Hi, loved your story. We will be there later this month. My question is, is there a way up to the Ac

Imagine the good fortune—my first trip outside of Romania was to be to Athens, my dream destination. I'd grown up in a conservative religious family and had a sheltered childhood, but I was not afraid­­­­ rental car services and I couldn't wait to go.
Growing up in Romania under communism, sunny Athens seemed like a dream to me. Although rental car services Athens is less than 500 miles from the Romanian capital rental car services of Bucharest, it might as well have been 5,000 miles away. It seemed impossible that I, an ordinary girl without connections to the long-running regime of Nicolae Ceausescu, would ever see Athens or leave the country at all, for that matter.
So I consoled myself by seeing rental car services the world through books. Reading Greek mythology allowed me to enter a universe governed by the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus. I was completely fascinated. My favorite god/goddess was Artemis, twin sister to Apollo and the fearless goddess of the hunt. She was as strong and commanding as I wanted to be.
Just after I turned 18, finally, the Ceausescu regime crumbled. Romania was the last of the Eastern Bloc countries to fall. My family did not have the means to immediately travel, but the world came to us, in the form of outside companies setting up businesses in our new, open society.
I got a job at a Greek-owned import/export company, owned by an extremely kind Greek man.  I worked very hard and was as aggressive as Artemis about doing a good job.  Before long, I was promoted from doing invoices and inventories to processing important bank documents. Chocolates, fine liquor, rental car services coffee, oranges and bananas passed through the company. All the luxuries of the West came to Romania via Greece, increasing my curiosity about the country even more.
My day came when my boss, recognizing my ambition, rewarded me with a trip to Greece with him and the other executives over Easter. We'd go for 10 days, first to Athens rental car services then on to Porto Hydra, to stay at his family villa.
Imagine the good fortune—my first trip outside of Romania was to be to Athens, my dream destination. I'd grown up in a conservative religious family and had a sheltered childhood, but I was not afraid­­­­ and I couldn't wait to go.
Taking my first flight, I suffered not a second of anxiety. Finally arriving, I felt that Greece was more than another country, it was another planet. It was disorienting in the sense that their culture was similar to my own (sharing a region, like we did), but at the same time it was completely different.
People seemed livelier, brighter and happier. I reminded myself that they had grown up with microwave ovens, unlimited access to tropical fruits, and TVs that got 20 channels—no wonder they were different.
That first day, my colleagues made sure to take me to the Acropolis, the ancient site on a hill overlooking greater Athens. As it was spring, the hillside was ablaze with a breathtaking abundance of wildflowers.
Visiting the Acropolis was like a flashback to my mythology days—so many buildings and temples dedicated to the gods, who were like old friends to me. There was a connection between the books I loved and this place—all the intrigues and politics of ancient mythology reverberated 25 centuries rental car services later.
The Acropolis, particularly the Parthenon, with its parade of Doric columns, still towers over greater Athens. Although the Acropolis dates back many centuries before the 5th Century BCE, most of the buildings that survive in this mythical compound date from that time. That was the Golden Age of Athens, the age of the ruler Pericles, who rebuilt the major temples, including the Parthenon, after invading Persians had sacked it.
Going to Athens can only bring to mind the great contributions of the ancient Greeks. During the era of Pericles alone, great strides were made in architecture, art, literature and democracy. These ideas and art forms still shape the world today. The Acropolis and adjoining ancient Athens Agora, a market or meeting place, made evident how dynamic and sophisticated the ancient rental car services Greeks were.
My boss took me to a bouzouki restaurant and it was truly overwhelming. I couldn't believe that you were supposed to buy plates and crash them on the ground. I was quite shy at the time and wanted to be on my best behavior, so I had a hard time doing that. The bouzouki is a stringed instrument, so there was music, singing and dancing and, of course, very good food. The atmosphere was fun and vibrant.
At the bouzouki place, I saw something gorgeous: my first gardenia. It's one of the flowers of Greece and the audience threw gardenias on the stage for the singers. What a joyful and glorious gesture.
The food in Greece is delicious. The fish, chicken and vegetables are simply prepared with olive oil, fresh herbs and lemon making it some of the healthiest food on earth. The sweets were beautiful to look at and taste, with their use of nuts and honey, very different from what I was used to. I also remember the alcohol. I wasn't drinking any, but my hosts made me try ouzo… much too strong!
