Athens: Three Days in Ancient Greece

July 28, 2024

After a month enjoying the beaches of Crete we weren't quite ready to say goodbye to Greece, but we were ready to hit the mainland and get stuck into all the ancient history for a few days before our next World School Adventure stop in Bosnia.

We took the Anek's Blue Star night ferry from Chania, Crete to the Port of Pireas in Athens.  It wasn't quite a cruise although it was pretty well appointed for a ferry with several lounges, restaurants and shops.  

Many passenders only purchased a basic ticket and either brought their own sleeping bag or blanket or just crashed out on the lounge chairs (or didn't sleep at all on the 7 hour trip).  We splurged for a sleeping cabin (with a portal) which consited of 4 small bunkbeds which suited us just fine for the short duration of our sleep that night. 

One of the things that I love about slow travel is that you don't feel compelled to visit all the tourist spots in one or two days - or at all really, as you are just enjoying living the local lifestyle - or trying to.  However, since we were only in Athens for a couple of days we got right to work hitting the major tourist sites along with the throngs of other summer tourists.  Acropolis and Parthanon? Check!  Relatively new Acropolis Acheological Museum? Check!  Plaka (old town) area? Check!

But we also hit some off the beaten path items like the Museum of Illusions (big highlight if you're traveling with kids!), the Athens National Garden Playground (one of THE BEST parks I've ever been to - including Central Park and Hyde Park) and a visit to a wealthy suburb of Athens to visit one of Finley's friends from school who's family was in town visiting friends.