The Honeymooners: Athens, Greece Museums, Shopping & Dining

Today we continue to explore Athens, Greece by way of their amazing museums, shopping options and dining experiences.

MUSEUMS
For those who are fascinated by ancient relics, the museums in Athens are a must-see.

The Archaeological Museum houses treasures dating back to Neolithic times. The Museum of Cycladic Art contains ancient artifacts dating back more than 5,000 years/ Built in 1845, the Cathedral of Athens isn't as old as many of the city's gems but is of interest as it was built from the rooms of 72 dilapidated or damaged Medieval period churches. The War Museum contains items related to the famous wars from ancient times to World War II. Outside the museum are six war planes. Inside you'll find every kind of instrument used for battle, from shields and swords to automatic weapons.


SHOPPING
For shopping there is only one place to go in Athens. The Plaka is a bustling outdoor mall that has everything from lace to jewelry to metalwork to pottery. There are also plenty of clothing shops, leather goods, rugs and local wines to buy as well. High end stores are scattered throughout the area, especially jewelry stores such as Bulgari and Rolex. And if gold is what you are looking for, you couldn't find a better place for it. Gold is especially well priced in Athens. The selection of originally designed jewelry is large and varied from ancient and modern patterns to exquisite copies of gold and silver pieces. There is so much to see here that you might find the day fading away before you've had your fill. No worries, Plaka shops are open late so take your time and explore. Although this used to be a working class district, Plaka's stores of winding streets and alleyways have helped to make it one of the most expensive areas to live and one of the most exciting to visit.

DINING Eating out is very much a part of Greek culture. Tavernas are idea for an afternoon cup of Greek coffee, but be prepared to make some choices. In Greece coffee is more than a beverage, it is a social occasion. Although you can order a latte or cappuccino, traditional Greek coffee is called cafe. You can order cafe one of three ways: unsweetened; with a little sugar; or for those with a taste for the extreme, try it extra sweet. Because Greek is situated at the crossroads of East and West, it's cuisine is a unique combo of middle eastern and western cooking. The food can be similar to Spanish tapas, including simple dishes like olives, fresh breads and a variety of cheeses. Or it can include more Eastern flavors such as Baba Ganoush and Hummus. A national favorite there is Souvlaka, traditionally made of lamb, it's usually served on a skewer or wrapped in Pita bread. During the day lunch usually begins at about noon or 1pm and continues for two or three hours, but be sure to get your full because dinner doesn't begin until around 8pm. And if you want to dine with the locals, plan on an even later start Visit us tomorrow as we wrap up our exploration of Athens by way of hotels and night life.