Hello lovely readers! What an exciting way to kick off my new blog and the summer! Last-minute trips like this one are my kind of thing. Thank you for taking the time to read a little bit about my latest trip, I hope you like it and find something useful if also looking into planning a trip to Athens. 

Persuasion? Not much needed!

Last Friday afternoon, with nothing on my agenda, I ended up calling my mom. Despite the challenging 8-hour time difference, we always manage to make it work! Now that finals are over and I have less than a month before I fly back to the States, I find myself with plenty of free time. Initially, I planned to spend my last weeks in Gießen with friends, but when Mom tells you to go travel, you simply say, “Yes, ma’am!”

First Step: Flights

Browsing on googleflights, my absolute go-to for booking airfare, I typed in Frankfurt with no specific destination in mind. After playing around with the dates, I stumbled upon an incredible deal—$152 round trip to Athens, Greece! I couldn’t believe my luck, especially for such a last-minute flight departing the following Monday! I’m not proud to admit it, but I’m usually quite indecisive even with my spontaneousness, and this case was no exception. After entering my card information, I found myself sitting there for another 15 minutes, questioning if the Idea was even good at all, triple, no quadruple checking to see if the dates were right and contemplating the what could possibly go wrongs! Usually needing the little „just finally do it Abby“ from friends and family for the reassurance that I can’t seem to go without. I know I’m not the only one, but rather cautious than sorry, right?! In the end it got booked, and I had a flight to Athens from Monday to Thursday. 

Second Step: Accommodation

Once the flight is booked, the rest always goes smoothly and fast paced. For accommodation, I relied on booking.com. As a solo female traveler, this is a crucial part of my planning. I’m eager to meet people, but yet again, I am traveling alone, so safety is always a priority. I often choose hostels, especially opting for girls-only dormitories when available. That’s exactly what I did for this trip. After checking ratings and reading reviews, I decided to book at Athens Hawks Hostel. Its convenient location, just a 10-minute walk from bustling areas, and a rooftop bar were decisive factors in my choice.

Third Step: Activities

While browsing TripAdvisor for activities, the first thing that caught my eye was an all-day cruise featuring three different island stops, with beverages and food included. With the weather forecast predicting temperatures in the mid-90s (~35 °C), a water-based activity was an obvious choice. So, without hesitation, first tour booked. ✔️

Next on my radar was to find something food related, an absolute must in every trip. During researching, I ended up tumbling upon a cooking tour! Cooking has turned into a major hobby of mine as of late so this was a no brainer. Also what better souvenir to take home than a few new recipes?! Another tour booked. ✔️

It’s also important not to have too much planned to allow flexibility, so I left the rest as was and decided to plan the rest there. Who knows, you could always end up meeting people at the hostel who want to join you on a tour. 

Rocky Start

Waking up early on a Monday morning (though, not quite early enough) wasn’t exactly a nice start to the trip. Running late—what a shocker, not! No need to worry, though, as my train to Frankfurt from Gießen ended up being delayed, not that this was much of a surprise either. (The German train system is notorious for its delays and other issues—I’ll dive into those details in a future blog, so stay tuned.)

Just when I thought I had caught a break after finally boarding my flight in Frankfurt, we ended up sitting there for about an hour and a half due to yet another delay. It would have been fine if I didn’t already have a shared shuttle scheduled to take me from the airport to my hostel. At this point, my chances of making it were slim to none. But hey, what’s a trip without a few hiccups along the way?

Upon arriving and checking into my hostel, I went to freshen up and was met with two twins named Sonal and Pea, from England. They described themselves as “homeless but on purpose,” with jobs that either require constant travel or are completely remote. I was honestly a bit jealous! We hit it off right away and planned to meet later that evening at the rooftop bar.

The first thing on the agenda was to grab a bite to eat, so I walked a block down to a little gyro shop and got a Shami Kebab for just 3€— inexpensive! I took it back to the hostel and ate in the community room. While there, I sat with two people playing chess, one from Australia and the other from Ireland. I knew flights from Australia were expensive, but not €2000! It turns out that many Australians save up for a big Europe trip lasting 1-3 months due to the high cost of flights.

I knew this part would be something to look forward to, but the rooftop bar I mentioned earlier, exceeded my expectations! The view of Athens and the sunset was absolutely perfect, especially for a hostel. The Acropolis and the Parthenon were visible, set against a stunning sunset. Meeting a lot of people was fun, the drinks were great, and the vibe was fantastic, so we ended up staying there instead of going elsewhere. People from France, the UK, Germany, Belgium, Australia, the US, and more were there, creating a diverse mix.

