Heading to Athens and Rome...

[VTHokiEE]

I am heading to Athens for 4 nights and then off to Rome for 4 nights with my wife and I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on nice places to eat? areas to shop? or places to avoid (mainly regarding safety). I have a pretty good idea of the areas that I'd like to tour, but suggestions are welcomed. Hopefully, my English as an only language handicap won't be too much of an annoyance for the locals .

Thanks for any ideas and suggestions in advance!

 

[eia41]

Eats and photography (lots of street one) in the old Athens quarter of Plaka, on the north side of the Acropolis hill - all this a comfortable walk in Constitution (Syntagma) square of central Athens.

Shopping in Ermou (Hermes) street and nearby Monastiraki flea market: not much of bargain buys but a lot of local character. English is spoken by loads of people and virtually all the young ones, so it would not be a problem for you.

Enjoy yourselves!

 

[intheviewfinder]

Here's one for Rome. You hear all about the various carciofi alla giudia but the artichoke al mattone (roasted between bricks) at Evangelista in the Jewish ghetto is the best.

 

[VTHokiEE]

Eats and photography (lots of street one) in the old Athens quarter of Plaka, on the north side of the Acropolis hill - all this a comfortable walk in Constitution (Syntagma) square of central Athens.

Shopping in Ermou (Hermes) street and nearby Monastiraki flea market: not much of bargain buys but a lot of local character. English is spoken by loads of people and virtually all the young ones, so it would not be a problem for you.

Enjoy yourselves!

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll be sure to check them out. I'm glad you commented about English, it makes me feel a bit better (I hate being rude because I don't know the local language, but it's hard to know every one).

 

[Roger Hicks]

Eats and photography (lots of street one) in the old Athens quarter of Plaka, on the north side of the Acropolis hill - all this a comfortable walk in Constitution (Syntagma) square of central Athens.

Shopping in Ermou (Hermes) street and nearby Monastiraki flea market: not much of bargain buys but a lot of local character. English is spoken by loads of people and virtually all the young ones, so it would not be a problem for you.

Enjoy yourselves!

Never been to Rome, and only to Athens once, so I can't comment on the second para., but on limited acquaintance I wholly agree with the first para.

And of course the third.

Cheers,

R.

 

[nksdks]

Apparently you already know where you want to go; in any case the above is spot on if time is short and you want to get a feel of the city centre. If you want to see where people live though, you will need to wander off a bit. The nearby Theseion, Kolonaki (a posh area) and Exarcheia (the adjacent "underground" area) would be a good start.
If weather is good, I would recommend a short trip to Vouliagmeni area.

English should be fine, I wouldn't worry about this.
But do be careful with your gear. Do carry it and use it of course, but be a little alert. We are having a rise lately, for obvious reasons. Rangefinders should be fine though.

 

[VTHokiEE]

Here's one for Rome. You hear all about the various carciofi alla giudia but the artichoke al mattone (roasted between bricks) at Evangelista in the Jewish ghetto is the best.

That sounds really good, Thanks!

 

[VTHokiEE]

Apparently you already know where you want to go; in any case the above is spot on if time is short and you want to get a feel of the city centre. If you want to see where people live though, you will need to wander off a bit. The nearby Theseion, Kolonaki (a posh area) and Exarcheia (the adjacent "underground" area) would be a good start.
If weather is good, I would recommend a short trip to Vouliagmeni area.

English should be fine, I wouldn't worry about this.
But do be careful with your gear. Do carry it and use it of course, but be a little alert. We are having a rise lately, for obvious reasons. Rangefinders should be fine though.

Thanks, we'll be taking a day trip out to Delphi, and spending a day or two around the Acropolis and museums. Then at Rome, a day doing ancient Rome, a day at the Vatican, and then odds and ends. I guess what I meant was I am planning on seeing the main historical sites, but I am curious about things aside from the historical sites (such as places to eat, districts to walk through and such).

I'm always very careful with my gear, sadly I don't have a quality RF to take so I'll be taking my Nikon DSLR (sacrilegious, I know).