#Metro Fit Dubai Market Share

[businessarticlesclone]

What to Expect from Abu Dhabi Apartments: A Complete Overview

Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, is a vibrant and cosmopolitan destination known for its stunning architecture, luxurious lifestyle, and thriving business opportunities. As a popular choice for both locals and expatriates, Abu Dhabi offers a wide range of accommodation options, including apartments that cater to various needs and budgets. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive overview of Abu Dhabi Apartments and what you can expect when considering this type of housing.

The Variety of Apartments:

Abu Dhabi offers a diverse selection of apartments to suit different preferences and requirements. Whether you are looking for a cozy studio, a spacious one-bedroom apartment, or a luxurious penthouse, you'll find options that meet your needs. Apartments in Abu Dhabi are typically found in high-rise buildings, providing residents with breathtaking views of the city skyline or the Arabian Gulf.

Modern Amenities:

Abu Dhabi apartments are designed with modern amenities to ensure a comfortable and convenient living experience. Most apartments come equipped with air conditioning, central heating, and high-speed internet access. Fitness enthusiasts can take advantage of gyms and fitness centers within the buildings, while families can enjoy shared swimming pools and children's play areas. Additionally, many apartments offer 24-hour security, parking facilities, and maintenance services to cater to residents' needs.

Furnishing Options:

Depending on your preferences and Budget Apartments In Dubai can be rented furnished, semi-furnished, or unfurnished. Furnished apartments are a popular choice for those looking for a hassle-free move, as they come fully equipped with furniture, appliances, and kitchen essentials. Semi-furnished apartments may include basic furniture and appliances, allowing residents to personalize the space according to their taste. Unfurnished apartments offer a blank canvas for individuals who prefer to bring their own furniture and create a personalized living environment.

Rental Prices:

The rental prices for Abu Dhabi apartments can vary depending on factors such as location, size, amenities, and demand. Generally, apartments located in prime areas such as the Corniche, Al Reem Island, and Saadiyat Island tend to command higher rental rates. The size of the apartment and the number of bedrooms also impact the rental price. It's important to research the market and set a budget that aligns with your financial capabilities.

Lease Terms and Tenancy Laws:

When renting an apartment in Abu Dhabi, it is crucial to familiarize yourself with the lease terms and tenancy laws. Rental agreements are typically signed for a minimum of one year, although shorter-term rentals may be available in some cases. It is common practice to provide post-dated checks for the entire lease duration as a security deposit. Familiarize yourself with the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords as outlined by the Abu Dhabi Tenancy Law to ensure a smooth and transparent renting experience.

Location and Connectivity:

Abu Dhabi apartments are situated in various neighborhoods across the city, each offering a unique lifestyle and amenities. The choice of location depends on factors such as proximity to workplaces, schools, leisure facilities, and transportation links. Some popular areas include Al Maryah Island, Al Raha Beach, and Khalifa City. Abu Dhabi boasts a well-developed transportation system, including taxis, buses, and the efficient Abu Dhabi Metro, making it easy to commute within the city.

Lifestyle and Community:

Living in an Abu Dhabi apartment offers a vibrant and diverse community experience. Many residential buildings host community events and social gatherings, providing an opportunity to meet neighbors and build connections. Abu Dhabi is a culturally rich city, and residents can enjoy a wide range of recreational activities, including shopping in luxurious malls, dining in world-class restaurants, visiting museums and art galleries, and exploring beautiful parks and beaches.

Maintenance and Property Management:

One of the advantages of living in an Abu Dhabi apartment is the convenience of maintenance and property management services. Property management companies are responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of the building, including common areas and amenities. They handle repairs, cleaning, landscaping, and security, ensuring that residents enjoy a well-maintained living environment. This relieves tenants of the burden of property maintenance and allows them to focus on their daily lives.

Cultural Etiquette:

Abu Dhabi is deeply rooted in Islamic culture, and it is important for residents to be aware of and respect local customs and traditions. Dress modestly in public areas, particularly in more conservative neighborhoods. During the holy month of Ramadan, be mindful of fasting hours and cultural sensitivities. Understanding and embracing the local culture will enhance your experience and help you build positive relationships with the community.