A french guy taught me their version of “quack quack seat back”, a rhyme we say in Montana so that when we leave our seat, we’ll still have it when we return.

Qui par a la chasse perd sa place. (He who goes hunting loses his place.)

Qui va à la montagne la regagne. (He who goes to the mountains regains it.)

Qui par a la pêche la repêche. (He who goes fishing regains it.)

The Next Day

The next morning, I was surprised to find that the twins were still at the hostel. They had intended to go on an early Acropolis tour but oversleeping caused them to miss it entirely. The previous night at around 11 PM, while still at the rooftop bar, I spontaneously booked a similar tour for 11:30 AM. Since there were spots available, I invited them to join me.

We set off for our meeting point, a 20-minute walk away. The heat was intense! Just a few minutes into our walk, and we were already sweating. Sunscreen was a must, and a hat would have also been smart, so don’t forget to bring one if visiting. Once we met our group, we began our two-hour tour by venturing into the 2,500-year-old Acropolis.

History in a Nutshell

The tour began by passing a couple of theaters with concrete seating, which surely made for uncomfortable shows. The second theater we encountered was originally built to honor a deceased wife and has since been renovated for ongoing use today. Making it the 156 meters to the top, we delved into Greek mythology and history.

Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and Poseidon, the god of the sea, both desired to be the patron deity of the city. To win the favor of its people, Poseidon struck the ground with his trident, creating a saltwater spring. Athena, in turn, planted the first olive tree, symbolizing prosperity and peace. Both taking place in the Acropolis. The citizens chose Athena’s gift, and thus, the Parthenon, also known as Athena’s Temple, was built in her honor.

In the 5th century BC, Athens was very powerful. The Athenians achieved a significant victory against the Persians at the Battle of Marathon. However, Athens faced a devastating setback when the Persians returned and burned the city over the course of four days. Despite this destruction, the Athenians rebuilt their city, and the Acropolis stands as a testament to their resilience and enduring legacy.

By the end of the 5th century BC, Athens was conquered by the Spartans. This conquest marked a significant shift in the city’s focus. The Spartans converted Athens into an educational hub, emphasizing learning and philosophy.

With the rise of Christianity, there was a major religious transformation in Athens. The city, along with the rest of the Roman Empire, was required to convert to Christianity. Many of the ancient statues and artifacts were sent to Constantinople, in order to be able to fully convert.

Fun fact: Cremation was only legalized in Greece in 2006! This was a significant change, given the strong influence of the Greek Orthodox Church, which traditionally favored burial over cremation.

After wrapping up the tour, we decided to escape the heat and unwind at a nearby café. During our break, I mentioned the cooking class I had planned, and Sonal eagerly decided to join me. We then made our way to the cooking class venue to begin our culinary experience!

Cooking Class

We began the cooking class with a tour of the surrounding market, where the chefs purchase most of the ingredients for the lessons. We picked up some valuable tips and tricks for selecting produce, as well as insights into what is grown locally and what is imported.

Olives, of course, hold a special place in Greek culture. Greece cultivates over 60 types of olives across the country, with Kalamon olives being the most popular. An interesting tidbit I learned is that “extra virgin” olive oil refers to the oil from the first press of the olives, which is considered the highest quality. Many Greeks make their own olive oil, storing it in jars for the entire year. They grow their own olives and then bring them to local mills to be pressed for little costs or some of the produced olive oil.

Another intriguing fact is how to select fresh fish. You need to check the eyes—they should be glossy and clear, not murky. Additionally, when you press your finger into the skin, it should spring back quickly, leaving no indent behind. This ensures the fish is fresh and of good quality.

Recipes Made

Dolmades: Vine leaves wrapped around herb-infused rice, mixed with beef.

Spanakopita: Greek spinach pies made with feta, spinach, and herbs, all wrapped in phyllo dough.

Tzatziki: Greek yogurt infused with garlic, cucumber, and herbs.

Imam Bialdi: Roasted eggplants topped with tomato sauce and feta cheese.

Portokalopita: An orange cake made from phyllo pastry, oranges, and cinnamon.

Lastly, not made by us but enjoyed by us was the Mastika: A liqueur made on the Greek island of Chios. Yum!

I love traveling and hearing the stories of those I meet, creating friendships around the world that I hope to reconnect with on future trips. Traveling alone pushes you to be more open and adventurous, making every journey enriching. It’s an experience I recommend to everyone. I can’t wait to share more of my adventures with you. Stay tuned for the next journey!