Airotel Parthenon, Athens

Advantages: Historical Monument, magnificent structure
Disadvantages: Surrounded by scaffolding and people

...The Parthenon is the most impressive and important monument in Athens. Representative of the Golden Age of 5th Century Athens, the Parthenon tops the Acropolis. And so, it is here, that I will begin my reviews on Greece. As part of my studies for my diploma and degree in Classic Studies, 5th Century Athens had occupied a large proportion of the work. We planned a tour of mainland classical Greece combined with a five-day stay on the island of Corfu. There is an entrance fee to the Acropolis of 58 euros that includes a guided tour. The Parthenon can then be viewed at liberty. The Parthenon dominates the Acropolis, situated on the highest point and rising to massive proportions. It stands 101 feet tall and is 228 feet long. Although now in ruins, it retains a magnificent that is awesome. The effect, sadly is somewhat spoiled by... Read review

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Advantages: fun, charming and diverting city with plenty of interesting things to see and do; great variety of bars and restaurants
Disadvantages: has some shonky areas, may bring you to spend more than you'd like

...The city of Athens, Georgia, USA, is one of those eclectic university towns scattered all the way across the country. If you're an American and a seasoned college student, you know all about what that means - an infinite variety of bars, pubs, theatres and crack houses. And, of course, a vast number of students to take advantage of whichever of these vices may take their fancy. In this particular case, it's the enormous campus of the University of Georgia which has set up shop in this interesting town. Athens is about 70 miles from Atlanta, anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half drive depending on various things - the traffic, whether there is a thunderstorm present, or if someone has managed to cark it somewhere along the road and has thus blocked it in some manner. Once you're out of the suburban and ugly sprawl of Atlanta you... Read review

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Advantages: Vibrant, cheap excellent public transport. Famous historic sites. Eating out
Disadvantages: Not as 'Greek' as it used to be. Poor air quality. The drivers!

...I'd been to Athens before, but not since 1973 so I was fully expecting a lot of changes, and to a greater extent I was right. For example, I was probably amongst the last tourists to be allowed full access to wander all over the famous Parthenon on the Acropolis hill. Since then it has been fenced off and variously concealed behind one piece of scaffolding or another, and is rumoured to stay that way for decades. I remember that summer of '73 with some trepidation - it was damned hot to be in a city and the traffic was truly awful, with blue fumes from two-stroke 'pop-pops' everywhere. Since then, cars have got a lot cleaner, but regrettably more numerous. Of course, going there in the October half-term holiday helps with the air-quality too! WHERE IS IT? It's the capital of Greece and lies in the province... Read review

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