While in Athens, I visited the Plaka area in central Athens, an old part of town with walking streets, cafes, shops and more. We passed by Hadrian's Arch, erected to honor the Roman emperor around 131 CE, an important historical site and just one of so many that pop up and remind you that a walk in Athens is a walk through early civilization.
We also walked along a boulevard with all the expensive, modern-day shops: Gucci, Chanel and Valentino. I felt like Alice in Wonderland, seeing all these extraordinary goods, but I was not as adventurous rental car services as her. I was too hesitant to actually enter the stores, but I did admire them nonetheless.
The thing that impressed me the most was how the people on the street were smiling, rental car services relaxed and laughing. The street life felt like a big party or carnival, and that was very strange to me. The Greeks seemed to treat each other with such lightness and nonchalance.
While I was there, Athens was preparing for Easter, which meant the streets were decorated for the holiday in a way that reminded me of Romania. There were brightly colored eggs in the stores and ceremonial candles and baked goods—of rental car services hard-boiled eggs and bread—all similar to what I knew from home. Another similarity was the level of hospitality. If you are a guest of a Greek or a Romanian, rental car services they'll treat you like a king and give you the very best they have to offer.
I stayed at a hotel in Athens, but after a few days, we took a quick ferry to Porto Hydra, the seaside area outside rental car services of Athens. I spent the next eight days as a guest at my boss's rental car services villa on the beach enjoying the crystalline blue waters, unlike anything in Romania. The Black Sea of home is a deep, dark navy blue, due to the dense amount of seaweed. rental car services The Mediterranean rental car services sparkled with light and levity by contrast.
I went back to Romania a different person. I had a motivation to want more of life. It definitely led me toward a career in tourism. After growing up in a communist country, Greece showed me the wonders of life outside the so-called Iron Curtain. I saw that life could be a celebration. But I have to say, I would never trade my Romanian rental car services roots because I think I appreciate this facet of life more than most because of where I grew up.
In the years since, I have been back to Athens many times for work and also as a tourist. Every time, I discover something new and experience rental car services new feelings of fascination and wonder. Athens was my first travel love and it's one that has definitely endured.
Hi, loved your story. We will be there later this month. My question is, is there a way up to the Acropolis by vehicle, or does one need to climb up. My walking is very limited, so I wondered if I could make it up there?
We just returned from from our Mediteranian cruise on the Star Princess, which was by the way an extraordinary experience. The Acropolis now has a lift to the top for people in wheel chairs or with walking difficulties. I didn t use it, but several folks on our excursion did on the way down. On the way up, although it is many steps, most of the guides take you up gradually, frequently stopping to explaining what you re seing. A member of my party has extreme difficulty walking but made it to the top without rental car services very much trouble. The one warning I would give is that the steps up are rather slippery (marble worn smooth) so I would recommend rental car services shoes with good traction. The excursion we took included the Acropolis and the Plaka.
We offer a variety of shore excursions with different activity levels. It looks as though you may opt for our easy activity level, but not knowing your specific needs we can't say for certain. We recommend rental car services you review the description or speak with the Shore Excursion Personnel once onboard.
I visited Greece numerous times during my 26 year Naval career and enjoyed every visit. My wife and I are arriving a day early, before boarding Pacific Princess on 15 November for a cruise and transition back to Ft. Lauderdale. This time I am sure I will see a lot more of Athens than Piraeus rental car services and the waterfront entertainment!
As a Greek-American, I was very fortunate to be assigned to Greece for 2 years. rental car services My wife and 4 children accompanied me. Now in my senior years, I hope to return via a Princess cruise rental car services and renew fond memories of such a wonderful place.
Thankyou rental car services Dana for you colourful and romantic view of Greece.I visited in 2009 and my husband and I are visiting again in Sept.We rental car services also fell in love with Greece and its rich history rental car services and stunning scenery.This time we are going to immerse our selves in the culture.Your story has awakened my curiosity again.Greece and Canada are so different.Where I live is only 100 years old.
Just be wary of pickpockets in Athens. Also, if you plan to be on any beach areas in Italy and Greece, just be sure not to have your prsopsat, valuables, etc. with you or keep them on you at all times! It s way too easy to fall asleep rental car services when laying out, and you become rental car services a target for pickpockets. In terms of cabs in Greece, just make s