Legal Considerations:

When renting an Abu Dhabi apartment, it is essential to adhere to legal requirements and regulations. Ensure that you have the necessary visas and permits in place to legally reside in the UAE. Work with reputable real estate agents or property management companies to ensure a legitimate rental transaction. Familiarize yourself with the rental laws and regulations to protect your rights as a tenant and avoid any legal complications.

Future Developments:

Abu Dhabi continues to grow and develop, with ongoing infrastructure projects and urban expansion. This means that new residential areas and apartment complexes are constantly being built. Staying updated on future developments can provide insights into emerging neighborhoods and upcoming opportunities for renting or investing in apartments. Keep an eye on real estate news and consult with professionals to stay informed about the evolving real estate landscape in Abu Dhabi.

Sustainability and Green Initiatives:

Abu Dhabi is committed to sustainability and green initiatives. Many new apartment buildings are designed with eco-friendly features such as energy-efficient systems, solar panels, and waste management strategies. Some developments incorporate green spaces and recreational areas to promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. If environmental consciousness is important to you, research eco-friendly apartments or buildings that align with your values.

Conclusion:

Abu Dhabi apartments offer a diverse range of options for residents, combining modern amenities, convenience, and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. From luxurious penthouses to cozy studios, there is something to suit every preference and budget. Understanding the variety of apartments available, rental prices, lease terms, and legal considerations will help you make an informed decision when choosing a place to live in Abu Dhabi. Embrace the cultural etiquette, immerse yourself in the vibrant community, and enjoy the countless opportunities for entertainment, recreation, and career growth that Abu Dhabi has to offer.

Choose the right Real Estate Companies in Abu Dhabi for buying Cheap Apartments In Abu Dhabi.

[studio52group]

10 Best Construction Time-Lapse Videos of 2022

With construction time-lapse videos, you get to see your projects shown in the short catchy frame in accelerated motion! Here at Studio52, we use the best techniques and equipment to capture long-term duration construction processes and display them in a manner you can share with anyone included. Time-lapse videos are one of the best tools for marketing and promotion. We have created world-class timelapse videos for many brands and construction projects. Our most notable clients include Expo 2020, Meraas, Damac, and many more!

Today we want to share the best timelapse videos of the construction industry in 2022!

What To Look For in Construction Time Lapse Videos?

xConstruction time-lapse videos have the unique power to catch attention and tell the whole story about your project in the shortest possible time. For this purpose, you’d want them to: Grab attention Have a high-quality production

Lay out all necessary information in an easy-to-digest way

Without any further ado, let’s check out 10 great examples of construction time-lapses from this year.

Blue Waters Construction TimeLapse

Blue Waters of Dubai is a vibrant lifestyle destination with top-tier residential, hospitality, and entertainment options. Home to Ain Dubai — the world’s largest observation wheel, the project was built from 2015 to 2018 and we were tasked to oversee the entire thing from start to finish. Here at Studio52, we delivered a top-quality time-lapse video of the construction of this resort.

The video is just short of a minute but shows years of laborious work to construct this haven.

Etisalat Business Hub

Etisalat Business Hub in Dubai is the home of global growth & infinite business opportunities. It’s the largest telecommunication corporation in the GCC of Abu Dhabi. It serves over 300,000 small, medium and large enterprises in the UAE.

We were tasked to monitor the entire interior construction and present this beautiful one-minute video!

EXPOLINK Metro

EXPOLINK Metro station is the largest metro station in Dubai! It is one of the most prestigious and advanced and modern systems of the railway. The Dubai metro offers a wide range of luxurious services including facilities, retail, trains, and other equipment.

In this one-minute video, we’ve comprised two years of construction and presented it in a way our clients loved it!

Sephora, Dubai

Sephora is a leader in prestigious retail. Their mission is to create an unparalleled beauty shopping experience for everyone and inspire communities.

Sephora wanted us to monitor the construction of their Dubai store and create a time-lapse video of the project!

