Day off in Athens

 Viking Greece Cruise Tour

Day off in Athens

January 27, 2026

Today was a day off so for once we didn't have to be up and out the door by 6:00 am.  It was nice to have an easy morning and a leisurely breakfast.  The hotel has a very nice breakfast buffet and in typical European fashion have the sautéed mushrooms, which I just love.  After numerous cups of coffee and platefuls of croissants Agnes and I were off on a walking tour.  

My charging cable for my Garmin watch is not connecting very well and I saw on Google a store which sells them only a few blocks away so we headed over there.  Well just like the 600 BC Oracle which gave out ambivalent answers, the 2026 Google answer wasn't quite right either as the store turned out to be a supplement store selling protein powers and the like.  

Turns out that there are lots of different ancient sites in downtown Athens and our short little walking tour passed several sights.  One was an ancient graveyard which was outside the city walls, one was of the city walls, one was a market area, and one was a gigantic area cover in several blocks.   Above it all was the Acropolis, which sits atop a huge cliff and dominates the sky line.  

We wandered through the flea market area where there are thousands of tourist trap stores.  Agnes was able to get some retail therapy in.  It was an absolutely beautiful day so we stopped and had a wonderful lunch of chicken gyros at an out door café.  No crowds  so January is really the time of the year to visit.

On the way back to the hotel we came to the  Athens Cathedral which is a Greek Orthodox Cathedral.  It wasn't as big as some of the large cathedrals but it was absolutely stunning in side.   A very different look from the regular Catholic Gothic Cathedrals.  A lot of silver murals and a dark painted ceiling set the stage.  

Back in the hotel we had to pack our suitcases as tomorrow we are off to the cruise ship. Suitcases in the hall before 6:00 am.

What a great day.

Terry