Yasou from Athens
Eight months ago I was given the task of arranging a team building and annual trip abroad for my business networking group. Previously we have been to Amsterdam and Barcelona. This year, the group grew to 40 people and our destination was Athens! We wanted a mixture of culture, good weather and nightlife. The weather wasn’t on our side however and the forecast was rain, wet and cold.
However Athens warmed my heart in many ways and turned out to be one of my favourite weekend getaway destinations. Why did it capture me so much? It could have been the beautiful sights of the Acropolis from our hotel balcony, eating and drinking at a traditional taverna with Greek music playing live in the background or simply the wonderful group of people that I travelled with - together it was a memorable experience.
If you go to Athens the Acropolis is a must. Unfortunately, the weather not being on our side didn’t help and the long climb up the steep hill to get to the top was a little challenging. Despite wanting to look like Aphrodite at the top of the hill but actually looking more like Medusa with my hair all over the place, we had a pretty splendid time.
You soon realise that everyone looks a little bit “different” once they walk up those beautiful (large) stone steps with the wind blowing “gracefully” in their hair! Once you've reached the Parthenon you slowly start to feel like a Greek Goddess with the whole of Athens beneath you and the ancient ruins around you. The feeling is indescribable and even though the city is not the prettiest, the views from the top are spectacular.
A quick stop for a traditional Greek coffee and a sweet pastry gave me a quick energy boost before heading in to the town’s flea market. The market was full of souvenirs from evil eyes to Greek CDs, modern clothes and beautiful accessories.
This city never sleeps, on our first evening we started the night at a traditional Greek taverna called Stamatopoulos Tavern, which boosted a beautiful meze to fill our bellies and a three piece band to ensure we were kept on our feet all night. Can't dance to Greek music? You will soon be able to! The locals were so welcoming it didn’t matter if you had two left feet, as long as you're having a good time, that’s all that mattered. If that wasn't enough to send us to bed we happily moved onto one of Athens top nightclubs OPUS! My feet may have not loved me at 6 o'clock in the morning but my soul was alive and bursting with Greekness all night!
Our second day allowed us to recover from the night before, wonder around the old town of Plaka and watch The Evzones in amazement as they change Guards outside the Parliament Building. That evening we were very fortunate to have a table at the famous club Teatro. We had the pleasure of singing and dancing to two of Greece’s most famous singers, Notis Sfakanakis and Vasilis Karras! Even if you don’t understand the language, the energy and the passion in the songs were so enjoyable!
If we were not dancing, we were eating and if we were not eating, we were taking selfies with ruins older than anything we could imagine. Who wouldn't want to visit this city?
Recommendation on where to stay
Hotel NJV Athens Plaza – 5* Good points – Beautifully clean hotel, with lovely spacious rooms. Room 812 has the most spectacular view of the Acropolis Excellent location in the heart of Stagma Square. Negative points – One side of the hotel looks inwards to a stone wall, so you’re going for views you must request a room that has one.
Good places to eat Metropolis – Offers a modern environment with great meats for lunch or a casual dinner. Stamatopoulos Tavern Lyssiou 26 | Plaka, Athens 10558, Greece?
Must see Acropolis Mount Lycabettus (Which you can see from the top of Acropolis) The Evzones – Changing of the guard
*Note to remember* Athens does not have a ‘No smoking ban’ in place, so wherever you are be prepared that it's a smokers central!
