Athens
4
Gay Athens
At one time, Greece was the epicenter of all things homosexual. Zeus, the King of Gods, was known to have taken a boy, Ganymede, as a lover. In ancient Greece, it was common for rich unmarried men to have male lovers. Today, the landscape has shifted and Greece is far more conservative in its acceptance of gays and lesbians – owing partly to the influence of the Greek Orthodox Church.
That being said, society is coming back around and Athens is a haven for Greek gays; people are flocking from all corners of the country for the relative comfort of like-minded people in the big city. And what a big city it is! People zoom about non-stop, packing the sidewalks with bodies and the streets with cars. The vibe is decidedly contemporary, bustling beneath the looming pillars of history.
Athens is home to the National Archeological Museum and the largest collection of Greek antiquities in the world. The Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Agora, the Roman Stadium, the Theatre of Dionysus…the list goes on! Hoof it around these impressive sites, and then drop down to the expansive metro system to see more artifacts unearthed during the construction of the system – and then enjoy the relief from dealing with taxis above ground.
July and August are the peak season for travelers, but are also the most unbearable. A heavy, humid heat descends on Athens for much of the summer, and coupled with the pollution from traffic it can get a little nasty. Aim for the more pleasant April/May and September/October shoulder seasons, or get away from the winter elsewhere and enjoy a relatively mild climate and low traffic around the main attractions.
