous landmarks of the city, we also visited the small church at the top (St Georges.)

After taking some dramatic photos of the views we headed back down the hill and made our way over to monument of the unknown soldier.

The guards at the monument were dressed in their traditional uniforms and marched in slow motion in front of the monument.

 

In the evening we strolled through the narrow streets of the Plaka district and had dinner at the Estia restaurant,  the food and the service was good.

Green Monday

There’s something special about springtime in Cyprus. The air is warm but fresh, the hills are alive with wildflowers, and the sky stretches wide and blue above the Mediterranean. This year, we celebrated Green Monday in true Cypriot style, heading up to Panorama in Pissouri for a day filled with food, tradition, and the simple joys of the season.

Green Monday, also known as Clean Monday, marks the beginning of Lent in the Greek Orthodox calendar. But beyond its religious significance, it’s a day rooted in community and culture, where families and friends gather outdoors for picnics, games, and kite-flying.

The Panorama area of Pissouri, true to its name, offers stunning views over the village and coastline, making it the perfect spot for a Green Monday celebration. As we arrived, the buzz of laughter and music filled the air. The local children started off the afternoon's entertainment with a display of Cypriot dancing.

We found ourselves welcomed by locals, who, in true Cypriot hospitality, insisted we try everything. A sip of local wine (Lenten fasting doesn’t prohibit that, thankfully!) and we were well and truly in the festive spirit.

Another Birthday and near freezing weather

This week, Rob celebrated yet another birthday with a Chinese lunch with friends at the Klimitarea restaurant in Mandria. 

The food was delicious and the company entertaining. We were also lucky with the weather, after this week's heavy downpours, the sun came out and made a lovely day.

On a bitterly cold night in Cyprus, Rob and Pete drove over to the Alphamega football stadium to watch the local derby game between  Aris v AEL.

After a cagey first half, Aris ran out winners by 4-0. As we left the stadium we noticed that the temperature was close to freezing.