AMA Interns Report: Zoe’s Trip to Greece

Interns from the US often take the opportunity to explore Europe during their time with AMA. Our most recent intern Zoe, who is studying at Ohio State University, visited Greece for the first time…

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During the UK Easter break, I travelled to the wonderful city of Athens with a friend. We took full advantage of the many outdoor activities on offer and sampled the delicious Greek cuisine! 

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Must-see historic attractions

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On our first evening we travelled to Filopappos Hill for scenic views of the ancient city. The colourful homes and vibrant vegetation filling the landscape left us speechless. The sunset over the Mediterranean Sea in the horizon felt like the perfect welcoming from the Greek gods.

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Lycabettus Hill is another must-see spot in Athens. We decided to tackle the long, arduous journey the second day. I’m not sure if it was my inner Herculean spirit or knowledge of an ice cream shop at the summit that kept me going, but eventually we reached the top, where we indulged in another stunning panoramic view of Athens.

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On day three, we finally headed out bright and early to see Acropolis. Tickets are sold in front of the gate and provide entry to a number of other sites for only €12. I showed my student ID and only had to pay €6! It was incredible to see ancient theatres and the Parthenon in real life. Make sure to head to the Acropolis at opening time because it is the most popular attraction in Athens! 

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Afterwards, went around to the other sites including Tower of Zeus, Agora and Tower of the Winds. 

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Agora is a fairly large area since it was once a lively marketplace. It is wonderful for those with vivid imaginations, since ancient ruins lie in heaps everywhere. My favourite place inside Agora was the Church of the Holy Apostles!  I lost track of time gazing at the intricate patterns found along the unique structure. 

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Foodie Finds

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Real Greek gyros are to die for! My standard order was a chicken gyro with all the fixings: tzatziki sauce, lettuce, cheese, tomato and even chips! I tried to find the best places to buy them; Grill and Pita was the winner hands down. We loved this place so much that we went back every day. It’s hard to beat a satisfying lunch for €2!

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Plaka is another great place to go for authentic Greek cuisine. Walking through the ancient, winding streets was a lovely experience in itself, but the quaint restaurants really bring a tough of magic to this historic part of town. 

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We decided on a nice yellow tavern called Zorbas for dinner. We ordered moussaka and cheese pies, along with the red and white house wines. Everything we tried was fantastic! The staff took us in with open arms and treated us with such kindness. We even had the chance to hear live Greek folk music while we enjoyed our meal.

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Island-hopping 

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While we loved Athens, we also wanted to experience other parts of Greece. On our last day, we took a one day cruise to three nearby islands for a discounted price of €60. (We found a flyer on a street that stated the discount and just had to mention it to the travel agent.)

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The three islands were Hydra, Poros and Aegina. When we sailed close to Hydra, the red roofed houses and mystical, green mountains made me feel like I was entering another world. After taking a gazillion pictures, we departed the ship and headed straight for the donkeys lining the harbour. 

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I had romanticised taking a donkey ride in Greece since I was a little girl, so this was a dream come true. Anxiously, I ran to the first Greek person I saw to pay them for a donkey ride. I was just about to hand over the money, when my friend pointed out the “donkey” I was paying for was actually a horse. You can easily avoid my mistake, by examining the ears!

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We eventually found the real donkeys and travelled through the small paths around the harbour. I was in a dreamlike state, so it took me a while to realize the excursion loomed on the dangerous side. We had a non-English speaking man leading us on temperamental animals around a foreign island. After I came back to reality, I politely suggested we should head back to where other people were.

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We made a short stop at Poros, before heading to Aegina.  I refer to Aegina as pistachio heaven.  The area is famous for this nut, so there are a number of stands along the sea devoted to selling anything pistachio flavoured.  When I say anything, I’m not kidding!  Ice cream, soap, lotion, liquor, salsa dip and creamy paste are all available!  Of course, we sampled everything, before heading back to the cruise ship.

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Zoe’s verdict

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As the Mediterranean waves lapped against the sides of ship, I reflected peacefully on my time in Greece. Outstanding food, happy people and unimaginable history make this place easy to fall in love with. Each city/island had its own quirky personality that I really enjoyed getting to know.   am already looking forward to when I can return to this spectacular country and be introduced to new areas!

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