Athens, Greece
Having explored the Acropolis this morning I rested in my hotel till about 3pm to avoid the heat. I ventured out for some food and to check out some museums.
Heading back to my hotel after the historical sites this morning I passed thru the Sunday Antique Market. We had similar Sunday markets growing up in London.
It wasnt so much antique as just second hand junk. I suppose there were good finds if you wanted to spend the time but these were not the kinds of things I was interested in.
My hotel was actually at the edge of the immigrant neighbourhood with Pakistanis, Bengalis, Africans, and Chinese. Looking for food I found a Pakistani restaurant that provided massive helpings of chicken biriyani for 3 Eu ($4.50) away from the overpriced touristy restaurants.
I wanted to spend the afternoon in museums but when I found the Athens City Museum and National History Museum they were both closed and had irregular days of opening and closing by 230pm meaning I couldnt come back after my upcoming day trips.
I wandered around more thru Monastiraki the central historic district.
There was an Islamic History Museum I had been trying to find since yesterday. It is shown on the tourist map but the positioning is slightly off. Entrance was 9 Eu ($13.50).
It was a very detailed and elaborate museum and odd considering Greece's troubled history with Turkey. It is worth visiting and one of the best Islamic Art Museums, not something you would expect in Athens with all its own history.
I was back in my hotel again after 5pm. Overall I wasnt liking Athens. It was dirty and run down making me sick with a runny nose and cough from all the dirt. Thessaloniki was nothing like this and very clean and presentable when I was there 2 years back.
2025-05-23