We booked a 10 day holiday to Athens and the Cycladic island of Sifnos,
I did not use a travel agent but created my own itinerary from books and online searches! We have 4 days in Athens and 6 days in Sifnos.
HIGHLIGHTS THE ROMAN AGORA ATHENS
HIGHLIGHTS THE ACROPOLIS
HIGHLIGHTS THE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM
HIGHLIGHTS CHRISOPIGI MONASTERY SIFNOS
HIGHLIGHTS FASOLOU BEACH SIFNOS
HIGHLIGHTS KASTRO SIFNOS
The Covid19 lockdown was lifted in July 2020, we have been permitted to travel by the Grecian Government. During the lockdown I learnt the Greek alphabet, I am in search of the real Greece.
Greece is a land of a rich hertitage and culture, which will stimulate our imaginations and give ourselves a great holiday break.
18:00 At Standsted Airport Greater London, our masks are on and we are ready to board Ryan Air for a three hour twenty minute flight to Athens.
Before we left we filled out a form online, when we arrived we had to show our QR code on our mobiles to a man as we headed for customs.
Thursday 16th July 2020
We arrived at midnight and we are taking two cabin bags each!
Joanna from our Airbnb arranged a cheaper taxi from the airport straight to our stay, thanks so much George for the ride!
Athens Day 1
Anafiotika
Panathenaic Stadium
National Gardens
Temple of Olypian Zeus
Arch of Hadrian
Jacuzzi at Airbnb
Dinner in Syntagma Square
Friday 17th July 2020
11:00 The next day we headed off to Anafiotika for a traditional Greek breakfast its nearly 22 degrees!
Anafiotika was built in the mid nineteenth century by the expert builders, the construction workers, most from the Greek island Anafi and other Cycladic islands.
11:00 Two stops from our AirBnb to the Acropolis we walked to Anafiotika to have breakfast!
I have a new passion, I introduced Francis to the Freddo Expresso which is black coffee on ice with foam on top. Hint, you must sip it through the straw to be like a local!
Greek traditional breakfast zucchini, fava beans, aubergines and large tomatoes yes its vegan! Francis had some poached eggs! We finished off with a fresh fruit salad which was complimentary!
We are going to walk as much as possible on our tour, so next we walked to the Panathenaic Stadium from Anafilotika to start our tour of Athens.
Iphone XR
Read the article and work out how old is the Panathenaic Stadium?
The site was used for the Panathenaia festival celebrations in 566/565 BC, 2021+566=
They are 2,587 years old.
The changing of the guard at the National Gardens a fascinating Greek tradition! We then walked to the temple of Olympian Zeus.
Zeus the Greek god of all gods, Zeus is the key to all the other major gods who the ancient Greeks worshiped.
The best way to see the ancient sights is to visit the Temple of Olympian Zeus and buy the combination ticket for €30, which gives entry into the Acropolis and other sites over three days.
The ancient buildings dating back two thousands years has a profound impact on my soul.
First built in 174 BCE, the Temple of Olmpian Zeus buildings were facilitated by the Roman Emperor Hadrian who was under control of Athens. He had a great passion for the city and was a philopsophical ruler, he finished the temple in 131 CE.
You can see the corinthian capitals, they were the final order of the three types of columns. They are also slender and do not bulge in the centre like the ancient Doric order.
Fuji X100T
We headed home to our AirBnb. Hosted by Athens Stay.
We had an afternoon jacuzzi, a lovely way to start a holiday!
In the evening we headed back to Syntagma Square for a long leisurely dinner at Cherchez la Femme which had plenty of traditional greek vegan options and excellent red wine. Francis settled for some octopus! The food was divine the service was amazing! Francis and I were the only english speakers!
Athens Day 2
Roman Agora
Ancient Agora
The main square of ancient Greek Agora
Temple of Hephaetus
Andrianou Street ice cream stop
Acropolis which houses the following temples:
Temple of Athena Nike
Propylaea
Parthenon
Erechtheion
Dinner and Jacuzzi at AirBnb
Saturday 18th July
A few days before I travelled to Athens, I ordered vegan food, online from Bamboo Vegan. They have a free delivery, it arrived Saturday at 10.30.
We made a large vegan brunch consisiting of vegan greek fetta cheese, tofu scramble and amazing large greek tomatoes from Lidl.
We headed back to the heart of Athens to the Roman Agora, the metro station is Monastiraki. The Roman Agora was built in the 1st century was actually an open marketplace.
