When you think of Ancient Greece, what do you think of?

 

Maybe philosophers wandering around ruins. But they weren’t ruins in 450 BC — nearly 2,500 years ago.

 

The temples were marble masterpieces painted vibrant colors. But the rest of the city was small, and even squalid. 

 

Athens was never the richest or the strongest city, and yet it is the birthplace of theatre and philosophy and democracy. Schools and science. Imagine a world without these things.

 

We think of the ancient Greeks ruling for centuries, but really the golden age lasted for a few decades, a quiet period between wars.

 

Today it’s less quiet 4 million people live in Athens — about 40% of Greece’s population. 

 

My friend Michelle and I recently took a trip to Athens to explore the new and the ancient, and in this episode, we’re sharing our favorite Athenian places and experiences.

 

This is one of the last trips I took before the COVID-19 coronavirus put us all in lock down. Michelle and I recorded this conversation right after our trip about a month ago, when we were still free to travel.