Athens DO Dec. 17-19, 2010
Mar 17, 2010 | 11:21 pm
#1
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Athens DO Dec. 17-19, 2010
We want to go back to Athens, and it might as well be party! 
The tentative agenda is below. I'm keeping this as simple as possible so people will have plenty of time to take in the Christmas festival in Syntagma Square, meander through the Plaka, and visit the shops in the narrow streets on the lower slopes of the Acropolis.
Note: As of today (Dec. 14) the Christmas festival (aka Santa's Neighborhood) is no operating, not sure what's up. It was to have run Dec. 7-31, 2010.
Friday, December 17:
Look in Plaka for cheaper hotels.
If you want something more upscale, look around Syntagma Square. As long as your hotel's nearest metro station is Syntagma or Acropolis, you're in the right neighborhood.
Transportation: The subway system (Metro) is connected to the airport, and many of the stations also double as archaeological museums displaying items that were unearthed during recent construction & renovation.
Unfortunately, like all Greek government employees, the people who run the Metro like to strike every now and then for whatever reason. You should be prepared to walk 4-5 miles/day or hire ~4 cabs daily if the public transportation is unavailable.
Guides -- available for the Acropolis & the museums but might add substantially to the cost. I'd suggest we consider one for the Acropolis.
For anyone who's "definite", please let me know your preferences for hiring guide(s) and for the Sunday trek (Mars Hill/Prison/Filopappou or the sea).
Definite (13):
andre1970
Blank Sheet (IC)
caspritz78 (Parthenon)
chumbawumba + 1 (Parthenon)
El Duderito (IC)
f0zzyNUE (IC)
koroleon
Lifted Fog (Parthenon)
lili (Plaka hotel)
MikeMpls & WifeMpls (Aristoteles)
nischalb (Aristoteles)
Interested/Maybe:
Astriker
BEYFlyer
Dovster (Parthenon)
gpapadop
koroleon
mot29
nor4
Shareholder
Where2next?
Nah:
Dovster (Parthenon)
SkiAdcock
szg (IC)
violist
The tentative agenda is below. I'm keeping this as simple as possible so people will have plenty of time to take in the Christmas festival in Syntagma Square, meander through the Plaka, and visit the shops in the narrow streets on the lower slopes of the Acropolis.
Note: As of today (Dec. 14) the Christmas festival (aka Santa's Neighborhood) is no operating, not sure what's up. It was to have run Dec. 7-31, 2010.
Friday, December 17:
1 p.m. National Archaeological Museum of Athens, one of the top museums in the world.
After the museum we will start walking towards dinner. It's about an hour walk, but there are some archaeological sites to stop at as well as the store of a guy known as the Ouzo King.
Dinner (tentative): Scholarhio Ouzeri Kouklis just under the Parthenon. This is a mezedes (tapas style) restaurant with fixed price options (14 Euro dinner, 17 Euro dinner w/ wine). If you organize in groups of 2/3/4 you can select many more of their 18 offerings to sample.
Saturday, December 18:After the museum we will start walking towards dinner. It's about an hour walk, but there are some archaeological sites to stop at as well as the store of a guy known as the Ouzo King.
Dinner (tentative): Scholarhio Ouzeri Kouklis just under the Parthenon. This is a mezedes (tapas style) restaurant with fixed price options (14 Euro dinner, 17 Euro dinner w/ wine). If you organize in groups of 2/3/4 you can select many more of their 18 offerings to sample.
At 9 a.m. meet outside the recently opened Acropolis Museum on Makrigiana at the elevators/handicapped access for the Akropolis Metro station.), then head up the Acropolis, see the Parthenon, etc.
Lunch (possibly late, depending on how much time we spend on the Acropolis): To Kafeneio (Epicharmou 1 at intersection w/ Tripolon, across the street from the Scholarhio). This is also a mezedes restaurant, reputation as good or better than the Scholarhio but not as flashy & no fixed-priced option.
Dinner (7:30 p.m.): Vitro Piano Restaurant & Greek Taverna (Makrigiani 27, about 2 blocks from the Acropolis in the Makrigianni neighborhood. $25-45. We have reservations for 13 -- meet up at Parthenon Hotel @ 7:15.
