Athens, Greece

Athens, you are so damn beautiful! And honestly, the name “Athena” might just make it onto the list of names for my future daughter.

I started my day in the afternoon. I prepared three outfits for this layover: a long dress, a skirt, and linen pants. I tried to decide which one would be more comfortable since it's going to be a long day.

I kept telling myself to wear the skirt since it was my first time here, but then I imagined walking on the rocky paths in the Acropolis made me change my decision. And to think of it, the skirt that I brought will not match my hiking shoes. So in the end, I wore linen pants, a pink linen cover-up, and my Salomon shoes.

I got ready and left the hotel around 12:30 in the afternoon. I booked an Uber going to the airport, and it cost me €30. Our hotel is far from the city and the airport, so you can imagine how much I’ll be spending on this layover.

The ride going to the airport felt like we were heading to the middle of nowhere. The road became more secluded, surrounded by mountains that looked like walls. Their tops reminded me of broccoli— rounded, lush, and covered in greenery, but this one, its with a warm tone of the soil. It’s dry. It also felt as if those mountains were hiding something beautifully (just like our hotel resort), and once you passed through them, the mountains would reveal the city on the other side.

I bought a round-trip train ticket at the airport for €16. When I got down to the train station, I started looking for the M3 line since that was what was written on the ticket, but there was no sign that showed M3.

I had to ask a local for help, and he said he’s not familiar since he rarely takes the metro. He said he’ll ask ChatGPT, and we both laughed. He pointed me to the other side, but when I double-checked Google Maps (I saw the words but not M3), it was on the other side. I told him, “Oh, it’s on the other side!” He looked surprised and checked it himself.

By then it was already late; I missed that particular train. But honestly, it was okay. You know the burnt toast theory, right? (Winks).

While waiting for another train, I saw a girl walking towards me wearing a white top and pink linen pants. And guess what, I’m wearing a pink cover-up and white linen pants! I looked at her and said, “We’re wearing the same!” She said, yes but on the opposite side and we both laughed. And then there goes the train.

After an hour, I reached the station called Monastiraki. Outside the station, you will see souvenir shops that are selling different stuff. I walked uphill to see the Acropolis (by this time it was around 3 pm already), and when I reached the top, I saw a ticketing booth; there was a printed paper stuck in the mirror that said the next entry was at 4:45 pm. I cannot wait that long because it’s late afternoon already. The lady in the ticketing booth said that I could check online if there’s still availability for the 3 pm slot. I checked, and there is; I ticked off the 3 pm slot, and a QR code was sent to my email.

The path was rocky, and thank goodness I wore my hiking shoes. I slipped at one point, but the shoes held their grip and helped me keep my balance. Thanks to Salomon!

I walked and walked with my tripod and my digital camera in hand. Whenever I wanted to have a photo with my digicam, I would ask a stranger to take one for me. (Actually, it’s funny because as a jet-setter for years, I’ve become pretty good at figuring out who to ask to take my photo. You just develop a sense for it.) In return, others would ask me to take theirs too.

Moments like these remind me that kindness has a way of coming in circles.

It’s quite hot here, but I am so glad I finally made it to the Acropolis and felt the “Athena & Aphrodite” energy. I wanted to feel the atmosphere here since Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty and Athena is for wisdom and warfare.

I went to see another hill near the Acropolis, and as I reached the top of that hill, I raised my hand towards the sky, facing the Acropolis. The wind swirled around me, and I felt like it was embracing me as I thanked the Goddesses for allowing me to experience this.

My heart felt so full in that moment. I couldn’t stop smiling, and the wind just kept wrapping around me as if it were giving me the warmest hug.

Before I left, I took one last 360-degree look at the Acropolis and everything surrounding it. I smiled and quietly made myself a promise: I will come back here again, with my sister.

As I walked toward Plaka, I found myself wandering through unfamiliar yet lovely streets in Athens, not realizing that I was already in some of the city’s famous spots.

One restaurant caught my eye. I checked the menu and liked what I saw, but I told myself I would look for something else first, then decide.

After strolling through Plaka market and buying some souvenirs, I went back again to that same street where the restaurant was.

These are the moments that I can say life is one heck of a masterpiece.

Keep reading Athena, part two.