Greece 2019

GREECE 2019

This summer before traveling to Spain we went to Athens, Greece.  It was a place that was on our Family Bucket List for a long time due to our immersion in school in the tales of Greek mythology and legend as the birthplace of democracy.	We waited until this summer to head to Greece since Mateo is now old enough to do the extensive walking required to explore all the beautiful ancient sites.
After a snafu with our Air B&B, we had to find a last minute hotel after arriving in Athens at midnight.  360 was literally the ONLY hotel with availability for four people - it was a really cool boutique hotel we *highly* recommend.	Breakfast was included with our room at Hotel 360, which was an *incredible* spread of Greek and continental foods.  We also had this amazing view of the Acropolis while eating breakfast.
After getting our Air B&B sorted out, we headed to the Athens Happy Train for a tour of the major sites in Athens.	One of the sites seen on the Athens Happy Train was the Arch of Hadrian.
On the afternoon of our first full day in Greece we headed to the National Archaeological Museum to explore its treasures.	The National Archaeological Museum contained beautiful art from antiquity, and was a welcome respite from the heat.
Ancient art always shows the roots of other, more modern art.  Here is the precursor to Christian imagery showing the image of Mary with the baby Jesus.	Also always really cool to see ancient feats of engineering, as exemplified by this cart.
The Ancient Greek Theater Odeon of Herodes Atticus is still in existence and utilized for performances.	We saw an evening performance in the Herodeon of the ROSAS Troupe dancing to the music of Bach's Six Cello Suites.
Our next full day in Greece we rode a cable car up Mount Lycabettus.	...and received this PHENOMENAL view of the Acropolis and Athens.
After exploring Mount Lycabettus, it was off to lunch at Veganbeats.  We got the *coolest* table which were cushions on the floor, and enjoyed vegan versions of Greek salads and gyros.	Mateo and Sharon shared a Greek salad and some vegan wraps - YUMMY!  The owners were very friendly and love vegan food as much as we do.
Sharon's friend Theresa suggested we check out the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments...it was one of the highlights of the trip for our family musicians David and Mateo.	Sharon and David especially enjoyed seeing the woodwinds - Sharon played clarinet in middle school and high school, and David is teaching himself and Mateo the recorder.
If you ever travel to Greece with children, Little Kook's Cafe is a magical destination that MUST be on your itinerary.	Little Kook's Cafe had to be the original inventor of Crazy Milkshakes (and then Black Tap brought the idea to NYC).  Each milkshake we received had an ENTIRE donut on the top(!)
The House of Parliament we initially saw on our Happy Train Tour, and then we returned since it is very close to the National Gardens.	We got to see the Changing of the Guard unexpectedly on our way to the National Gardens - serendipitous and an awesome surprise!
And speaking of the National Gardens in Athens, they are totally picturesque with the tall palm trees, a pond, and turtles that make their home there.	Aleixi and Mateo posed on this great wooden bridge over the pond.
We ate dinner at the traditional Greek Restaurant Adrianos.  We got to sit outdoors at a table on a cobblestone street, listen to live Greek guitar music, participate in traditional Greek circle dancing and even break some plates.	Mateo is a total foodie; he tries every food and beverage and enjoys the finer things in life.
The reason why we have wanted to go to Greece for sooo long is to visit the famed Acropolis.  We were blessed with going on a Mythology Tour to visit the Acropolis in the context of the Greek gods and goddesses.	The first stop on the Mythology Tour was to the Temple of Zeus.  During ancient times the temples were for the dedicated god or goddess, and people worshiped and brought offerings outside of the temple.
Then on the Mythology Tour we walked through the Old Town and made our way to the Acropolis.	The view of the Acropolis on the ascent is awe-inspiring.
Sharon has been trying to inspire in Mateo and Alexi a love of theater by bringing them to shows and performances since they were very little.	The view of the Theater Odeon of Herodes Atticus is very awe-inspiring in the daytime.
The remains of the Erechtheum, a Greek temple dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon.	A family pose in front of the Erechtheum.
There was a democratic contest in which the people of Athens got to exercise their voting powers and choose the symbol of Athens.  Poseidon offered them the sea, and Athena offered this olive tree, and since there were more females than males living in Athens, the olive tree was selected.	The hole in the floor of the Erechtheum is symbolic of where Poseidon struck down his trident and water burst forth from the sea.
The Parthenon is one of the seven Ancient Wonders of the World, and incredible viewed from any angle.	Family photo in front of the Parthenon - a total dream come true to be able to see this, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, in person.
Dabbing was one of the themes of this trip, as demonstrated by Alexi and Mateo in front of the Parthenon.	Family photo on the site of the Acropolis, with the Greek flag in the background.
The last stop on the Mythology Tour was to the Agora, which was the site of the Roman Market.	The final site we visited on our Mythology Tour was the Temple of Hephaestus found in the Agora.
Mateo and Alexi posing in front of the Temple of Hephaestus.	After our 4 hour Mythology Tour, Mateo and Alexi were VERY happy to sit down and get a well deserved rest.
The Acropolis Museum lived up to its high billing.	It was amazing to see sculptures and plasters of sculptures from the Acropolis.
We are sooo glad we gave the vegetarian restaurant Peas a Chance!	An Athenian vegetarian restaurant that has smoothies AND chai lattes is always a winner for this family.
Sharon and Mateo ordered the combo plate to share that was BEYOND DELICIOUS.	Alexi and David were thrilled with their vegetarian Gyro wraps.
Our final day in Greece led us on a day trip to Delphi.	We hiked up the mountains of Delphi in the blistering 100 degree heat (thank goodness for the breeze).
Our up and coming thespians of the stage!	Theater was such an integral part of life in Greece.
Our Delphi journey ended at the stadium that hosted athletic events at the mountain's peak.	This summer was the summer of soccer for these athletes.
Such incredible natural beauty surrounded us at Delphi.	The Sphinx of Naxos was a highlight of the Museum at Delphi.  This mythical creature has the head of a woman, the chest and wings of a bird and the body of a lioness.  On top of a pedestal it must have been quite awe-inspiring on a mountain.
Sharon truly enjoyed seeing these kouroi after learning all about this ancient art form in Humanities Class in high school at DHS.	Check out this intact charioteer with a rendering of the chariot he was pulling reconstructed from antiquity.
Sharon first experienced fish foot tanks on our trip several years ago to Mexico.	It is so cool (and a great massage!) to have fish nibbling at your feet.
This was most definitely a highlight of the trip to Greece for Sharon.	Next time Mateo wants to put his feet in the tank.
We had dinner our final night in Athens at Avocado, one of the *BEST* vegetarian restaurants in Athens.	Sharon was incredibly satisfied with her avocado smoothie.
We ordered a plethora of avocado dishes, including this one with pita and avocado hummus.	Veggie burgers at Avocado of course include avocado!
Sharon and David have always *loved* exploring the world, and it is so fun experiencing other cities and cultures with our children and providing them with this invaluable education.	Our trip to Athens was one of our favorites ever!  Wonder where our next vacation will take us to??!!