The result is a one-minute-long time-lapse video done with precision.

Stadium 974, FIFA World Cup Qatar

Stadium 974 of Qatar is built with the idea of sustainability all around it — it is to be fully dismantled and repurposed after the football event. This stadium doesn’t need any air conditioning due to its design of natural ventilation.

This beautiful time-lapse video was created by MK Timelapse in collaboration with Eclick Multimedia Solutions.

WHANGAREI Civic Center, Whangarei DC

Whangarei DC’s new civic building is designed as a fit-for-purpose building, providing a welcoming and easily accessible customer experience. This building is focused on sustainability and reflects the city’s cultural identity and heritage. The building is a hub for government-related activities, including democratic processes, customer services, administration, etc.

This beautiful time-lapse video of civic building construction is owned by Whangarei DC of New Zealand.

New Frontiers Construction, Oklahoma State University

Oklahoma state university wanted to show a time-lapse video of the construction of the southwest corner of their new New Frontiers construction site.

This beautiful time-lapse video captures the installation of the first-floor columns and concrete foundation being poured in August 2022.

Read more - https://studio52.tv/blog/10-best-construction-time-lapse-videos-of-2022/

[vegas-glitz]

Getting the India Tale

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Even right up until the transform of the millennium, NRI expenditure in Indian serious estate was a trickle. Some promoters would appoint a component-time regional agent in metropolitan areas with big Indian populations. The a lot more enterprising kinds would once in a while participate in an exhibition the place there would additional thoughts than answers. For the 20 million Indians spread across the globe, India, as a serious estate financial commitment destination, was far absent. You bought home there if you had to. And prayed that your money and residence would be secure.

In the very last 50 percent a dozen many years there has been a sea adjust in notion. What was a trickle is now a steady stream. No key housing project can pay for to overlook the NRI marketplace and many earmark unique NRI blocks in their setting up ideas. Indians overseas want to get into their home place not only for mother and father and once-a-year holidays but purely for financial investment. They have recognised that whilst, in a great deal of the earth, true estate could be slowing, in India it is escalating by leaps and bounds. "You will not have to promote India any more," says Aloke Banerjee, Main Operating Officer of Axiom Estates, the largest intercontinental supplier of India property services. "You have to go with discounts." "A large volume of fascination has designed," provides Rajesh Goenka, Running Director, who spearheaded the firm's original thrust amid the Uk Indians. "5 years back the initially news was trickling in that Indian serious estate is worthy of investing. Right now the brand name impression of India -- and of true estate developers in India -- has altered."

The character of consumers and the commitment to purchase also varies from nation to nation. In the Uk, which Goenka describes as the hardest market, most prospective buyers are next or third technology Indians, who search on India as just a different expense place and favour international sights like Goa. The United states of america has a bigger proportion of 1st era expatriates, who are open up to the notion of returning to India or have mother and father living below. The traditional metros, Bangalore and Hyderabad are their preferred places. Indians in the Gulf generally system to return and hence request assets in their hometown, often in the scaled-down metropolitan areas. Predominantly, nonetheless, NRIs search for a return on financial commitment with more affluent people seeking to commit in industrial space the place rental incomes are commonly above 10% and offset the fascination value.

There have been a lot of elements fuelling NRI desire. The India story now deserves standard content articles in mainline newspapers this sort of as The Situations, Wall Avenue Journal or New York Occasions, encouraging everybody to look for a piece of the motion. The easing of repatriation regulations has made it easier to encash returns on expenditure. Developers have come to be additional expert. Banking companies are extra eager to lend. In latest months the strengthening rupee and weakening US actual estate current market have created India even more beautiful. The most crucial rationale most likely is that the Indian true estate increase is viewed as getting led by genuine end-user need and that's why sustainable in the very long run, making the financial commitment safe and sound.