Roman Agora
Francis opted for the Fuji X100T camera
We then walked to the Ancient Agora which takes five minutes. The Agora was the center of political and public life in the city of Athens. It was a large open area surrounded by buildings of various functions, like the one above the perfectly intact Temple of Hephaetus.
14:30 Vegan ice cream stop at Da Vinci Gelato Andrianou Street Monstriaki.
The T Shirts depict some of the most famous artists that were inspired by the ancient Greeks, the noteworthy Jacques Louis David the Sabine Women 1799 Neo Classicism; Raphalle Sanzio Mount Parnassus or School of Athens 1509 in the Stanza Della Segnatura, St Peters Basilica, Vatican Rome. I have seen them both!
14:45 Built in 477 BC, the Acropolis is truly sublime experience, it was breathtaking, very contemplative. The walk was easy, there were no crowds and no queues.
Temple of Athena Nike in background with ionic columns
The Propylaea the monumental gateway to the Parthenon.
The Parthenon Consists of the Doric Columns order, it was glorious to be here.
The Erechtheion showing the 6 Carytids.
We came home had another jacuzzi and made a dinner with glutenfree spaghetti, olives and aubergines, Francis threw on some prawns while I had roasted tofu!
Athens Day 3
Morning jacuzzi and vegan full breakfast at our Airbnb
Acropolis Museum
Lunch Acropolis Museum cafe
Evening Mount Lycabettus sunset over Athens.
Early night for an early rise Seajet Ferry
Sunday 19th July
On the train to the Acropolis Museum
We enjoyed lunch on the terrace Acropolis Cafe.
We headed home for a rest then back out at seven to watch the sunset on Mount Lycabettus. We took the Furnicular as we are getting an early night.
Athens - Sifnos Day 4
04:00 Wake up breakfast overnight oats
05:30 Catch train to Pireus.
06:30 In the queue for the Seajet to Sifnos.
09:36 Arrive in Kamares Sifnos
10:00 Taxi to Kavos Studios
Lunch at the pool bar
Relax by the pool
Dinner Airbnb Thimari House
Monday 20th July
We woke up at 04:00 had breakfast and headed for Pireus which is on the metro 30 minutes away. With coffee in hand, we walked to E9 port and found our Seajet to Sifnos. As we boarded a woman took all of the passengers temperatures the queue was quiet long.
Sifnos is an island in the Cyclades which is not touristy but full of clear blue beaches, ancient towns, monasteries and amazing food.
So where are the Cyclades?
"The Cyclades islands are off the southeastern coast of Greece in the Aegean Sea. The most visited islands in this group of about 40 islands include Andros, Ios, Milos, Mykonos, Paros and Santorini."
We arrived in the port of Kamares Sifnos at 09:30 and caught a taxi straight to our Airbnb in Faros. We are staying at the Kavos Studios, our host Vasiliki welcomed us.
By the pool were given a free lunch and coffees.
Making Tradtional Revithada which is a vegan chickpea soup made in traditional Sifnos pottery. Vasiliki's mother makes this every Sunday and we had it for our lunch ef̱charistó̱ Thank you in Greek!
We walked down to Faros village supermarket and brought some Greek food, later Francis made dinner.
Sifnos Day 5
Breakfast looking over Fasalou beach overnight oats
Coastal walk to Platis Gialos
Chisopigi Monastery
Lunch at Maiolica on the beach.
Swim
Dinner at Kavos studios
Tuesday 21st July
Vegan Breakfast on our huge balcony,in the background you can see the walk to the Chrisopigi Monastery.
We are planning on walking as much as possible in Sifnos, there are lots of walking trails on the island of Sifnos.
Francis filmed our traditional home which is called Thimari House
We are on the path to Chrisopigi Monastery and 15,000 steps later to Platis Gialos.
We arrived about 14:00 at Chisopigi Monastery, then followed the road to Platis Gialos which is on the Sifnos walking trails.
As you may have noticed all the houses and chapels in the Cylcades are painted white and blue, why?
"The Greek prime minister, ordered in 1936 to paint the Cyclades islands in white and blue colors to symbolize the white wave foams of the Aegean Sea and the blue of the Greek sky."
We arrived at Platis Gialos and had late lunch on the beach at Maiolica here is my vegan homemade gnocchi!
Time for a swim!
We walked back on the coastal walkway the sun was setting about eight o'clock.
The View from our Airbnb Thimari House Kavos at 20:00 just before sunset.
Sifnos Day 6
Vegan Breakfast
Fasalou Beach
Faros Beach
Dinner at Airbnb
Wednesday 22nd July
Vegan Breakfast and our magnificent view from our Airbnb.