Sunday, December 19:Lunch (possibly late, depending on how much time we spend on the Acropolis): To Kafeneio (Epicharmou 1 at intersection w/ Tripolon, across the street from the Scholarhio). This is also a mezedes restaurant, reputation as good or better than the Scholarhio but not as flashy & no fixed-priced option.
Dinner (7:30 p.m.): Vitro Piano Restaurant & Greek Taverna (Makrigiani 27, about 2 blocks from the Acropolis in the Makrigianni neighborhood. $25-45. We have reservations for 13 -- meet up at Parthenon Hotel @ 7:15.
Take the Metro to the historical port of Piraeus
.
Backup Plan: Walking tour of Mars Hill (where Paul delivered his sermon to the Athenians), the so-called Prison of Socrates (it was not where he was imprisoned!) and Filopappou Hll.
It's also possible there might be something interesting going on in the Zappeion Exhibition Hall a couple blocks east of the hotel. We saw the Titanic exhibit there in 2005.
Primary Hotel: Airotel Parthenon, 6 Makri Street in the Makrigianni neighborhood, underneath the Acropolis and just around the corner from the Acropolis Metro station, 4* business/leisure hotel, approx. $110 per night..
Backup Plan: Walking tour of Mars Hill (where Paul delivered his sermon to the Athenians), the so-called Prison of Socrates (it was not where he was imprisoned!) and Filopappou Hll.
It's also possible there might be something interesting going on in the Zappeion Exhibition Hall a couple blocks east of the hotel. We saw the Titanic exhibit there in 2005.
Look in Plaka for cheaper hotels.
If you want something more upscale, look around Syntagma Square. As long as your hotel's nearest metro station is Syntagma or Acropolis, you're in the right neighborhood.
Transportation: The subway system (Metro) is connected to the airport, and many of the stations also double as archaeological museums displaying items that were unearthed during recent construction & renovation.
Unfortunately, like all Greek government employees, the people who run the Metro like to strike every now and then for whatever reason. You should be prepared to walk 4-5 miles/day or hire ~4 cabs daily if the public transportation is unavailable.
Guides -- available for the Acropolis & the museums but might add substantially to the cost. I'd suggest we consider one for the Acropolis.
For anyone who's "definite", please let me know your preferences for hiring guide(s) and for the Sunday trek (Mars Hill/Prison/Filopappou or the sea).
Definite (13):
andre1970
Blank Sheet (IC)
caspritz78 (Parthenon)
chumbawumba + 1 (Parthenon)
El Duderito (IC)
f0zzyNUE (IC)
koroleon
Lifted Fog (Parthenon)
lili (Plaka hotel)
MikeMpls & WifeMpls (Aristoteles)
nischalb (Aristoteles)
Astriker
BEYFlyer
Dovster (Parthenon)
gpapadop
koroleon
mot29
nor4
Shareholder
Where2next?
Dovster (Parthenon)
SkiAdcock
szg (IC)
violist
Last edited by MikeMpls; Dec 14, 2010 at 11:31 am
Mar 17, 2010 | 11:23 pm
#2
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FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Internet Resources Related to Athens DO Dec. 17-19, 2010
Athens Survival Guide: Guide to Athens, Greece 2010
Athens Metro Map
Hotels:
Airotel Parthenon (central hotel for the DO)
Athens Survival Guide: Guide to Athens, Greece 2010
Athens Metro Map
Hotels:
Airotel Parthenon (central hotel for the DO)
For what it's worth:
Plaka Hotel from 90 USD,
Hotel Hermes from 95 USD
Central Hotel 73 Euro (reg 93)
Hotel Cecil 55 Euro (reg 75)
Plaka Hotel from 90 USD,
Hotel Hermes from 95 USD
Central Hotel 73 Euro (reg 93)
Hotel Cecil 55 Euro (reg 75)
Last edited by MikeMpls; Mar 28, 2010 at 11:32 pm
Mar 17, 2010 | 11:59 pm
#3
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You can count me as a definite (heck, Athens is a shorter flight for me than JFK-MIA) but I am not guaranteeing that I will either walk around the city much or go to the sea in late December.
Mar 18, 2010 | 7:18 am
#5
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Mar 24, 2010 | 1:46 pm
#8
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And one for the Bittites
Travelocity emailed a bunch of hotel recommendations, including this one which can be booked at DO-time for $52/night + taxes:
This is Travelocity's cheapest hotel offering in Athens. The next one up goes for $72+.