The marketing of genuine estate is also getting far more organised, facilitating...the shopping for course of action. Even though earlier, developers would search for to do their possess internet marketing, currently they rely mainly on businesses like Axiom Estates, which is headquartered in London and has places of work in New York, Fremont and Dubai as properly as associates in a amount of other metropolitan areas. NRIs way too count on the expert assistance and transaction management to make sure a fantastic expense. "My experience is that Indians abroad are incredibly tech-savvy," states Aloke Banerjee. "They investigate a good deal on the web. But then comes examination paralysis, so they require anyone to manual them. This is the place Axiom Estates arrives in. Despite the fact that we produce a good deal of enquiries through our website, we are not a virtual office or portal but have brick and mortar presence in their nation. We have men and women to maintain their hand and choose them by way of the whole price chain. This involves buy, home administration, permitting, furnishing, home finance loan and, in some situations, resale of the residence."

Apart from products and services, Axiom features the NRI consumer a myriad of house possibilities. The corporation has tied up with shut to 100 Category 1 builders and can provide consumers pan Indian assets as properly as alternative within just person towns. At any point of time, a purchaser will have in excess of 300 tasks to pick out from. In addition, big investors also get the chance of pre-reserving bargains i.e. property delivers at a value that is commonly only offered to the neighborhood neighborhood. Significant net well worth people today also have alternatives for block booking or project improvement by means of Axiom for larger returns on expense. Several realty traders also request the company's portfolio management products and services, where by the expenditure is spread across various attributes and towns, ensuring an optimum mix of security and return.

To market the attributes Axiom employs numerous procedures which includes extensive data foundation management to fit need and availability. The organization organises residence reveals in United states, Canada, United kingdom and now in the Gulf, in affiliation with developers. These are publicized through area Television set strategies and content in newspapers for a number of weeks. Challenging duplicate residence catalogues are mailed to future potential buyers nicely in progress. At the reveals there are problem-and-respond to periods with builders, seminars with experts, and sharing of offers and articles. Associations with Citibank in the Usa and SBI and HSBC in the British isles more incorporate believability and self-confidence. As a result, Axiom's shows draw in much increased footfalls as compared to street reveals by specific builders, with several thousand visitors staying the norm.

Currently the NRI market place accounts for about 20% of the Indian realty sector, which Banerjee describes as the suggestion of the iceberg. Inhibiting components are primarily authorized, especially when it comes to land, as titles are not always apparent and there is no title insurance policy. When buying developed-up home, the documentation is normally one-sided, loading the legal dice in favour of the promoters. Delays in development and high quality of service remain troubles of worry with lots of builders. If India were to capture up with made international locations on issues of title, transparency, assistance and deal integrity, the floodgates would open up up. There is a whole lot of money waiting around at the wings.

Supply by Nancy Priya Arora

[businessliveme]

In Conversation: Shaun Parsons, Complex General Manager, Le Méridien Dubai

Earlier this year, Starwood Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of seasoned hotelier Shaun Parsons as Complex General Manager, Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre as well as Le Meridien Fairway.

Shaun Parsons as Complex General Manager, Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre and Le Meridien Fairway

With twenty years of knowledge & experience in the hospitality industry, Shaun made the transition from Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi where he served as a General Manager during the opportune phase of the 5-star property’s refurbishment of its guest rooms, public areas, and extensive F&B operations.

Business Live Middle East, speaks to Parsons about his plans for Le Méridien Dubai and how they are gearing up for Dubai Expo 2020.

Given the current macroeconomic environment, how have Le Méridien Dubai and Le Meridien Fairway fared in 2019?

For a hotel that has spanned 4 decades of service excellence, staying relevant to global trends is as important as delivering the finest hospitality to our guests. Intent on reinventing our offerings, the renovations commenced in 2014, when the hotel added a total of 197 rooms, creating the exclusive 8-storey Le Royal Club building, adding to our existing portfolio of 383 rooms and suites.

With an aim to elevate guest arrival experience, the hotel’s lobby area received a dazzling facelift in 2017 and was relaunched as ‘Le Méridien Hub’. The revamped lobby exudes a modern, refined vibe and sets the stage for guests to experience the hotel’s bespoke hospitality.

