After nearly 24 hours on planes and in airports -- from Cleveland to Baltimore to London -- we made it to Athens. I managed to pick a marvelous hotel, the sleek, contemporary Athens Gate. Our room overlooks the Temple of Olympian Zeus, a majestic ruin, while on the roof garden bar and restaurant, you can stare right out at the Parthenon.
We found the hotel -- a highly rated one -- via TripAdvisor.com. I highly recommend that site for all the user reviews and the ability to compare rates via different booking sites. We ended up booking via Venere, an Italian site that found us the best rate. Unfortunately Venere had the wrong info on which Metro stop was the closest. We schlepped our roller suitcases all the way from Syntagma Square, at least 7 long blocks away, when we could have transferred lines, gone one stop to Akropoli, and been right around the corner. Live and learn...
The minute you walk into the Athens Gate you are treated beautifully. As you are check in, a staff member immediately brings you a tray with ice water and a traditional Greek sweet. You immediately feel welcomed and special.
Because we came in late, we ate in the hotel roof garden restaurant. The food here is terrific, and it's so "YOAD". Dinner was marinated chicken, a bountiful presentation of grilled vegetables, wine, and a Greek salad with the tastiest feta I've ever eaten. We split it and that was plenty. We also got the first of many complimentary beverages -- a post-prandial "digestive" shot of liqueur called "Mestica", slightly sweet with an undertone of anise and resin.
The view from the restaurant and terrace is eye-popping -- the Parthenon gleams under golden lights, you can't take your eyes off it. No matter how tired we are now, we are heading for it first thing tomorrow.
