If you're planning to visit Athens, Greece (also available for Crete) - or you are already here or visit frequently whether it being for studies/ conferences, family, study breaks or business trips - and want to experience something in the short amount of time you are in Athens that is MORE than just historical walking tours offered by everyone else or big tour buses full of tourist trap stops and
the 'same old' type of info, I'm here to give you a MUCH MORE insightful, fun, special, and truly personalized experience of my city I have called home for a long time. As a local whom also speaks Greek, a professional musician, educator, and avid photographer, traveller and writer, when you HIRE ME as your private guide and I will show you the AMAZING, HIDDEN CULTURAL GEMS of Athens that tantalize all your senses.. away from the tourist traps and usual places others suggest.. Get a taste of Athens as a Greek for a day and/or night, whether you're interested in:
* The rich history and development of Athens and Greece in general;
* Greek culture, local customs and I'll tell you stories, observations and anecdotes of mine from coming to Greece many times throughout my life and live here permanently now.
- Traditional Greek food and drinks (much more than 'just' souvlaki/ giro and ouzo!!) - I mean real home-style cooking, locally made organic products
* Discovering the wealth of traditional music and the Arts, expression and resistance within society here everywhere from brilliant street art in less-frequented areas of Athens, through to hidden away galleries and creative performance spaces, through to secret local tavernas where Greeks frequent but tourists would never find;
* As I'm a musician of Greek traditional 'rembetiko and laiko' (blues/ folk and pop) music myself here, I of course know the BEST places to go to experience some of the greatest Greek musicians playing in Athens today.. and Athens is FULL of great Greek music for free or for very little entrance fee that you can see music every afternoon/ night of the week and even during lunchtime too on weekends! Something we usually do is go to a 'secret' tavern outside of the immediate centre of Athens either in walking distance, or take a short train or bis trip together (or taxi if preferred) and enjoy a fantastic cheap home-style Greek meal, trying different tastes and traditional beverages, in a tavern that has fantastic traditional Greek music which I will tell you all about what you're hearing and seeing etc, and watch or take part in the inevitable singing along or getting up and dancing with the locals around the tables! In other words, DO WHAT US GREEKS DO!
*If you want to experience other styles of music and arts, there is always plenty on in Athens if you know where to look and how to 'get in on it'.. many touring rock and jazz artists/ groups from America and Europe pass through Athens on tour, and there are also areas devoted to bars and creative art spaces which if you want to be guided through these areas and/ or have company for drinks and live gigs and festivals etc I can organise our afternoon's activities or evening proceedings to suit this.. (There are also some awesome hidden away cafe-bars and lesser-known vantage points and roof tops to enjoy a beverage that I know you'll love ;))
* As my partner is a long-time organic farmer in Sitia, Crete - the home of the most award-winning, consistently highest quality extra virgin olive oil in the world (for their types of olives), and maker of some of the most popular (also organic) Raki/ Tsipouri - the other Greek alcohol that is preferred by Greeks rather than Ouzo that everyone else thinks, every person whom hires me as their private guide will get a sample bottle of these as FREE GIFTS as a thank you!
*General historical information (I can give you information about entering ancient sites/ ticketing and museums however I am not a licensed tour guide for such things..) No matter how much (or little) time you have in Athens, HIRE ME AS YOUR PRIVATE GUIDE and I will show you the most interesting and fascinating parts of Athens that you'd never know about yourself, introduce you to 'REAL' Greek culture outside of tourist traps, the way Greeks love to enjoy life and spend time even on a shoestring budget due to the crisis, treat you to the sights and beautiful sounds of Greek music and food, and show you a truly special time according to your time, interests. Whether you are a solo leisure or business traveller, on vacation with your partner, friends or family, or visiting Athens as a group and want something much better and more in-depth and personal than just a 'historical' tour or tour agency, I am your perfect choice to be your 'parea' (the Greek word for 'company' or 'friend to spend time with'). Because I love people, I'm proud of my Greek heritage and culture, I want to help show people what it's REALLY like here, I want you to enjoy the true hospitality and richness of culture here without the tourist traps and learn more in-depth about what's going on here on each front. I love promoting Greece especially in a time of tremendous challenges for everyday people here, I have travelled a lot in my life and have many comparisons and further understandings contextually to share with other travellers, and I do this as an extra way to support my own musical endeavours and to support my financial situation , learning and professional development expenses here in Greece. For further information as to why I moved to Greece from Australia, please read (and feel free to share with your friends and contribute to) http://www.gofundme.com/EpicJourneybyCJ
I can be your private guide, meeting you at your hotel, residence or spot of your choice anywhere in Athens, for:
* 'QUICK VISIT' (fantastic hidden coffee/ snack and vantage points tour around the centre but NOT at the 'tourist' places)
2 hours (just 20euro per person, paid prior)
* 'LEISURELY AFTERNOON' Walking, Tasting & Street Culture/ Music Tour: Up to 4 hours anytime between 1pm-7pm at a time that suits you (booked in advance). Just 30euros per person + tips (optional!). Kids under 7yrs free but must be accompanied by a parent. (Any meals are excluded in the price but I shout you either a souvlaki/ sweet or coffee!) I also give you FREE GIFTS of Greek organic products to accompany treasured memories of Greece!
