Reviews of Greece

Athens is a unique city. The city centre contains many of the historical sites within a relatively small area. It is like stepping into a theme park based on historic ruins. The old and new stand side by side.

If pollution is one factor that puts you off visiting then just remember that is that it doesn’t appear in the top 20 most polluted cities (but London and New York do!)

Usually I stay with a friend who lives in the city but if you are booking a hotel in summer, make sure it has air conditioning. You will need it! The only hotel I have used is the Astor, just off Syntagma Square. It is in a perfect location for visiting the sites.

Food in the city is fantastic. Make the most of the chance to sample some Greek specialities such as Okra in tomato (perfect for vegetarians) and pastitsio (for non-vegetarians). Of course you will find differing versions of Greek salad in almost every restaurant – some are more generous with the feta cheese than others. It is worth bearing in mind that tap water is safe to drink and in summer make sure you have plenty.

So what makes the city such a special place to visit? Try these for starters:
· The Acropolis/Parthenon – when you look at it, you will wonder just how did they managed to build such a structure without the marvels of modern machinery? It is best to go early in the day before the mass influx of visitors.
· The Ancient Agora – this was the old market area where you would have found the famous philosopher Socrates. Now you can admire the ruins.
· Hadrian’s Arch – remember the saying that all roads lead to Rome. Well in the time of Hadrian, if you had followed the road from here you would have!
· Lycabettus Hill – the highest area in the city, the summit of which is reached by a funicular railway. You will get some fantastic views of the city on a clear day.
· Plaka – this is the oldest district of the city and is the perfect place to find a café to sit and watch the world go by.

You will also find places such as: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Temple of Zeus, the National Archaeological Museum and the Panathinaikon Stadium.

Of course the city will host the Olympics in 2004 and so there is much work being done to improve public transport in time. The new airport has opened and can only improve services into the country.

CONCLUSION

The best time to visit the city is outside of July and August when the temperatures can be in the high forties (yet the Olympics are being held in August!). There are plenty of archaeological monuments to see and the variety of food on offer is incredible.