Athens | Paura - the Digital Nomad

Ancient Ruins in Athens

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Paura Leave a comment

A walk around Athens and you’d surely come up to a important ancient sites from the Classical and Roman times

The Acroplis

The Acropolis also called the Sacred Rock, is the most important ancient heritage of the country. It is also the trademark and most famous site of Athens and of Greece. It has been the main attraction of Athens since the 5th century BC and is dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and protector of the city.

The Parthenon

The Parthenon, the most famous ancient Greek temple ever, stands proudly over the modern megalopolis of Athens, a reminder of the great civilization he has witnessed. The Acropolis can be seen from almost every part of Athens. It was and still is, without any doubt, the ultimate achievement of the city classical and architectural glory

Herodeion Theatre

The Herodeion Theatre is one of the most impressive monuments of Athens and it is today hosting the Athens Festival with performances of theatre, music, and dance. The theatre is open to visitors only during performances. It is located at the south slope of the Acropolis and was added in 161 AD during the Roman rule. The theatre was built by Herodes Atticus, a wealthy Roman, in memory of his wife Regilla. It has exceptional acoustic capacities and can sit up to 5,000 spectators. It has a facade of 28 m high and 2,4 m width.

Temple of Hephaestus

The Temple of Hephaestus is the best preserved Doric temple in Greece. It was dedicated to Hephaestus, the god of the forge, hence the reason why the temple used to be in the center of numerous metalwork shops and foundries. It was built during Pericles rebuilding program.

Temple of Zeus

The Temple of Olympian Zeus took 700 years to be built and is the larger that was ever created. The work was completed by Emperor Hadrian in 131 AD. The huge Temple is composed of 104 Corinthian columns of 17 m high. Very little is left of his greatness today since only 17 columns are still standing.

Panathenaic Stadium

The Panathenaic (Roman) Stadium was built in the 4th century BC. It was hosting the Panathenaic Athletic contests. Herodes Atticus inaugurated the stadium when he rebuilds the seats with Pentelic marble. The stadium was strangely abandoned for centuries. It was finally restored in order to welcome the first modern Olympic Games of 1896.

Arch of Hadrian

The Arch of Hadrian was built by Emperor Hadrian in 132 AD in order to mark the limit between Ancient Athens and his new city. It is also a commemoration of the consecration of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It is located at the end of Amalias Avenue.

Source: https://www.greeka.com/attica/athens/ancient-sites/

Room at the Top of the Inn

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Paura Leave a comment

I wanted to visit some Greek islands before my trip back to Papua New Guinea early February. My online search recommended Mykonos and Santorini as the place to go. However, when I told my travel agent ‘Makis’ that I wanted to go Mykonos……he was like……’there is nobody there’! Mykonos only comes to life during summer but now is winter and everyone has left.

He then recommended that I do Naxos instead. I was reluctant as I didn’t read up Naxos and I didn’t think it was fun to visit as well. He told there is a new place ‘Grotta Hotel’ that he can put me up for a few nights before I go Santorini.

I reluctantly agreed…….so he book me on a on a trip to the Greek island of Naxos. Naxos is located in the South Aegean and is the largest of the Cycladic islands filled with white-washed, cube-shaped houses and vibrant small town life.

Arrival in Hotel Grotta

As soon as I arrived at ‘Grotta Hotel’ I was blown away on how beautiful the view is. . It was a small but luxurious place to stay and had a stunning view of the sea both from the windows and patio and also from the restaurant.

Lucky for me, it was located right on a hill ner the beach. It was incredible to wake up each morning with the Aegean in our front yards, and I would highly recommend renting a villa or room here if you are planning to visit Naxos.

As since, it just opened. I was the only ‘Lonely Guest’ in the most beautiful, scenic hotel one could ever imagine to stay. I stayed there for two nights and were taken aback by the beauty of the island and architecture, as well as the local culture and food.

To make the most of your trip to Naxos, I recommend that you rent a car, so you have the autonomy to explore the island yourself. There are so many incredible sites to visit and renting a car opposed to relying on public transformation or hiring a driver gives you a lot more freedom.

Naxos is somewhere I would recommend visiting if you find your way to Greece, and offers so many ways to experience the culture, cuisine, and history. I would most definitely recommend taking the trek to this island for the experience of a lifetime.