Day 7

At 5 o’clock day wake up on Skyros. Last products for the Christmas market, say goodbye to Karin and off to the airport. Shortly before eight o’clock the propeller plane takes off and in the half hour to Athens we have a great view over the islands of the Aegean Sea. Landed in Athens, we have to wait almost an hour for the shuttle bus to the hotel. Once at the hotel, we deposit our luggage and everyone sets off in groups on an individual tour of Athens. Lunch is enjoyed by all in a taverna under arbors. Some stroll leisurely through the streets of Athens center and then go back to the hotel to rest or to enjoy the view in the pool bar on the hotel roof and refresh in the pool. It is summer temperatures. Elena, Melina, Nico and Simon take the famous Hop-On & Hop-Off buses through Athens and have the city explained to them. Another group, however, treats itself to refreshing drinks at the Hard Rock Café Athens. Anastasia and Andrea take a tour together to the sights around and in Athens: First hotspot is the harbor world of Piraeus. Then it’s on to Lake Vouliagmeni, natural thermal springs with a constant water temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. There is not enough time for a swim and the trip goes back to the center of Athens to the Kallimarmaro Stadium, venue of the first Olympic Games of modern times and repository of the Olympic flame. Further up Lykavittos Hill, the view sweeps 360 degrees over the entire city of Athens. Before the changing of the guard takes place in front of the Greek Parliament building, it is enough for a short look at Hadrian’s Gate and the Temple of Zeus. The changing of the guard is a real spectacle and a tourist magnet.
The final point of the tour is the Acropolis. There is enough time for an extensive tour of the whole complex from the Odeon of Herod to the Temple of Athena and Poseidon. The way back to the hotel leads through secluded alleys of the old town past the Roman Agora. The only criticism is the ghettoization before reaching the hotel. At 19:00 the whole Swiss for Greece team meets for a final discussion and evaluation of the project week. Afterwards the time has come for the common final dinner in a cozy place and the fade out. A successful week with many impressions and enrichments. It was great!

-Andrea