Athens through the eyes of a local

I hadn’t planned my stay in Athens very well this time. I was in grave danger of spending the day wandering aimlessly, which would never do. At the last minute, I decided to book a guided tour. One had caught my eye, called Unexpected Athens Orientation Tour, booked through Get Your Guide and delivered by a company called Alternative Athens. Although I know my way around Athens pretty well, the tour promised to offer a visit to the 19th-century landmarks of the industrial revolution, to descend to a notorious prison of World War II and to walk through the Ottoman neighbourhoods (amongst other things).

I met the guide Andreas by the fountain in Syntagma Square along with three other visitors to the city.

For now, this is a bit of a photo dump. At some point, I’ll write about the places we visited in more detail.

Syntagma Square and the shrine to those who lost their lives in the Tempi disaster. The names of every victime are written in the square.

The vistas from Kolonaki and the architecture old and new including the former home of Melina Mercouri

Exarchia and Panellinion traditional kafenio on Mavromichali – a gathering place for chess players.

By the Athenian Trilogy

Site of Historical Memory 1941–1944 on Korai Street. The place served as the headquarters of the Gestapo during the occupation of Greece in WW2.

The Athens Food Market

Psyri and Flea Market

Monastiraki Square

Sunset and a Margarita on the roof bar of the Attalos Hotel