We decided to spend the day swimming at Fasalou beach which is right next door to us. Then we walked to Gylfos beach for a bit of swimming, here you can see the islet of Kitriani in the distance.
Sifnos is famous for its food it was said that Nikolaos Tselementes, who wrote his famous cookbook in 1926, was born in Sifnos. So I made a greek lentil dish with vegan fetta cheese, thanks for the inspiration.
Sifnos Day 7
06:30 Sunrise photography
07:15 Bus to Apollonia
Walk to Kastro
Church of the Seven Maytrs
Walking trail Kastro to Faros
Dinner Flaros Restaurant on the beach in Faros.
Thursday 23rd July
Francis catching the sunrise at 06:00 with his Fuji X100T was stellar.
07:30 we are waiting for the bus to the main town of Apollonia, the cats have come to greet us. From there we are walking to Kastro.
It's 09:00 we are walking to the town of Kastro from Apollonia, it appears on a hill and is breathtaking.
Walking in the maze town of Kastro, Kastro means castle and is very magical and historical. Here you can find Archaeological Museum of Sifnos.
Walking around the 300 year old town of Kastro, we found a lovely art shop and tasteful souvenirs.
Iphone 7 and XR
Kastro is home to the Church of the Seven Martyrs which was just took our breath away.
Francis Fuju X100T
We walked back our Airbnb on the Kastro to Faros walking trail
The trail took us on the old donkey trail it was charmingly enlivening, we headed back to Faros and then back to Kavos Studios.
We had dinner in Faros on the beach at Flaros Restaurant.
Our table was right on the waters edge, Francis had the sea bream and I had the chick pea croquettes which was all great tasting! The ambience and service was 10/10, all made with love it was delightful!
Sifnos Day 8
07:15 Bus to Platis Gialos
Breakfast Votsalto on the beach
Hire sunbeds
Lunch Yalos Seaside Obsession.
Afternoon swimming.
Walk back to Faros via Chrisopigi
Evening swim
Supper by the pool.
Friday 24th July
We arrived early at Platis Gialos you may see there are many "Platis Gialos" in Greece as it means long flat beach in Greek, the waves erode the coastline of the Agean Sea.
Freddo Expresso's at Votsalo Creperie and pizzeria on the beach Platis Gialos.
Today we were going to go on a day cruise to Poliegos but the man said there was rough seas and strong winds. We would have to pay for the extra passengers because of Covid19 their business was affected, so we decided to go spend the day at Platis Gialos instead.
09:00 Francis is enjoying his crepes at Votsalo which means pebble in Greek.
We booked lunch at 2:15 at Yalos Seaside Obbession, there was a cancellation of the sunbeds as they all had reserved tickets. It was ten Euro each for the sunbeds and you can stay there all day, but you must order from the menu even just a coffee!
The food at Yalos was surberb, Francis said his cerviche was excellent, above is my vegan main which was delicous! The location on the beach, the service was impeccable and the wine tasted crisp, cool and fruity!
View from Sunbed at Platis Gialos, it's 36 degrees! On the beach there are some lovely pottery shops where they make all the work by hand on the premises, it was very inspiring.
Swimming at our pool in Kavos Studios in the afternoon.
Kavos Studios is amazing Vasiliki and Maria are the most kind and perfect hosts you will ever meet. The rooms are cleaned every day. The view is breath taking and peaceful. At night you can see all the stars with the naked eye.
The pool area is immaculate and the snacks are delicious. I hope to return in the near future.
Sifnos - Athens Day 9
11:00 All packed and said our farewells to Vasiliki and Maria
12:00 We had our last swim by the pool and lunch.
14:00 Taxi to Kamares
14:30 Lunch at Passione Italian
15:00 Sunloungers on Kamares beach with Gelato and Coffee.
18:35 Seajet to Athens
21:00 Train to Awarded Loft Apartment in Athens
Saturday 25th July
I've converted Francis to boats good, he's a New Zealander, a natural.
Waiting for lunch at Kamares at Passione Italiana
Athens Day 10
10:00 Overnight oats at the Industrial loft Airbnb
11:00 Lunch at Blue Parrot Cafe
12:30 Taxi to Airport
14:20 Ryan Air Athens to London Luton Airport
Sunday 26th July
The awarded loft in Athens was outstanding, it was all booked out otherwise we would have stayed longer.
Did I find the real Greece?
Yes I did in many ways,
the spectacular history,
the sapphire Agean sea and
the stunning Clycadic architecture,
the splendid food and
the scintillating pottery of Sifnos.
We have been uplifted during our whole stay in Greece,ef̱charistó̱ or thank you!
