Ancient city of Athens, Greece

I stopped into the capital of Greece for a couple of days to explore its long and rich history, culture and food. The city itself is busy, with cars winding in and out of narrow roads and locals shopping in food markets around the clock.

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Food market - off of Athena street you can find a variety of different stands with products. From feta, olives, salami, spices, pistachios, to fruit, vegetables, and everything in between. I went around and tried various nuts, dates and olives, and bought a few favourites, too.

Acropolis of Athens - a combination of ancient ruins on top of a rocky hill. The largest is the Pantheon, which is currently undergoing reconstruction.

Roman mosaic - while doing a walking tour we spotted a mosaic in the ground of a park. It was just outside the city walls and a sign that Romans used to occupy the area thousands of years ago. Just west of Athens is the city of Corinth this was previously the Roman capital.

Academy of Athens - this building is a replica of the Temple of Hydra, where decisions were made and democratic voting took place by raising hands. Made from Ionic stones this academy is a place of learning and therefore covered in Greek gods and owls.

Panathenaic Stadium and Changing of the Guard - just outside the city walls is the stadium, home to the first modern Olympic games in Athens. The stadium is the only one in the world made from marble. During the walking tour we also witnessed the changing of the guard in front of the Presidential Palace. The soldiers wear a traditional uniform and every hour take turns guarding the residence. Changing of the guard was also visible at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Baklava - I found the most delicious baklava at Beneth Food Hall, on Athena street. This phyllo pastry dessert layered with honey and different nuts was wonderful.

Ruins - all over the city you can find old ruins, depicting the long history. By just walking around I saw some outside the City Hall, and then found more ruins at the Pottery Museum, Roman Agora, Hadrian's Library, Hadrian's Arch.

Psiri neighborhood - one of my favourite areas in the city. Filled with local restaurants, bars, a great nightlife and lots of live music in the evenings.

Monastriaki square - the central square in Athens was lively during the day and night. The flea market was right around the corner and sold lots of souvenirs along with vintage house décor and records.

Greek classics - I made sure to try some staples when in Athens. I had dolmades, stuffed grape leaves with rice and then dipped into tzatziki. I also enjoyed pork souvlaki, pork gyros and fried zucchini balls, which were super tasty! I also tried some cold Greek wine and beer, both necessities in the heat.

Plaka - it's a more touristy area so restaurants are more expensive, but it’s really nice to walk around, as it is filled with colourful buildings and a variety of flowers.

Panaghia Kapnikarea Church and The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation - there are many churches in and around Athens. I walked by two as they were centrally located. The first, an older style church dates back to the 11th century, while the cathedral is newer, completed around 1862. Outside the main cathedral was a small older looking chapel, but also a church from the 11th or 12th century.

Philopappos Hill - just west of the Acropolis with the Philapappos monument standing on top. I headed to the top, spotted the sea and watched the sunset while enjoying some olives from the market. When heading down from the hill and back into the city there were tons of locals selling jewelry. I found one guy selling brass, bronze and wooden rings.

#StandWithUkraine - I found various symbolism through street art and signs which showed Greeks are welcoming people and open to refugees from different countries. I also spotted stickers for a rally which occurred in March against Putin and in support of Ukraine and various fake license plate stickers, including one for Ukraine. Even though it wasn't specially for the war, it was still special to see one with the flag and tryzub (trident).

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Athens intrigued me and makes me want to come back to explore more. It's a unique city with a lot of history mixed in with the modern world, and constantly evolving as the years go by, but also managing to preserve its old charm.

Off to explore some islands. Efcharistó Athina!