Exploring Athens: Unveiling the Soul of a Vibrant City

April 2023

As a travel enthusiast, I couldn't resist the opportunity to see my favorite comedian, Tom Segura, perform live in Europe. Fortunately, I didn't have to travel too far from Israel to get to Athens, where the show was being held. After landing in Athens on a Friday evening, my travel partner and I took a 40 Euro cab ride to our accommodation, the Pella Inn Hostel. We 'splurged' a bit for a private room with a queen-sized bed, a private bathroom, and a private balcony in the heart of Psyri. It was definitely worth the $120 total cost, especially since the location was unbeatable.

We wasted no time and headed out for dinner. As we walked around, we stumbled upon Little Kook, an alleyway that was lit up with hanging lights and had an Alice in Wonderland theme. We couldn't resist stopping for some dessert. I highly recommend checking it out if you're ever in the area. Our next stop was The Traditional, an authentic Greek restaurant that did not disappoint. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was cozy and welcoming.

After dinner, we wandered around and found ourselves at Contrabando, a bar where we enjoyed some delicious cocktails. Although my travel partner, Eli, was tired from a long day of traveling, I was still eager to explore. So, I hopped over to Ghost Town, a karaoke bar with an 8 Euro entrance fee, which included two drinks of beer or wine. I had a great time socializing with the amiable locals and singing along to popular Greek songs. Although I only managed to catch the name of one of the songs, "Sti Discotheque," it sounded even better after a few drinks, despite not being able to comprehend some of the lyrics. I had an interesting conversation with Antwan from Canada about the future of AI and its continuing impact. Later on, as I was heading towards my hostel, I stumbled upon the Street Food Show, an indoor food truck that offered both vegan and regular fried corn dogs. I grabbed one to eat on the way.

While I was nearing my hostel, I noticed three girls sitting at Goody's. Two of them were munching on some delicious looking food, while the third one was having a salad. For some reason, I felt compelled to strike up a conversation with them, and they kindly invited me to join them. We hit it off, and I even shared a funny story with them about having to learn the Greek alphabet when I was in a fraternity and recite it before a match burned out. The girls suggested that I try to check out a Mpouzoukia while I was in town, which is a type of Greek party that they said didn't have a direct translation to English.

After a night of mingling with locals and trying out the city's best bars, we woke up early to explore the iconic Acropolis. We headed towards the Acropolis to have some brunch and ended up sitting at Kosmikon, a quaint restaurant with delicious food and a cozy atmosphere.

As we continued to walk towards the Acropolis, we explored some side streets and stumbled upon some hidden gems. We arrived at the Acropolis and were initially discouraged by the long line, but it ended up only taking 20 minutes to buy tickets for 10 Euros each, since we were under 25 years old. After taking some stunning pictures up on the Acropolis, we decided to have a little fun and trolled a passerby by asking him to take a picture of the view instead of us. We descended from the Acropolis and continued to explore the area.

In the evening, we got ready for the main event of the night: the Tom Segura comedy show at Christmas Theater, which was a 30-minute car ride away. Before heading to the theater, we stopped by Couleur Locale, a nearby rooftop with amazing vibes, service, and food. I was surprised to find out that a bottle of water was only 50 cents at the theater. Additionally, there was no security check to enter the theater, which was very different from what I was used to in Israel and the US where there were metal detectors and lots of security. It was even allowed for people to enter the theater with backpacks.

Tom Segura's comedy show was absolutely hilarious, and it was definitely worth the travel to see him perform. After the show, we headed back to our accommodation to rest up for the exciting day ahead.

After a good night's rest, we were up and ready to embark on our 10-hour boat ride around the Greek islands. We arrived at the port and loaded up with approximately 50 other passengers, including the crew. Our boat trip was a great deal, and we found out from our fellow travelers that booking in advance is recommended for the best price. Our first stop was in Agistri, a small island with just under 1,000 residents. We strolled around the quiet, picturesque streets of the island, admiring the beautiful Greek architecture, and finally settled at an overlook to enjoy the view. Eli decided to take a dip in the water, and we were both struck by the tranquil and peaceful atmosphere of the place.

As we continued on our journey, we stopped midway in the ocean for a swim break. Despite the chilly 17°C water temperature, I was the first to jump into the water and the last to get out. We relaxed with some beers, and I even had the chance to put on a snorkeling mask, although there wasn't much sea life to observe. Once the swim break was over, it was time for the home-cooked buffet served by the boat's chef. While others ate on mats on the front of the boat, I opted to sit with some older American travelers who shared some general life advice with me, which filled me with calmness as I ate.

Our next stop was Aegina, where Eli and I immediately headed to rent mopeds. We were determined to cover as much of the island as possible during our short stay. We rode to the temple and then back towards the center, where we stopped at a bakery ice cream shop. Although I can't recommend any specific desserts, I highly recommend trying anything with pistachios, which are a local specialty. On our way back to the boat, we ran into two Israelis we had sat next to on our flight from Israel to Athens.

After our day trip to the islands, we got back to the hotel to shower and freshen up. We were feeling hungry, so we decided to head to Osaka for some delicious sushi. The sushi in Israel is not as good, so we wanted to take advantage of being in Greece and have a proper sushi dinner.

Later that evening, we met up with our friends from the boat at Contrabando. Unfortunately, the Karaoke bar we wanted to go to was closed, so I decided to explore the area alone. I stumbled upon a small bar called Norman Bar that had cheap cocktails, and I ordered two Old Fashions for under 15 Euros. I then went on a search to find a place to watch the NBA playoffs. I eventually found a bar called Φ Bar, but they couldn't pull up the game. I continued my search and stumbled upon a Yasmine Shisha Bar where I finally found the game on TV.

I struck up a conversation with three girls from Atlanta and Miami, and they invited me to sit with them for the rest of the night. We smoked nargilah, took shots with the bartender and owner, and shared stories about our respective Athens trips. It was a great end to a fun-filled day.

The next morning I sat at Theta, a restaurant in Athens and I did what I've always wanted to, which is worked remotely from abroad.

For anyone planning a trip to Athens, I encourage you to embrace your own unique adventure and explore this captivating city in your own way. With its diverse attractions, lively nightlife, and captivating history, Athens offers endless possibilities for creating unforgettable experiences that resonate with your own personal interests and preferences. So, get ready to embark on your own Athenian journey and discover the wonders that await you in this remarkable destination.

Little Kook

Yasmine Shisha Bar

Φ Bar

View to Acropolis

Norman Bar

Osaka

Boat Ride

Acropolis

Kosmikon

Street Food Show