November 2008: Visiting Athens and standing before the ancient Acropolis, with its towering Parthenon, was a must-do for me—just as it is for most travelers. The Acropolis, dating back thousands of years to the 5th century B.C., is one of those landmarks you see countless times in books, films, and history lessons. Yet, when you finally stand before it in person, its sheer grandeur, history, and cultural legacy still manage to overwhelm you.
Athens is a city with layers of history too vast to fully unravel in a single visit. Unfortunately, my friends—Dan and Frank—were more interested in drinking and meeting girls than delving into the historical richness of the city. A deep dive into its archaeological treasures would have to wait for another trip. Still, I managed to drag them out of the hotel and up to the Acropolis, ensuring at least one cultural experience made it onto our itinerary.
Our journey through Greece was part of a two-week adventure across the Balkans. We began in Athens, spending four days between the city and Corfu Island, before taking a ferry across to mainland Greece and continuing our travels into the Balkans.
My Route in Greece
Ancient Athens
Athens is a magnificent historical city, but it’s also a place where tourist scams thrive. With so many clueless visitors wandering its streets, the city attracts its fair share of wolves looking for easy prey—from pickpockets and aggressive tour guides to overcharging taxi drivers with well-rehearsed tricks. Staying alert is essential.
And yes, the Acropolis gets crowded, so visiting early in the morning is the best way to experience it before the mobs of tourists arrive. Wanting to take in its beauty even after dark, I intentionally booked a hotel with a balcony overlooking the Acropolis, where we could stand outside at night, drink wine, and gaze up at the ancient structure, glowing under the lights until dawn.
Beyond its ruins, Athens has a vibrant nightlife, and my friends and I explored our fair share of bars and clubs—especially the absinthe bars. Well, my friends did more than I did. At one point, I even had to rescue them from themselves after a particularly wild night.
Best view of the Acropolis you can get from a budget hotel in Athens.
Acropolis
View from plateu where the Acropolis overlooks Athens
Dan breaking rules at the Acropolis and climbing on a statue. He was soon scolded by security staff soon after taking this photo
Original Statue at Acropolis
Dan and me at the Parthenon
The Parthenon is an astonishing 2,461 years old, having stood the test of time despite wars, weathering, and periodic unsightly restoration efforts—one of which was underway during my visit.
Over the centuries, this iconic structure has served many purposes: originally a temple dedicated to Athena, later a church, then a mosque, and now one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions. Despite the crowds and scaffolding, standing before this ancient masterpiece was a surreal experience, a moment that truly connected me to history.
Parthenon
Corfu Island
From Athens, Dan and I left Frank behind and took a domestic flight to Corfu Island, once an ancient Phoenician trading post and later a powerful stronghold that changed hands many times throughout history.
Situated on the Ionian Sea, Corfu is known for its stunning beaches and perfect weather—though we weren’t visiting in peak summer but rather in November, when the island had a quieter, more subdued charm. Dan and I spent the day wandering through the old town, following the coastline, and exploring ancient forts. At one point, we even joined a group of protesters marching through the streets, though we had no idea what the banners in Greek were demanding.
We spent one night in Corfu before taking a public ferry the next day to mainland Greece. Knowing that ferry service could be canceled due to rough seas, we made sure to cross while we still could. From there, we hired a taxi and made our way across the Albanian border, continuing our journey deeper into the Balkans-Exploring Albania’s Pristine Coastline and the Legacy of the Era of Communism Under the Bizarre Dictator, Enver Hoxha | Venture The Planet.
Old town architecture, Corfu
Venetian era Sea Fortress
Walls of the sea fortress which would make a great swimming beach in summer
Albania in view from Corfu but instead of going directly to Albania we had to cross by ferry further south to mainland Greece and then go north to Albania.