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Athens Travel Blogs

Background: Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between royalist supporters of the king and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece was able to join NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.

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By WCTravelers
November 19th 2008

Day 16 and 17 Ancient Corinth, Mycenae and a Thunderstorm in Athens and Back Home

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

Our final tour day dawned partly cloudy and pleasant. We joined our guide Mary and took off for Corinth and Mycenae on our final day of touring. After traversing the heavy downtown Athens traffic, it took us about an hour to reach the Corinth Canal. Four miles long and only about 75 feet wide, this canal sits below rising cliffs of several hundred feet with sheet walls—a little confining for the vessels as they make the crossing from the Aegean Sea to the Ionian Sea, saving a couple of hundred of miles in time to get around the bottom of Greece. [View Full Entry]

By WCTravelers
November 17th 2008

Day 15, A Day in Time in Ancient Athens

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

The Pacific Princess docked by 6:00 AM in Piraeus, Greece. This is a teeming, modern port filled with cruise ships, ferries and a wide variety of vessels. It’s a very modern port with nice passenger terminal facilities. After a final breakfast and a time of waiting for our check out, there was a bit of sadness in our group as we departed from the ship which had been our home for nearly two weeks. Out Athens tour company representative was right on time and met our group and helped us to load our luggage into the bus for a short trip [View Full Entry]

By Myste
November 3rd 2008

My life is miserable, or why I fricken hate scavenger hunts.

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

Hi everyone. I want to give you all a little update about my week. Friday was Halloween for all you americans. Greeks don't really participate in the American version. They have carivale in February instead. But you can bet that didn't stop us ignorant Americans from walking around the city dressed as cats and pumpkins. I myself wore all black with an orange scarf. The following conversation was had at least 20 times throughout the evening. Someone annoying- "Myste what are you supposed to be?" Me- "Unhappy" We went to the James Joyce, our favorite Grecian Irish pub because we fi [View Full Entry]

By Scrappy
October 24th 2008

Fall Break Part II

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

Parliament Building

The second half of our trip we went to Athens. First we left the Pink Palace on the bus then got on an hour and a half ferry ride at 11:30pm then get back onto the bus for an overnight 7 hour bus ride. It was pretty bad and really provided no sleep at all. We checked into our hotel there and then headed out to the Acropolis with our tour guides. I walked around the Acropolis and saw the Theater of Dionysus, Temple of Athena Nike, The Parthenon and the Acropolis as well. I then headed around with Carly to [View Full Entry]

By Myste
October 22nd 2008

I suck at this game.

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

OK, ok, ok. I'm not good at the blogging thing. I'm still alive. I'm still in Greece. Things are good. We went on a ten day excursion to the Greek Islands. Delos, Myknos, Paros, Santorini, Crete. I could have stayed on Santorini forever. In one day there we hiked an active volcano, jumped off a ship into hot springs, and rode a donkey up 600 steps. The views were amazing and I'm definitely getting tons of use out of my camera. This Thursday we're leaving for Turkey! Istanbul (once Constantinople, now Istanbul) is going to be really interesting I think because [View Full Entry]

By Zjhane
October 21st 2008

Gorgeous Greece

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

Hadrian's Arch
First sight of Attractions

Hi.. Guess my fingers are back on the key Board this time Geece is the chosen one....Athens is one of the beautiful meditteranean touristic cities and i happened to be there in the summer of 2006,i loved it! The thought of knowing that this was an ancient city with a wealth of History was just exciting in itself....In the heart of the city the old stadium that once was host to the Olympic Games is within walking distance of Plaka....Plaka is the old town with narrow streets which is preserved to almost resemble the olden times with little shops selling all [View Full Entry]

By Intrepid Sicilian
October 20th 2008

Athens

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

Temple of Olympian Zeus

Athens Athens named after the goddess of wisdom Athena, and home to the modern Olympic Games - four years earlier this city hosted the 28th Olympic games, showing off to the world its style and culture and deserving more attention than received in the past. So I found myself here to explore what this city has to offer as it is up there with Rome for archaeological treasures and classical mythology. Apart from the archaeological sites, i was quite impressed with Athens bus and train network system as it was very easy to get around and easy system to understand. My [View Full Entry]

By Mikaela
October 19th 2008

I am going to miss this crazy city!! Athens, Greece

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

the Parthenon
FINALLY we went up to the Acropolis during week 5. You can see the Acropolis every day, so we have been anxious to get up there. There is the Parthenon.

They say that time flies when you're having fun! Boy does it ever, as we are winding down our time here in Athens. I leave for Rome this Saturday, which is less than a week away! I cannot believe it. Some of my friends and I were reminiscing back to the first day when we all got here. We emerged from the metro stations looking like lost little dogs. That was the day that my friend Erin and I took a taxi ride for SEVENTEEN EURO when we should have paid TWO. We were so mad at the time after we [View Full Entry]

By Keith and Pete
October 8th 2008

Changing of the dog, er, I meant guard

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

shoes have pompoms

This dog laying on the steps didn't move, much less get replaced by a fresh dog. The Royal Guards are replaced each hour, during a little ceremony. But she slept through the all the marching, and picture taking. On our last day in Greece we hurried over to the House of Parliament, just in time to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The guards wear a type of kilt, woolen stockings with garters, and leather clogs with big pompoms on the toes. Their hats kind of remind me of daddy's "fez", with a very [View Full Entry]

By kmk0184
October 8th 2008

Yeah...

Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens

So, I've been in Greece for a month and haven't done anything with this blog. It is not because I haven't had any time, because believe me I have had time. A month of doing a whole lot of nothing is what it feels like. Now I won't say that it's been all bad, because it hasn't. I've seen a couple things, traveled (to one place and back) and met a whole lot of people that I have no idea who they are or how they are related to me. I am about 50% Greek. My Gia Gia (grandmother) is originally [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Europe » Greece » Attica » Athens