Blogs from Athens, Attica, Greece, Europe - page 9

Yes, I was in a college fraternity, and was often called a "Greek" even though I am not of Greek origin. We were known as a professional fraternity, but had the best parties on campus. But let's take a rather irreverent look at the Greeks, as we know them today. Greeks have the most sex in the world (and have held the title for ten years). Greeks were the first to go "full Monty" with the 1931 film, Daphnis and Chloe. Greeks stick together, as they have the lowest divorce rate in Europe, but have the highest abortion rate A Greek physician, Soranus, believed that sneezing was a form of contraception. . Hippocrates considered the human body to be just a bag of fluid. Before the invention of toilet paper, the Greeks tied sea ... read more

From UNESCO: The Acropolis of Athens is the most striking and complete ancient Greek monumental complex still existing in our times. It is situated on a hill of average height (156m) that rises in the basin of Athens. Its overall dimensions are approximately 170 by 350m. The hill is rocky and steep on all sides except for the western side, and has an extensive, nearly flat top. Strong fortification walls have surrounded the summit of the Acropolis for more than 3,300 years. The first fortification wall was built during the 13th century BC, and surrounded the residence of the local Mycenaean ruler. In the 8th century BC, the Acropolis gradually acquired a religious character with the establishment of the cult of Athena, the city’s patron goddess. The sanctuary reached its peak in the archaic period (mid-6th ... read more

From UNESCO: The Acropolis of Athens is the most striking and complete ancient Greek monumental complex still existing in our times. It is situated on a hill of average height (156m) that rises in the basin of Athens. Its overall dimensions are approximately 170 by 350m. The hill is rocky and steep on all sides except for the western side, and has an extensive, nearly flat top. Strong fortification walls have surrounded the summit of the Acropolis for more than 3,300 years. The first fortification wall was built during the 13th century BC, and surrounded the residence of the local Mycenaean ruler. In the 8th century BC, the Acropolis gradually acquired a religious character with the establishment of the cult of Athena, the city’s patron goddess. The sanctuary reached its peak in the archaic period (mid-6th ... read more

One of the few countries in Europe I have not visited is Greece. I have not really avoided it per se, as it was on my radar back on my first trip to Europe. But fate intervened, and I was called home due to the untimely death of my Father. In fact, I was going to meet a friend there, and travel around the country and a few of the islands. So, fast forward to today, Greece is a much different place. Economic problems, mostly the result of outsized inflation, pensions, and debt have made it the weak link of the European Union, and maybe the entire world! What better time than July, when the country is slowly and carefully reopening? Greece is the southernmost country in the Balkan Peninsula. The country is defined by its ... read more

28 May – Today we took the flight from Dubrovnik to Athens one and a half-hour later we were getting into the blue line metro to go to Syntagma station. Changed to the red line heading to Anthoupoli and got off at Larissa Station, the central train station in Greece. I had booked an apartment in central Athens so that we could use public transport. Incidentally, we never travel by cabs anywhere unless absolutely necessary. I feel public transport gives you an authentic feel of a place and that is what we travel for! Most countries have safe and clean public transport and I haven’t had a bad experience ever in my 15 years of travel. Touch wood!So here we are in Athens – a dream destination ... read more