A full-day in Athens

We had an early alarm this AM as we had a busy morning planned. First stop: a bakery!

We wanted to get to the Panathenaic Stadium by 7:30 to run before it officially opened at 8. However, when we got there they weren’t doing the morning run time anymore and we had to wait until 8 to get in. So, we waited. Once we got in we had 12 minutes to run a lap, climb the stairs, and glance at the Olympic torches. 

Then we had a 12 minute walk to meet our tour group for the Acropolis. We had read a guided tour with skip the line tickets was the way to go. False. We entered the Acropolis around 9am (30 minutes of waiting and walking to the gate). Then, we made a lot of stops to hear about various parts of the Acropolis. So, by the time we got to the top we were hot and it was super crowded. Really miserable. We don’t recommend. Get there very early. Have a pre-purchase ticket and go straight to the top. See the other ruins on your way back down. 

After that exhausting experience (be running from the stadium to our tour group) our feet were a mess and we were exhausted. Stopped for bubble tea pick me up and then enter naptime/shower time #1. 

While Anna took a nap, Michael and Alison took a quick trip to a beer bar so Michael could try the local brews. 

Then, we went back, picked up Anna and had Greek/Indian fusion for lunch at Naanwich. We don’t recommend. Anna’s chicken korma was good, but our souvlaki were not.

Then we strolled the flea market and had fun at the Museum of Illusions. 

Then it was time for naptime #2. 

Our final adventure of the day was fancy dinner at Hytra. 10 courses and a rooftop view of the Acropolis. Anna was not a big fan of this fancy food, but it was fun seeing her reactions to all the weird dishes.