Of Pots and Photographs, A Photographer's Athens Adventure
Lycabettus Hill - Θέα Λυκαβηττού
Squirrel Monkey - London Zoo
Whenever I'm packing for a photography trip, there's always the optimism that comes from a fully loaded camera bag—lenses, spare batteries, and enough memory cards to chronicle every moment twice over. This adventure began in London, at the zoo, a place perfectly suited to warming up the trusty shutter. The photography opportunities were plentiful, with insects, penguins, monkeys, and owls (quietly judging my technique). We finished the day at Cirque du Soleil, but sadly, no cameras allowed, so those memories remain safely locked away.
But this isn’t why you came here, you don’t want to hear about a trip to London zoo. You want to see some gems from Athens!
Arriving in Athens, it quickly became clear we'd traded penguins for pottery and monkeys for marble. Our first stop, predictably, was a café—because all good explorations start with strong coffee. Suitably caffeinated, we strolled into the Kerameikos Museum. Immediately, the two recurring motifs of this trip made themselves known: pottery (so much pottery) and ruins (so many ruins). Unexpectedly charming were the local groundskeepers: turtles, quietly munching their way through the grass and preserving clear views of the ancient stones.
Holy Church of the Holy Trinity at Kerameikos - Ιερός Ναός Αγίας Τριάδος
Kerameikos Museum - Μουσείο Κεραμεικού
The local groundskeepers
From the tranquility of the museum, we plunged headfirst into the vibrant chaos of Athens' markets. A delightful sensory overload awaited—endless waves of pigeons, stalls overflowing with antiques and oddities, raw meat hanging proudly on display, and the thrill of discovering vintage film cameras hidden amidst the bric-a-brac. It was chaotic, yes, but irresistible from behind the camera lens.
bric-a-brac
Day two brought us to the Acropolis, Athens' most famous ancient site. Visiting in January felt like insider knowledge—plenty of space for thoughtful composition without the usual crowds. My partner, not sharing my stop-and-compose-pace, dashed around like someone determined to complete an archaeological treasure hunt in record time. Later, at the Acropolis Museum, our pottery quota increased dramatically, complemented by an assortment of statues meticulously arranged as if to test visitors' puzzle-solving skills.
Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens
Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens
Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens
Acropolis Museum
Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens
Day three maintained the theme with visits to the Stoa of Attalos and the impressively preserved Temple of Hephaestus. Between photography stops, we noticed another local specialty: Athens' cats, indifferent to history but highly attuned to potential handouts from sympathetic tourists. Visits to Hadrian's Library and Monastiraki Square provided more evidence of Athens' apparent policy to preserve every stone ever carved.
Stoa of Attalos - Museum of the Ancient Agora
Stoa of Attalos - Museum of the Ancient Agora
Temple of Hephaestus - Ναός του Ηφαίστου
Arch of Hadrian - Πύλη Αδριανού
Seeking a calmer pace on day four, we wandered the Botanical Museum in the National Gardens—a peaceful retreat where turtles and ducks leisurely carried on their day, oblivious to city bustle. Yet another stop at the Temple of Olympian Zeus reassured us of the inexhaustible supply of ruins before we explored the contemporary side of Athens through vintage clothes shopping at the Kilo-Shop.
Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens
Our final day had us ambitiously circumnavigating the Acropolis, stumbling unexpectedly onto a detailed period film set that felt like stepping into another time. The winding alleyways of Plaka eventually led us to Thespis, an intimate restaurant that provided a memorable Greek culinary experience. One final cultural moment awaited us at the Paul and Alexandra Canellopoulos Museum, highlighted by Carl Bloch's striking 1864 painting "Prometheus Unbound," providing a refreshing departure from pottery and stones.
Film Set at the Acropolis of Athens
Alleyways of Plaka
As I unpack my camera bag back home, feet still recovering from the miles walked, I realize I’ve barely started processing the sheer volume of photos taken. Yet, even with sore feet resembling fragmented pottery, each step was worth the photographic treasures discovered in Athens—a city endlessly rewarding for photographers willing to explore.
If you're curious about where all these places are—or fancy retracing our route—I've put together a handy Google Maps list with every spot we visited, from ancient temples and tucked-away museums to vintage markets and turtle-filled gardens. You can find it here: Athens Trip Map. It covers everything mentioned in this blog post and might come in useful if you're planning your own slightly pot-heavy pilgrimage.
