Eat...
If you want crumbled cheese, you'll have to do it yourself!
- Greek salad. Don’t expect a lot of lettuce, because this salad is more like big chunks of tomato and cucumber with a huge block of feta cheese and olives on top.
- Gyros. Instead of fast food, check out the local vendors roasting lamb on a spit to make this popular dish. Other than meat (you could also get beef), it has tomatoes, onions, some sort of French fries, and tzatziki sauce all stuffed into warm pita bread.
Drink...
- Ouzo. This liquorish-flavored alcoholic beverage dates back to ancient times. It also happens to be the most popular drink in Greece.
See...
Athens' museums contain thousands of sculptures.
- A museum or two. Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world and has over eighty museums, many of which document the city’s journey through time. The Athens Archeological museum covers almost 90,000 square feet, making it one of the largest in the world. Don’t forget to bring your student ID for a discount.
- The Parthenon. Sitting atop the Acropolis, the Parthenon is still stunning even though it’s scheduled for reconstruction (and thus covered in scaffolding) until 2030. The fact that this temple (dedicated to the goddess Athena) is still standing even though it is almost 2500 years old is amazing in itself!
- The Olympic stadium. Home to the 2004 Olympic games (and the first ever games in 1896).
Do...
Greek was the first language to use an alaphabet.
- Try to learn a word or two in Greek. You may not stand a chance of reading it, but learning “please” or “thank you” can go a long way with the locals.
- Go to Syntagma Square. This square in the center of the city is full of shops, restaurants, entertainment, and vendors selling souvenirs. At night, you can look up and see the Acropolis looming overhead.
- Try to stay awake for dinner because Grecians eat late–usually at midnight! Also, plan to spend several hours during meals. Eating out in most European countries isn’t a quick affair like it is in the States.