Read: Big Spenders: Dubai, Makkah top Mastercard ranking with $50bln in tourist spends

Keen on keeping our F&B offerings in sync with Dubai’s evolving culinary trends, the hotel, as part of its 40th-anniversary celebrations, executed a 360-degree face-lift for Seafood Market, Beef Bistro and Kiku. With the recent launch of our newest Spanish Tapas bar, Bebemos, the hotel is among the few in Dubai to offer as many as 18 distinct dining venues in one destination. Similar upgrades were applied to the leisure areas of the hotel, with a particular focus to spruce up its fitness and wellness facilities.

Extending Natural Elements Spa and Fitness’ comprehensive offerings, the newly renovated fitness centre was re-launched in May 2018, in partnership with Optimal Fitness. To ensure that renovation of rooms, outdoor and indoor areas, do not inconvenience guests, the refurbishment across the hotel was executed in phases and will be completed by end of this month.

Read: New Orient Express Hotels: A Train Ride Back in Time

We offer discovery at every turn for our loyal guests, all the recent upgrades have transformed the hotel complex to brand new look and feel which is very well appreciated by our clientele. It’s been a very successful year for us so far with strong performance over all and looking forward for a stronger Q4.

What were the challenges? 

When executing property-wide refurbishments, one needs to watch the market dynamics and act accordingly. We had strong plans in place to counter the market conditions which worked in our favour, helping us generate demand for all areas of our business during the summer. We look forward to ending the year on a high note.

Given your extensive experience in the hospitality industry, how are you planning to do things differently?

Playing safe and expecting better results is not the norm any more. One has to be agile and adaptable to the market conditions to generate more business. We work with a strong base and our prime focus is maintaining guest loyalty and exploring emerging markets to diversify our business further. We had forecasted the current situation last year and we have strategized accordingly for the current year.

The key is to have the flexibility to manoeuvre through challenging conditions with minimum adjustments to a plan already in place. I see a positive performance in Q4 and with all areas of the hotel renovated, especially our suites, fitness and wellness facilities, it should give us some brownie points from our loyal guests too. 

During Expo 2020, there is expected to be a considerable rise in demand from the tourist and corporate leisure segment. How is Le Méridien gearing up for the same?

We are already working with several leads for EXPO 2020 and are geared to deal with any challenges the future brings. Customer demands in this specific industry are ever-increasing, as customers are now more aware and in-sync with global hospitality trends.

We at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel and Conference Centre will focus on giving our guests engaging experiences with world-class hospitality and continue to appeal to both our multicultural residents and global visitors.

With the Expo destination being only thirty-five minutes from the hotel by road and 45 minutes via metro, our guests will have the convenience of efficient transportation of Dubai whilst enjoying bespoke hospitality at our hotel. We will be ready with another 4 hotels by Q4 2020 to meet the growing demand.

One Aloft and one Elements branded properties in Garhoud and another Aloft and Element in Al Raffa. These are select serve brands to meet the demand for the budget travellers in the near future.

All 6 hotels will operate as one complex serving customers according to their business needs offering greater flexibility in availability and prices. 

It has been reported that the emirate is aiming to complete 160,000 hotel rooms by Oct 2020. How are you planning to stay competitive and seize as much of the market share as possible?

Healthy competition is always welcome. It drives all the teams to put their best foot forward and deliver unforgettable results. The recent room renovations at the hotel blends comfort with understated luxury, whilst attesting to Le Méridien’s refined architectural language.

Each of the newly furbished suites is spruced with modern amenities, and the interiors are revamped with art and décor accents in jewel tones and brushed gold accents, lending a pop of colour to the suites.

It’s our attention to finer details and our constant drive to make memorable experiences for our customers, which gives us the confidence to stand apart and connect with our guests. Hotels are built to meet the demand of millions arriving at the destination; with the completion of our property-wide refurbishments, we are ready to welcome the demand.

What challenges do you foresee? How will you address them?

Dubai’s hospitality industry is pliable and will continue to surprise everyone amid changes. With an established brand name, a strong customer base, a product as good as new along with a passionate and motivated team, we are in a great position to handle all the changes and look forward to welcoming all our guests.

The post In Conversation: Shaun Parsons, Complex General Manager, Le Méridien Dubai appeared first on Businessliveme.com.

