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Athens and Central Greece

ATHENS

If you follow the downhill trail at the southwestern part of the Acropolis, you will find the upper entrance to the Agora,

the ancient marketplace of Athens. A visit to the site and to the Agora museum,

which has many ancient cooking and serving utensils, gives a sense of the everyday life during classical times. A short walk through the narrow streets of the Monastiraki neighborhood

  (which is mainly occupied by kitschy "Greek Arts" stores) leads to Athinas Street, where the modern agora is located. The triangle enclosed by the streets Athinas, Evripidou, and Sophocleous comprises the core of the market.
Although many stores and stalls have undergone serious renovation in recent years, you'll still see whole slaughtered animals and parts of meat and innards hanging in the corridors of the vast hall. At the fish market, seafood of all kinds lies on crushed ice atop marble counters. The scent of fresh blood and fish intermingles with the aroma of garlic,
oregano,

 and other dried herbs sold by vendors at every corner. Walking down Evripidou street, you smell cumin,
cinnamon,

and other spices, often mixed with the sweet intoxicating aroma of incense,

all sold at spice shops here.This is the area for street food, including gyro, 

souvlaki (pork or lamb kebobs), 

tyropita (cheese pies),

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