We just got back from Athens last night and we had a wonderful time. I will admit the first day that we got there I was very disappointed. The city is covered in graffiti and dark and dingy and my first impression was not a favorable one.
Okay, fast forward a couple of days and after finding where all the nice parts were in the city and realizing that we were able to walk to every major monument and museum that we wanted to see, I finally started to really enjoy it. The ruins were incredible, the food was delicious and we walked probably a total of 30 miles during the entire trip.
We also visited three Greek Islands, Hydra, Poros and Aegina. This is what you picture when you think of Greece, no one puts photos of graffiti-painted crumbling apartment buildings in tour guides and it was nice to see the islands. This is Hydra where no cars are allowed. Very quite and picturesque...until the throng of tourists from the cruise ship descended on the port to spend money on cheesy souvenirs and bug the locals. Oh well, at least I got a good picture!
This is the view of the Acropolis from our hotel rooftop. (I zoomed in A LOT...we weren't really staying that close, it's just that because of earthquakes all the buildings are pretty much the same size you have an unobstructed view.) They light the whole thing up at night, just like the Ancient Greeks...oh, wait...
And, of course, because this is a jewelry blog, I couldn't leave you without some great pictures of some great jewelry. Athens is a jewelry lovers dream. If I go again, I plan on skipping the hotel, and using the money to buy jewelry, okay, maybe not, but that's what I wanted to do.
I hope you enjoy the photos. I've got 457 more. But, I think I'll spare you ALL the details. I'm looking forward to getting home soon! I miss my family. I hope you guys are doing well, and that you're enjoying the weather wherever you're at. We're still in Abu Dhabi and it is HOT, HOT, HOT. See ya' soon.
oh Marcie, I am so jealous. We go to Greece every summer for vacation - Nick's family is Greek and I just love Greece, every part of it. I really know what you said is true though. A lot of the dirty side, tourists everywhere in the nicest spots. BUt what is so great is that there are still a lot of islands where you can't get to by plane, and that are not that attractive for the boats, so you only have the beauty part on some of the small islands. I can't wait to go back this summer.
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