The Streets of Athens

Graffiti, ancient relics, and leafy greens (not the kind you eat) are all key to creating the Athenian street scene. Athens boasts a million and one things to see and do, but nothing is as authentic as tasting the local flavor by wandering on foot. If you get lost, look up - like Cornell's McGraw Tower or the North Star, the nearly always visible Parthenon is your compass. So take it slow for an hour or two each day you're in Athens, and meander through the countless squares. My favorite neighborhood? Anafiotika, the hidden village under the Acropolis. There's a cute little souvenir shop featuring contemporary Greek designs called Forget Me Not. You'll be glad you stopped in, but if you can't, check out their website!

Morning walk through Anafiotika

Monastiraki Square

Church of the Pantanassa

Metropolitan Church of Athens at Square Mitropoleos

Statue of Archbishop Damaskinos Papandreou. at Mitropoleos Square. A feisty guy, he spoke out against persecuted Jews.
Right hand symbol is a blessing (spells out the Greek name of "Jesus Christ"): ICXC
Learn more from Rick Steves' Athens City Walk Tour - audio here and map here. 

Syntagma Square

National Garden

Walked into a rehearsal

Ran into Wilson, who was traveling with NYU - completely unplanned! (Later ran into my friend, Christina, at the airport)