A Summer Day in Athens

One of the nicest things about the summer months is that the city actually quiets down as many Athenians head for their villages. Those left behind find parking spaces available and a lazy feeling takes over with the warm summer breeze. There is nothing better than waking up to the peaceful sound of the city, rolling out of bed, sending a text message to your friends to see what the plans for the day are and starting your day. Around 9 a.m. you find yourself making your way to a cafeteria, perhaps in Piraeus, overlooking the sea. While sitting and watching the waves crash on the ancient ruins of the fortified city walls below, you enjoy a refreshing frappe (a blended cold coffee drink Greeks are crazy about – especially during the hot summer months). As the time trickles by, friends stop by and join you. After a light meal of a classic “toast,” which is a grilled cheese and ham sandwich, or a buttered croissant, you head out to find the closest kiosk to by a few bottles of water. Why water you ask? Because the next stop is the beach!

Getting to the beach mid-day in Athens isn’t recommended, since it is very hard to find chairs and an umbrella as the beaches fill up with tourists. So, probably getting there by 11 a.m. is the latest arrival time that doesn’t put you in jeopardy of laying on the sand with no shade and not being able to find parking.

There are many beautiful beaches around the suburbs of Athens, however, a favorite for Athenians is Voula Athens. After you pay a small entry fee you search for the perfect set of chairs and umbrella, set up camp and jump in the cool Mediterranean sea that is calling to you. After a few hours of rotating sun-bathing and swimming it’s around 2 p.m. and that means that it is time to eat.

Eating at Voula Beach is a simple and convenient process, but a little expensive. There are cafeterias that serve main dishes as well as bars for snack food inside the resort and the road across the beach is lined with cafeterias, bread shops and tavernas. Summer cuisine in Greece is amazing — its fresh, light and you can find the best seafood at just about any taverna you choose.

After eating on any given summer day in Athens, you relax. Whether you decide to get some shut-eye or go back to the beach and enjoy the sound of the waves or a good time chatting with friends, it’s around 5 p.m. by now and the beach is starting to be less crowded. This is the perfect time for a game of paddle ball. You can bring your own or rent a set, just don’t be surprised that you are not the only ones playing this game. Paddle ball is an extremely popular game to play on the beaches in Greece.

As the sun dims and the night falls on the city, the summer fun continues on with drinks with friends at a favorite beach side hangout. Maybe Peñarrubia Lounge in Alimos where you can see amazing sun sets as you drink, eat and chill in the modern cafeteria slash bar located on the shores of the sea. In all, a perfect way to end a perfect day.

(The pictures in this article are from Internet.)