'NIGHT ON THE TOWN' Live Greek music and traditional Greek taverna meal - a night out on the town at a hidden away 'locals hangout' off the tourist track - experience what meal time and enjoying music with Greeks really means - singing along, impromptu dancing, slow-enjoyment of great food to share and drinks to try (optional of course ;)). ALSO INCLUDED in this is a guided walk and any train tickets required that we'd take together, great photo opportunities, photos taken and shared with you digitally, comprehensive and fascinating street art tour and stories/ anecdotes of living in Athens, hear musicians and learn about traditional instruments that they play and the singing styles (I'm a professional musician and specialist music teacher of many years, and a long-time student of Greek music so I love to share this with you!!) - I even include in this service:
FREE GIFT PACK of selected organic Greek products valued at 20 euro!! FREE mezedes (like tapas plates) or snack/ sweet PLUS shot of choice of locally made alcohol (of coffee if you don't want alcohol)! All this (c. 6-7 HOURS and lots of experiences, choose your own start time between 2pm-7pm!) for only 80 EUROS for one person, or JUST 60 EUROS per person for 2 or more people (excl extra meals/ drinks you may want + tips). I have many options for you to choose from to
include in your private personal tour, including:
*sight-seeing ancient sites and landmarks
*partner as fun tourist role - taking you to the best tourist areas and take photos of you (without you needing selfie-sticks!
*taking in street art
*live Greek music
*Greek street food &
*Greek traditional homestyle-food / drink sampling
*Learn and share in my stories historically, academically and culturally about Athens and the Greek way of life.
* Discovering hidden cafes and bars
*Discovering rooftops
*Suburban Athens walks - see how Greeks really live outside tourist zones, architecture etc..
*Morning/ lunchtime coffee partner for conversation about Greece and travelling etc, and general "parea" (company in Greek) if you're a lone traveller
*Evening drink partner, discovering nightlife, secret bars and clubs
*Greek tavernas, meal and live music (where only Greeks normally know of and go to enjoy - WARNING: dancing and singing, people having a great time may spontaneously occur around you, but participation is optional! hehe)
*Sunset walking tour and perfect photo vantage points of ancient Greek sites including the Acropolis
*Greek Tastings PRIVATE PICNIC! Gastronomy for all you foodies out there, including drinks sampling of locally-made, traditional products!
*Travel tips about other parts of Greece
*FREE GIFT of organic locally-made Greek products to take home with you!
*Nature walks, gentle hiking, botanical gardens, surrounding mountains of Athens
*We can also visit the spectacular Lake Vougliameni - lounge around/ swim in natural Hot Springs outside of Athens! (Allow an extra 25 euro for entrance fee, most of a day is needed as it is outside of the city and will require a couple of hours travel time, and you'll need bathers obviously, as it is a public place..!)
To make a booking please send me a message through here or call +30 6946188404
PLEASE NOTE:
TIPS ARE OPTIONAL, but gratefully received if you want to give to reflect your appreciation of my time, effort and attention to detail I've paid to of your interests, to show you the best time here in Athens!! Meals/ concerts/ entrance tickets not included in my fee unless otherwise stated. :)
