Back to Athens, On to Istanbul

While planning this trip, I decided to book the evening flight out of Santorini. Which was a wise decision. Not only was I able to maximize time on the island, I was also able to see a different view of the caldera bathed in golden glow as the summer sun was inching low in the horizon. Truly a great way to end such a short trip to this gem on the Aegean Sea.

Sailing in Santorini

So much of the world has been scoured in search of lost, mysterious places but nothing has brought as much drama to man's imagination as the mythical lost city of Atlantis. Among the many possible sites - no, not that one in the Bahamas - plenty of fingers point to the volcanic island of Santorini.

Santorini

While Greece has several thousand islands scattered in the Aegean Sea, there is only one Santorini. It is an island like no other. Even locals in Athens say if one can only visit a single island in their country, make it to Santorini. They are right. It is undoubtedly one of the most geographically unique, one of the most picturesque I have ever visited.

The Acropolis

"...the glory that was Greece...",  resonated in my mind as I made it early at the Acropolis ticket office, well before opening time at 8 AM. Beyond the visitor's turnstiles, up on a rocky outcrop, lay one of humankind's greatest works, one that dates back so long in time, back in the 5th century BC. This is the Acropolis - the richest symbol of ancient Greece and the country's masterpiece in architectural splendor. It may all be in ruins but there's more to it than what meets the modern eye.

Athens!

Old drachmas for sale at Monastiraki flea market. This currency may or may not return to Greece.

Greece's current economic woes may be all over the news but its main airport in Athens doesn't show it. I arrived after a two-hour flight from Frankfurt into a gleaming and still efficient 11-year old airport. Even connecting into the city was not a headache despite the 30 km distance. There's a choice of buses, taxes and the Metro. While the express buses cost 5 Euros, I opted to go with the much faster subway for 8 Euros, zipping me right into the closest station to my hotel in just 37 minutes.