We’re staying at the Hera Hotel. Christine booked this hotel months ago and was smitten by the photos of the Acropolis views in their advertising. When we got into our room, I walked out onto the balcony and looked left down the street.

I yelled into Christine and said, “so much for an Acropolis view.” Then I looked right.

I can lie in bed at night and see an illuminated Parthenon. Pretty spiffy, for sure.
On Sunday we decided to take in the National Gardens and walk around one of the oldest neighborhoods in Athens, the Plaka, which has become a trendy café scene. To get to the gardens we opted to take the Metro. Eve broke a bone in her foot a few weeks before this trip and must wear an orthopedic boot when walking. Our getting about is a bit compromised, but Eve’s become quite an expert at navigating around using assistive mobility things for the disabled, like an elevator to the subway. These are things that most of us don’t pay any attention to, but for someone who needs to avoid stairs, getting around can be a big problem. I do fear that this trip is putting a strain on Eve’s foot and will set back her recovery. At any rate, Eve led us to the underground where she taught us how to get tickets from the machine. Shortly, we were on the subway, but only going one stop. The Athens subway is clean and seems well-run. Our stop was Syntagma, Constitution Square, the center of Athens and a location for protests as it is just across the street from the Parliament. The gardens are also just across the street from the square and next door to the Parliament.
In front of the Parliament is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers. There the Greek Guard puts on quite a show when it is time to change the guards. There was quite a crowd watching, but I managed to climb up on a wall and snap a couple of photos before a policeman yelled at me to get down.

We then entered the National Gardens which I suppose could be considered the Central Park of Athens. It is relatively small in area, only about 38 acres, but its tree-lined paths, pergolas, gazebos, pond, small zoo, and many benches provide a nice peaceful respite from busy Athens. Although very green, there wasn’t much in the way of flower gardens. I’m not sure whether or not during spring and summer there are more flowers, but we saw only a few flowering things.
It was fun watching all the kids running around, especially near the little lake where there were waterfowl and a turtle pond. I don’t know what there is about turtles, but everyone seems to enjoy watching turtles paddle around and climbing up onto things out of the water. We certainly did. Nearby there were cute little goats that were recipients of lots of leaves and branches being brought to them by children.
Christine and I strolled around most of the park while Eve found a spot in the café under a pergola and enjoyed a cappuccino and drawing in her sketchbook. We joined her for a cappuccino. It was very pleasant to just sit and relax.
We then set off for the Plaka. With Eve being our navigator, we found our way to the main shopping streets. It is a quaint area. We first checked out the Church of the Metamorphosis, a Byzantine church from the 12th century.
The main streets are pedestrians only, which I really like. In the central square, there are lots and lots of tavernas and cafes, each with a person out front trying to get you to come in. We passed a fellow who told us he didn’t have good food, he had excellent food. After walking around the square looking at plates, we did return to the “excellent” food place, the Plaka Taverna, for lunch. And guess what, he was right; the food was excellent. We ordered several things to share. Eve is being reacquainted with how much she likes Greek food.
After lunch we wandered around the Plaka a bit heading back in the direction of the hotel. It’s always fun wandering around neighborhoods, peeking in doors and windows and looking down alleyways. Christine and I keep marveling at how many plants and greenery people have on their balconies, some of it cascading down and some of it growing very tall upwards. Eve says that’s what balconies are for, and here in Athens the locals certainly have taken her up on that notion.
We rested back at the hotel and eventually got ourselves up and out the door in search of a place for lunch, not that we were particularly hungry after our wonderful lunch. The neighborhood around our hotel is full of pedestrian streets lined with restaurants. We got pulled into Gods’ Restaurant by one of the hawkers outside. He showed us photos of his grandparents who started the restaurant, and he reviewed all the fabulous authentic Greek dishes available. Again, we split a few things. A Greek salad in Athens is not the same things as the Greek salad at the Spot or Park Diner in Binghamton, that’s for sure. These salads are beautiful, very, very fresh and full of wonderful things. We also had chicken souvlaki, wonderful grilled chicken. And tzatziki, wow! The bread and tzatziki are out of this world. Dinner was yummy, and on the way back to the hotel, Christine and I had gelato. I can’t believe I ate so much today! More than on the cruise ship. But when in Athens. . .
This has been a lovely day. And Eve, the cat whisperer, got a little fix today. She definitely is a cat magnet.