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[roundtheworldrambles]

Athens, Greece (Round 2)

Day 46 - Thira to Athens

Our day started as a bit of a scramble! Megan and I woke up after our alarm, with about 10 minutes to spare before our airport shuttle arrived. We finished our last minute packing just in the nick of time, before being whisked off to Santorini’s tiny airport to catch our early morning Ryanair flight to Athens.

Probably one of the shortest (and bumpiest!) flights so far in my trip, we touched down in Athens less than an hour after taking off. With the whole day ahead of us, we caught the metro from the airport to Monistiraki, where we had a delicious brunch at a sunshine covered patio on Adrianou Street.

Killing time before checking into our Air Bnb, we walked around the Monistiraki flea market and up Ermou Street, the main shopping street of downtown Athens. We continued onwards to the nearby neighbourhood of Exarchia, where our apartment for the next few days was located.

Balcony view from our Air Bnb in Exarchia

Little did we know at the time, but Exarchia is famously known to be the home of Greek anarchists. Anti-authority graffiti is scrawled along building walls next to shops with barred windows. This “counter-culture” neighbourhood also has a reputation for riots and police conflict. That being said - Exarchia in many ways felt like a typical urban neighbourhood: Greek families walking in the streets, art and record stores, students heading to the nearby university, coffee shops, bars, and countless balcony gardens peeking out from the low rise apartments. Our Air Bnb was a beautifully renovated unit in one of these older buildings - and 3 floors up from the street, felt like another world.

Exarchia at Street Level - typically covered in graffiti

After dropping our bags, we headed back out into town into the Plaka neighbourhood (see my last post on Athens - I previously wrote about this area!) and then wandered up to the Panatheniac Stadium.

Originally built in 330 BC, this stadium has been rebuilt and abandoned at various points in its history. It was originally constructed to host the Panatheniac Games, held for over 900 years, between 6th Century B.C. and 3rd Century A.D. These early games included athletic competitions, and religious/cultural events. Following the rise of Christianity in 4th Century BC, the games were stopped because they were considered to be “paganistic”.

It was not until 1869 (over 1400 years later!) that the stadium was excavated and restored. Built on the exact same foundations, it was reconstructed using marble from Mount Pentali, and is currently the only marble stadium in the world. In 1896, the first modern Olympics was held in Athens, with the stadium hosting 4 of the sports: athletics, gymnastics, wrestling, and weightlifting.

Panatheniac Stadium

The history of this stadium is incredible, and Megan and I took and audio tour and spent a while wandering up and down the steep marble stairs. The Panatheniac Stadium continues to hold a high level of importance in the modern Olympic Games. After the Olympic torch is ignited in Olympia, the Greek city where the Ancient Olympics originated, the torch makes its way around Greece before being transferred to the host city at the Panatheniac Stadium. A few weeks before Megan and I arrived in Athens, the torch for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea passed through the stadium.

The Panatheniac Stadium is also the ending point for the Athens Classic Marathon. This race course between the town of Marathon and Athens is where the word “marathon” originates from - in 490 BC, a Greek herald was sent to run to Athens after the Battle of Marathon, to bring news of the Greeks’ victory over the Persians. As the story goes, the messenger delivered his message, then immediately collapsed, dying of exhaustion. In the Classic Marathon of today, tens of thousands of competitors come every year to run this same course, a challenging route with the toughest uphill climb of any major marathon.

That’s Megan! The stadium was massive, with a capacity of 45,000

It was incredibly interesting walking the grounds of the stadium and learning about some of the most significant sporting milestones in history.

In the evening, Megan and I had dinner and drinks in Plaka, on the packed outdoor terraces of Mnisikleous Street - directly beneath the Acropolis. With dozens of little patios lining the stairs of the pedestrian street, groups of people spilled into the walkways, drinks in hand. We embraced the festive mood and tried our first glasses of ouzo. This anise-flavoured liquor is similar to sambuca - and very strong!

