Athens embodies the financial pain that much of Europe is enduring more than any other place we visited.  Despite that, it’s impossible to not be awed by a city that has been so integral to so many moments in history.  Remnants of Athens’ ancient beginnings are woven throughout the city like an amazing tapestry of new and old.  This is a great example of ancient history in Athens getting in the way of modern progress.  The plaque on the opposite side proclaims that they found these artifacts by accident while excavating for a planned subway station and as a result, ended up having to move it to over 100′ to preserve these ancient Greek baths.

Artifacts in Athens, photo by Kyle Thomson

It’s amazing how the city has formed around sites of historical significance.

Greek columns, surrounded by the encroaching city, photo by Kyle Thomson

Even early in the morning, the crowds at the Acropolis make it very difficult to get a photo with anything other than a sea of heads and iPads:

Eager onlookers line up to view the Acropolis

Despite the crowds at the Acropolis, Athens didn’t have nearly the volume of tourists that I would have expected for being such a stronghold of history and culture.  I attribute this to the perception of Athens that I encountered before going, that it was an unattractive, dirty, unpleasant city worth visiting only as a formality while enroute to more exciting destinations.  Our take was that in a lot of ways, Athens lived up to its reputation as a tough city going through a tough time – we saw homelessness, crime, litter, and graffiti ad nauseum, but on the other hand, we met some very friendly people and saw some incredible sights.

At the end of the day I consider it time well spent but I wouldn’t be in a hurry to return.