Athens: Philosophy, Art, and... Hostels

ATHENS is where Western civilization began, with accomplishments in philosophy, politics, art, and literature that are unsurpassed to this day.  Athens is also one of the world’s oldest cities, documented from 1400 BC, when it played a role in the preclassical Mycenaean culture, and today the largest city and capital of Greece.  After centuries of neglect as a part of the Ottoman Empire, Athens today has returned to much of its previous vitality and importance.  It has also overcome much of its horrendous smog problem of a few decades ago, and today is fairly pleasant, especially in the tourist areas under the Parthenon.  Piraeus is the major port and is only a short train ride away.  Piraeus resembles nothing so much as a modern airport with ferries coming and going constantly.  As always the main problem in Athens is the economy. 

     The main tourist sights center on the ancient Acropolis and its crown jewel, the Parthenon.  Then there is the National Archeological Museum.  Those expecting an eastern Rome-like “museum city” full of medieval art and architecture will be disappointed.  During the civil war Athens was mostly depopulated and destroyed.  Only the Plaka below the Acropolis maintains some of that ambience, with streets devoted to certain crafts and other vestiges of that era.  Still the Acropolis is not the only classical site of interest.  There is also the Roman-built Odeum theatre built in 161 AD and now used in the summer festival of music and drama, and the Theatre of Dionysius to which it is attached.  Others are found in the Agora, including the Theseum, a 5^th Century BC temple.  Then there are the 42-foot-high Horologium water clock and the Byzantine church Aylos Eleftherios.  

There are good hostels in Athens, nine of them listed in the book, complete with prices, specs, and contact info.  Prices range from $15-30 for a dorm bed, double that for a private room.  If you're interested in the book, for a limited time get a 10% discount by clicking on the cover image that reads "discount store" and when prompted enter the coupon code 9KGCTDCP.