Day 47 - Athens

We started our day doing a free walking tour of Athens - which ended up being probably one of the best guided tours I have ever had. Vasilis, our Greek guide, was a sommelier-in-training and a foodie, about our age, and very keen on sharing Athens’ amazing history with us. For the first half of our tour, we had a friendly stray dog follow us throughout the city. Vasilis explained that in Athens, all the stray dogs are actually taken care of by the city - all dogs have ID collars and are visited monthly by a community vet. It is common for dogs to have their own “turf” within the city, and shopkeepers who know and regularly feed them.

A local stray dog followed us around for about an hour and a half on our tour - apparently this is pretty typical!

We toured around the Roman Agora, which was a meeting place where philosophers would discuss science, democracy and philosophy during the rule of the Romans. It was in the Agora where early measures of time were said to have been established, including some of the first sundials. We passed the Tower of the Winds, where early measures of winds were taken to help predict when ships would return to port.

View over Athens from the Areopagus

We began to climb the slopes around the base of the Acropolis to the Areopagus, a prominent rocky outcropping with a terrific view over Athens. This hill is also reported to have biblical significance, as it is said to be where the Apostle Paul delivered the most famous sermon of his missionary career, spreading news of Jesus’ resurrection to the Athenians. There is a small plaque on the Areopagus commemorating this sermon.

Circling around the back of the Acropolis, we arrived at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. This massive open-air theatre is almost 2000 years old, and still hosts live musical performances! Reminiscent of the Coliseum, this theatre was built to resemble the shape of the human ear, and is said to have incredible acoustics.

Odeon of Herodes Atticus - modern bands such as Elton John and The Foo Fighters have performed here!

We finished our tour walking through the National Garden, by Hellenic Parliament and Syntagma Square (also see my other Athens post if you’re interested - I talk about these here!) Vasilis left Megan and I with tons of suggestions for cocktail bars and tucked away restaurants with his favourite foods in Athens. After a delicious seafood lunch, we (finally!) headed to the main attraction in Athens - the Acropolis.

I somehow didn’t realize this before coming to Athens - but the Acropolis is in fact a number of buildings clustered on the rocky hilltop , rather than just the Parthenon (FYI - Acropolis literally means “high point”). There are 4 main buildings at the Athens Acropolis, including the Temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon, the Propylaia and the Erechtheion.

The Parthenon at the Acropolis- currently mid restoration

The Acropolis has striking architecture, and hosts some of the best surviving monuments from Ancient Greece. The history of the site is long and complex - with the powers of the time having often shifted - Ancient Athenians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans all having occupied the site at one point over its 2500+ years of history! The buildings, initially temples, have been used over the years in many ways, including as a harem, army garrison, Christian church, city treasury, and mosque - all depending on the power of the time. Since the 1970s, the Acropolis has undergone extensive restoration - with ongoing work being completed on the Parthenon at the time of our visit. It was a remarkable place to visit, walking on same ground as such an ancient civilization.

Typical outdoor nightlife in Athens

In the evening Megan and I hopped around to several of the restaurants and wine bars recommended by Vasilis - including The Clumsies and Heteroklito. We really loved the nighttime vibe in Athens - with welcoming pubs and little bars spilling out onto countless city streets. We also fit in a bit of Christmas shopping - Megan was leaving to return to Toronto the next day, and kindly agreed to be Santa for my family!

Heading back to our Air Bnb in Exarchia that evening - we were confronted by police tape and dozens of officers in riot gear. It was only then we fully realized that we were in “anarchist” neighbourhood - as there had been an attempted drive-by shooting outside the opposition party’s headquarters, not one hour earlier. Fortunately there were no casualties, but it was certainly a scary and sobering moment for us.

Day 48 and 49 - Athens

Megan left Athens first thing in the morning, catching her long flight back to Toronto. She was a fantastic travel buddy and I was sorry to see her go! I spent the day relaxing and getting organized for my upcoming trip to Dubai.

Sunset over Athens from Mount Lycabettus

In the evening, I climbed up to nearby Mount Lycabettus to catch the sunset over Athens. It was a beautiful ending to a terrific few weeks in Greece. Off to Dubai!