For those of you who remember the Levites (5:-: dwellers
) vs. the Bittites (1-2:-: dwellers 
) in Ljubljana, at 2:-: this might be as close to a Bit as you can get in Athens.
Hotel Diethnes
52 Peoniou Str Athens, 10440 GR
Athens
It's 2-3 blocks from the Larissa Metro station. Syntagma (which will be one of our main meeting points) is 4 stops away on the Red line.52 Peoniou Str Athens, 10440 GR
Athens
This is Travelocity's cheapest hotel offering in Athens. The next one up goes for $72+.
For those of you who remember the Levites (5:-: dwellers
) vs. the Bittites (1-2:-: dwellers ) in Ljubljana, at 2:-: this might be as close to a Bit as you can get in Athens.
Mar 24, 2010 | 2:21 pm
#9
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The historical port of Piraeus is looking good for a Sunday excursion:
Piraeus Seaside
...along the road that links the Marina of Zea to the central port, the gourmets heaven has only one name: Piraiki. Many fish-taverns and ouzo-specialized restaurants are located here, offering a wonderful view to the sea and serving a great variety of fish, tidbits (meze) and ouzo.
The Piraeus open-air market
Every Sunday morning, the antique shops of Hippodamia square and the streets along the railway lines become flooded by people that come here for the colourful open-air market.
We can get there by Metro. Ferry trips to the islands reportedly are available, will keep digging.
...along the road that links the Marina of Zea to the central port, the gourmets heaven has only one name: Piraiki. Many fish-taverns and ouzo-specialized restaurants are located here, offering a wonderful view to the sea and serving a great variety of fish, tidbits (meze) and ouzo.
The Piraeus open-air market
Every Sunday morning, the antique shops of Hippodamia square and the streets along the railway lines become flooded by people that come here for the colourful open-air market.
Mar 24, 2010 | 11:43 pm
#11
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Primary Hotel: Airpotel Parthenon, 6 Makri Street in the Makrigianni neighborhood, underneath the Acropolis and just around the corner from the Acropolis Metro station, 4* business/leisure hotel, approx. $110 per night.
I also found a r/t price of 200 Euros, including taxes, TLV-ATH on Aegean Air, so this trip will definitely be inexpensive for me -- seeing as I am used to forking out just about that much for a flight to Milan and a heck of a lot more to get to the States.
Mar 25, 2010 | 12:21 am
#12
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Thanks for the hotel info, but I REALLY, really want to stay at a small hotel in the Plaka. (Points be damned, any suggestions?) BTW did I mention I'm pretty definite for this? Well, I just did and I am. Thanks for setting it up.
Mar 25, 2010 | 2:43 am
#13
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There's a discussion of Athens hotels here:
This one is in the Plaka: The Adams Hotel
These two hotels are very close to the Plaka:
Flying home in 2005 I sat next to a Greek native who had moved to the U.S. He gave me the name of his favorite hotel in/near the Plaka which I wrote down on a card. It should be somewhere in the room where we deposit all our travel stuff. "Deposit" is too neat a word, but I'll try to find it.
And speaking of the Plaka, we have to visit Angelo (Angelo: The Ouzo King of Plaka), probably on Friday.
Last edited by MikeMpls; Mar 25, 2010 at 3:05 am
Mar 25, 2010 | 9:09 am
#14
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I haven't been to Athens in years, so am interested - although it depends on budget at that time of the year. I've already toured all the main events w/ a professor of archeology, but would be fun to do them again. Haven't done the Xmas market though.
I'm a points gal, so at the moment if I did make it I'd probably be at the Marriott (which also has a rooftop bar & pool overlooking the Acropolis), but again that might change depending on the budget.
Cheers.
I'm a points gal, so at the moment if I did make it I'd probably be at the Marriott (which also has a rooftop bar & pool overlooking the Acropolis), but again that might change depending on the budget.
Cheers.
Mar 25, 2010 | 5:55 pm
#15
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Originally Posted by szg
I have booked the IC for this weekend.
Have a DL 100K Biz award on hold. Need to find something better that doesn't require traversing most of Europe with a one hour connect at CDG.