Welcome to Athens!

A new city for the Durneys! We'd heard great things about Athens and couldn't wait to check it out. We were certainly a bit worried about the notorious summer heat, but managed it with morning and evening exploring and midday chill time at our AirBnB. 

We were meeting Nana and Pops for the start of their big Greek trip celebrating Pop's 75th birthday. We were all meant to arrive Monday morning, but things don't always go as planned. Our Monday morning flight was changed by the airline to an evening flight and leaving from Eindhoven (a small airport 45 minutes away). No sir. I contacted the airline and was able to get us rebooked on a flight leaving Sunday early evening instead. I even got the airline to pay for our hotel in Athens that night! Meanwhile, Nana and Pops were not as lucky. They missed their connecting flight and got re-routed through Paris, arriving in Athens Monday late afternoon. 

A delayed flight, an hour time difference and a long train ride into the city. It was 11:45 when we arrived at the hotel. The rooftop terrace closed at midnight so we beelined up there to see the Acropolis lit up at night. 

We had the morning and day to explore on our own so we set off for the National Gardens and the Olympic Stadium. 

Turtles on turtles on turtles. Plotting how to help them escape! 

Great playground. Kids were hot and whiney, but managed to have some fun here. 

Panathenaic Stadium, site of the first modern Olympic games in 1896. A fitting start for our Olympic -themed summer! 

Pete and the kids wanted to do a lap, heat and all. Pete was the only one who made it all the way around! 

We're all winners! 

We made it home on the trams and all took nice cold showers. We left the kids watching Ice Age and had lunch at the yummy fish restaurant below the AirBnB. 

Nana and Pops arrived! 

We headed out to explore once the temps dropped and stumbled upon the Ancient Agora site. Nice to be there with no crowds, though an official started blowing a whistle at us (and everyone else) to get us to leave at closing time. 

We found a traditional taverna and feasted for a song. The first of many meals where Maeve only ate bread and french fries!