Greece (Part 2): The Agora

(The view from Earos Living to the main street. Syntagma Square is to the left and the sea is to the right.)

Somehow I got some sleep. In Athens, there's obviously the Acropolis, but aside from that, there are 6 other ancient attractions that you could visit, and they are all connected, as in you could buy a ticket for all of them together if you want. I had read that somebody had went to "The Agora" first, and bought a ticket for all 7 attractions, including the Acropolis, there. I decided to do the same. Why go to the Acropolis first, and what if there are long lines there?

It was a really good decision. I tried to take the bus to the Agora, but the bus was taking long, and I still didn't know how to pay for a bus ticket. So I walked across the main expressway, en route to the nearest subway station. That was about a 25 minute walk, inside the veins of Athens, a good opportunity to experience the neighborhoods. Everything paid off when I arrived at the ticket machine, and I bought a 5-day unlimited pass, valid for the metro, trams, and buses, for 8 euros. Now I could take the metro as much as I wanted, as well as trams and busses.

I took the metro to The Agora, and I bought a combination ticket there, which granted me one-time entry to all 7 archaeological sites, such as The Agora and The Acropolis. If you take the metro to The Agora, I think you exit at the Monastiraki metro station, which is the heart of Athens in some ways. Think of it as a smaller Syntagma Square. It's a place to gather, to shop, and to remember.

(To the left of Monastiraki station, where there is a super cool souvenir street. All around Monastiraki are streets with restaurants, cafes, and shops.)

(You could actually walk from Monastiraki/Agora to the Acropolis. It is to your right, up some hills, and you are there. It's sort of the back path to the Acropolis, and if you go this way, you will encounter a promising-looking seafood restaurant and then eventually a scenic lookout, with awesome views.)

That's Lycabettus Hill in the background. More on that later. I decided to save the Acropolis for tomorrow, and work on the Agora and other nearby sites. The 7 sites are listed on the ticket, you can search them on your maps app, and I'll list them below:

1) Acropolis and Slopes

2) Ancient Agora

3) Roman Agora

4) Hadrian's Library

5) Olympieion

6) Kerameikos

7) Aristotle's School

I ate breakfast at a restaurant in Monastiraki Square, an English breakfast for $12, and I began to explore the ancient Agora. Aside from the Acropolis, the other 6 sites were like parks, and you could walk around, under the sun, and see what was left of the ancient ruins. Each attraction had an entrance, where tickets would be scanned, and an exit, typically to the left of the entrance.

I spent the rest of my day checking out maybe 4 of the sites, getting a coffee, and buying some souvenirs. I bought a white hat for 5 euros to protect me from the heat. That night I ate at a tavern near my hotel. A tavern is basically like a home, where food is served, and I came across this one by chance: the restaurant I wanted to go to was empty, and I was searching for something better. I had a delicious chicken souvlaki plate.

(What's left of the Agora, I suppose.)

(These archaeological sites were like parks that you could walk around in.)

(Breakfast at a place in Monastiraki Square. Would recommend.)

(Dinner at Taverna To Fagopoti. The chicken was so juicy, so good. Would recommend.)