Our trip in Athens and Greece continues. Today was Dilshad’s 65th birthday and planned to get more sightseeing done. We took a public tram from our hotel and walked over to the Syntagma (Constitution square), the central square of modern Athens, where the Hellenic Parliament is located. This is the most famous square in Greece because this is the square where Otto, the first King of Greece, was obliged to grant the Constitution to the Greeks, after a popular and military uprising on 3 September 1843. The Syntagma square is located in front of the 19th-century Old Royal Palace, which houses the Greek Parliament since 1934.
Some scenes along the way
![You are never far from a site of ruins anywhere in downtown Athens. Note the Acropolis and Parthenon view in the background under the arch More Athens, Greece, May 2021, You are never far from a site of ruins anywhere in downtown Athens. Note the Acropolis and Parthenon view in the background under the arch](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/cgpp6w96kybhvpn/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Entrance to the National Botanical Gardens behind the Parliament buildings More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Entrance to the National Botanical Gardens behind the Parliament buildings](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/32achkloa9kz2q4/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![National gardens More Athens, Greece, May 2021, National gardens](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/0uivjfqoyu6d99l/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Greek Parliament building housed in the Old Royal Palace facing Syntagma square. The Tomb of the unknown soldier is in the front between the 2 sentry boxes. More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Greek Parliament building housed in the Old Royal Palace facing Syntagma square. The Tomb of the unknown soldier is in the front between the 2 sentry boxes.](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/5rf7bruaw2elmk9/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
The soldiers guarding the parliament building and the Tomb of the unknown soldier are known as the Evones, a special unit of the Hellenic Army. The Monument depicts a dead soldier lying down, wearing a Greek style helmet. The Changing of the guards takes place every hour on the hour. Our timing was perfect 😊.
![Evones guards marching to the monument. Note the horseshoes and pompoms on their boots More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Evones guards marching to the monument. Note the horseshoes and pompoms on their boots](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/8qxmaiojybbyubv/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
The march of the guards was very similar to that we had witnessed in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Changing of the Evones Guards, Athens, Greece
After this we took an Uber to visit the Chapel of St George, which is atop the Lycabettus mountain in Athens, and the highest point of Athens. After a steep drive up, we got dropped off close to, but still a short walk to the funicular station where we took the funicular to the top and back for about 7 Euros each. Much better than the steep uphill hike; we must be getting lazy or old ☹. The Chapel is small but beautiful; dating to 1834; and was built where the temple of Zeus Extreme used to be, in ancient times. Nearby is a cafeteria with good food and great views. Some images below
![For those that climbed up to St Georges Chapel had beautiful views More Athens, Greece, May 2021, For those that climbed up to St Georges Chapel had beautiful views](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/n84oy0zfane5t9j/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Chapel of St George More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Chapel of St George](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/be5z50kft7x2z8e/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Breathtaking view of the Acropolis, Parthenon, the city of Athens, and the Aegean Sea More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Breathtaking view of the Acropolis, Parthenon, the city of Athens, and the Aegean Sea](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/zyxsaa5dnx07ob0/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Teatime break at the cafeteria high above Athens More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Teatime break at the cafeteria high above Athens](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/bf255x4mt1sgtu9/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
Incredible views of Athens from St Georges Chapel
After a nice time at Chapel of St George, we took the funicular down and this time, walked back to Syntagma square. Walking downhill was much easier and it was pleasant walking down small side streets and pedestrian walkways.
![Pleasant walk downhill to Syntagma More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Pleasant walk downhill to Syntagma](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/h64io3tw3k5y4lb/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Cute sidewalk cafés along the walk down More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Cute sidewalk cafés along the walk down](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/6iblzc2z1xai25y/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Arrived back at Syntagma square in front of the Parliament building. This place was always full of pedestrians. More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Arrived back at Syntagma square in front of the Parliament building. This place was always full of pedestrians.](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/rig7e94tyw029ce/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![On the other side of Syntagma square led to the famous shopping street of XXXXXX More Athens, Greece, May 2021, On the other side of Syntagma square led to the famous shopping street of XXXXXX](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ucl7gwo7bo4hyib/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
Ermou street had all the well-known expensive Brand shops as well as many other shops. The street was full of people going about their business.
