Athens (Greece ’25, Part II)

I love cities that blend the old and the new. This juxtaposition is something I loved most about the years I lived in Boston. It's something I saw on an ever larger scale during my trips to London, Edinburgh, and Paris. But Athens? It brings that juxtaposition to an entirely different level. It is the oldest continuously inhabited city I've ever been to, and its ancientness is palpable. Passing by an archaeological dig on the way to run a menial errand is an everyday occurrence.

Athens is a lively, modern metropolis steeped in history. What surprised me the most was the city's vibrant, renowned cocktail scene. We went to a few incredible cocktail bars — Brettos, The Clumsies, and Baba Au Rum, which had one of the best-designed menus I've ever seen. Credit to Parachute Typefoundry — you have my utmost admiration and respect.

There's little argument that the city's crown jewel is the Parthenon, which sits majestically atop the ancient Acropolis. However, the Erechtheion, home of the watchful Caryatids, is my personal favorite. Touring the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum put into perspective for me that the Parthenon and its neighboring monuments bear the scars of human antagonism. They aren't so much a ruin of Time as a ruin of us. Many of the world's architectural marvels would be much better preserved today were it not for humanity's ravenous taste for power and domination.

Even today, these struggles persist, as many of the Acropolis's most iconic sculptural works sit on display in the British Museum. It pains me that there is a single Caryatid shoved in a corner in London when there is a clear spot waiting for her amongst her five sisters at the Acropolis Museum.

Ultimately, Athens invites you to reflect on the beauty that once was — and forces you to acknowledge our responsibility in preserving what remains.