Athens, Greece

In Athens, we’ve been staying at the King George Hotel, which is next door to the Grande Bretagne, and just a bit more affordable. But because both are part of the same luxury hotel franchise, we get to use the Bretagne’s restaurants, rooftop bar, and private cigar lounge.

We’re on the Placa, the central plaza in the heart of the city’s upscale shopping streets and nearby food markets and boutiques and galleries. I rarely buy anything when I’m traveling, but I like shopping. It’s a window into the similarities and differences of US and foreign cultures. So we’ve done a fair amount of that, along with visiting the de rigueur Parthenon, Acropolis, and other ancient ruins.

We also visited the National Museum, which I very much liked for the same reason: the view it affords of the similarities and differences between US, European, and Greek art during the 20th century.

Athens has hundreds of really great cafes, restaurants, and bars – traditional, continental, and au courant. Several nice (but not spectacular) parks and an amazing range of architecture. Plus super-friendly, hospitable, and helpful people. In many ways, it reminds me most of Rome, which is where we’ll be next.