![And plenty of nice outdoor café’s everywhere More Athens, Greece, May 2021, And plenty of nice outdoor café’s everywhere](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/f1fqt739sgdkzoe/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Feyrouz Levantine Street Food area was nicely busy with lots of small middle eastern restaurants. More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Feyrouz Levantine Street Food area was nicely busy with lots of small middle eastern restaurants.](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ri9ovejo1d27c68/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Well preserved ancient churches were everywhere. This was the ZZZZZ church near Monastiraki square More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Well preserved ancient churches were everywhere. This was the ZZZZZ church near Monastiraki square](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/9ra1wyle4emm4gj/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Church YYYYY from the XXXX century More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Church YYYYY from the XXXX century](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/id4s6gvvcgyhhgg/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![This must be one of the best examples of conservation and progress/modernization side-by-side. More Athens, Greece, May 2021, This must be one of the best examples of conservation and progress/modernization side-by-side.](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ln0zki22ks75neg/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
No trip is complete without a stop at the local market 🙂 .
![Fresh produce and jolly salespeople More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Fresh produce and jolly salespeople](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/kp4abjsw9gi6y5b/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Olives galore More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Olives galore](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/06bi9ybdpyosgpl/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![More veggies More Athens, Greece, May 2021, More veggies](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/pl0oyrjg251bapi/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![So much stuff; wonder how they find anything? More Athens, Greece, May 2021, So much stuff; wonder how they find anything?](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/f8gh6uggkiphott/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![The Fish market adjacent to the vegetable market. More Athens, Greece, May 2021, The Fish market adjacent to the vegetable market.](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/ckp9l9mj4msbeg7/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![More fresh seafood More Athens, Greece, May 2021, More fresh seafood](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/4dj4c21c5jj54jg/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Even drive through fish market?? More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Even drive through fish market??](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/7qapi0mgjs0b8a0/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Meat market adjacent to the Fish market More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Meat market adjacent to the Fish market](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/v85b05t6nb6w840/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Spices etc More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Spices etc](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/gafgin0a36m6lv0/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Grains, nuts, pulses etc More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Grains, nuts, pulses etc](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/hutajcce9j6sywo/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Love the small squares everywhere, where you can chill and observe daily life. More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Love the small squares everywhere, where you can chill and observe daily life.](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/9d8ozqe8xukhqx8/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Small streets of the old city with narrow sidewalks where you can still have patio dining. More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Small streets of the old city with narrow sidewalks where you can still have patio dining.](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/pz0i1ebfieehqm9/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![More quant squares, waiting for tourists. More Athens, Greece, May 2021, More quant squares, waiting for tourists.](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/0a39xzofgiumt0y/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Parking is always a premium in the narrow streets of the old city More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Parking is always a premium in the narrow streets of the old city](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/me2cuu7uatj1k1i/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![Interesting restaurants hidden down alleyways More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Interesting restaurants hidden down alleyways](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/p3uenmalasy6n4u/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
![We had dinner here in the old town. More Athens, Greece, May 2021, We had dinner here in the old town.](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/xkmui0q0b4nqnmb/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
We got talking to the server over dinner and he spoke good English. We talked about going to the Greek Islands and how much of a tourist traps they were. He said that even though Santorini was admittedly a tourist trap, it is so beautiful that he always recommends everyone (tourists and locals alike) to visit Santorini once in their lifetime. Since Dilshad wanted to visit Santorini & Mykonos islands, this piece of candid advice cemented it for us, and we started planning that visit next.
![Strolling through the old city at night was delightful. More Athens, Greece, May 2021, Strolling through the old city at night was delightful.](https://www.dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/g1m4vufbdhgnu4m/dsc03362__lum.jpeg)
The 5 senses and how we felt? We saw well preserved history everywhere, the narrow cobblestone streets, sidewalk cafes, and the views from Lycabettus mountain were a feast for the eyes and the taste buds. Hospitality was also excellent everywhere as Greece relies hugely on tourism; so that made it pleasant for us everywhere. And it was safe. A wonderful experience, well worth it.
After a very pleasant week in Athens, it was time to move on.
Santorini next.
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So much history. It is s a truly beautiful city.
So vibrant.
Quality photography – as always. Love you story telling through text and videos.
Well done Karims
Thanks so much Iqbal, for the feedback.
So glad you are enjoying the travels with us 🙂
Beautiful pictures seems like we missed a lot the last time we were there,
we may just go back again.
Thanks Ali
Thanks for the feedback Shiraz
Enjoy
Great pics as usual. Thanx for sharing.
Glad you liked them; thanks for the feedback Benita
Wow! Wonderful photos!! It felt like we were right there. You are very talented and to seem to find the best places to visit. I really enjoy your blogs. :). Please keep sharing. Thank you.
Thanks so much for the feedback & compliments Mubina.
So glad you are enjoying the blogs.
Will keep sharing 🙂
Thank you excellent and beautiful;
Thanks Amir
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