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24th to 27th January 2025 - Julie's Athens trip

 

Friday 24th January

Early start to get Sky Express flight to Athens to meet brother, Phil, at arrivals. The pre-booked taxi worked well and dropped us at our hotel. After a short rest we ventured out to find a beer and then a restauarant that Phil had previously been to, for dinner, 'Thes' Restaurant. As our tastes were similar we ordered tarama (fishraw egg salad, restaurant's speciality), calamari and spinach pie to share. Another 20 minute walk took us to the 'Athens Conservatoire', the venue for the Peter Hammill concert - the reason for us being there. Phil has been a lifelong fan ever since the days of Van Der Graaf Generator when Peter was the lead singer. We picked up our VIP tickets and then had a beer. Some people that Phil knew came to say hello and then we went into the concert hall. Our seats were way up at the back on the LHS of the auditorium - good seats but unfortunately we had Peter's back to us when he was playing the piano. We didn't stay around after the concert but headed back to near our hotel to find a final beer at, as it turned out a pizza restaurant with a bar, called 'La Nonna'.

The Athenaeum Hotel	Doilly
Thes Restaurant	VIP Concert ticket
The poster	Inside the venue
Peter Hammill arriving on stage	View from our hotel breakfast room
Night view of the Parthenon	Panathinaikou stadium in white marble

Saturday 25th January

After breakfast we did another 20 minute walk to 'Cultivos Cafe' to meet up with Sally (ex-Coles), a childhood friend of ours who lives in Athens. After coffee, Sally, took us by bus to the Pnyx Hill and Monument. Great views from here and lots of history. Sally was very knowledgable as she had previously worked as a tour guide. We then walked through another old part of the city to a small restaurant, Marco's, (actually called Aspro Alogo). Sally knew the owner, and although it was full, he found a table for us and we had a lovely late lunch of salad, chips and sardines, and a beer for a ridiculously small price. Back to the hotel then back to the Conservatoire for the second night concert. Again picked up our VIP tickets and had similar seats to the Friday. This time we did stay around after the concert and went backstage to say hello to Peter, who did briefly appear. We did have a chat to his wife and daughter though. And had cake as the concert hall organisers had provided it for some festival celebrating the lining up of the planets?? Back to the pizza reastaurant for a beer of course.

 

 

Arch of Hadrian	Holy Church of Saint Demetrios Loumbardiaris
Muses Hill information	View of the Acropolis
Philoppas Memorial	Information board
Sally, Phil and Julie	Peter Hammill followers

Sunday 26th January

After breakfast we walked to the ticket office for the Acropolis, against advice we arrived just before 11.00 am, but the place was not too crowded fortunately. A couple of hours wandering around and then strolled down to find a well deserved beer at a local cafe. Then to Dioskouroi restaurant, again one that Phil had been to before, for fried Feta Cheese with honey and sesame slices - really nice. Back to the hotel and then out later for a beer and dinner at the 'Elaea restaurant'. This time we had taramasalata, octopus and mussels and salad with complimentary baclava for dessert. Back to 'La Nonna' for a final beer before relatively early night (midnight!) at the hotel as 5.00 am start for Julie in the morning for flight home.

 

Ticket to the Acropolis	Odeon of Herodes
Erechteion	Acropolis
The Acropolis again	Erechteion again
Dioskouroi Restaurant	Enjoying lunch
Elaea Restaurant	View over Athens

 

A very pleasant weekend and lovely to meet up with Sally. Not Julie's type of music but it was nice to be at a live concert and to have a look around Athens again.