Finally, initially, Athens is neither the beginning, nor the end. Athens is everywhere. In every point on the map. And every point on the map is in Athens. Everything is concentrated within her. She is the city of the Olympic Idea, the city of the Olympic games of 2004, the city of artists, cultural channel,scientific centre, East and West for each voyager, the crossroads of every major event for the active, the fashion that is in for avid sophisticates, the Parthenon of all and for all. Artistic happenings, festivals, conventions, athletic competitions, celebrations, entertainment events choose Athens, prefer Athens as their venue. Athens is The City. But even more it is the Pole... Of attraction for all.

When you climb up to the Acropolis, keep looking at the view as you stroll about. Everytime you'll see another city.A city filled with contrasts and surprises. Beautiful and varied. Every second Athens becomes a different city. Ancient. And Byzantine. And Neoclassical. And modern. Crowded. And solitary. And always smiling. You can find Athens' smile everywhere: in an ancient theatre, in a modern xhibition hall, at a sports event, down by the sea, high on a mountain top, during a guided tour, at a concert, around the table in a tavernaki, in a garden during a posh reception, in a little alleyway, in a spacious square, behind the mast of a sailboat or next to the column of an old temple. Or somewhere near a contemporary sculpture. Athens is always another city.A city that doesn't resemble Athens. Yet is always the same Athens.

TO GET TO KNOW ATHENS YOU HAVE TO GET LOST

So, what did you learn from Athens ? You paid homage to the Parthenon, went wild in Monastiraki, got tipsy in Plaka, stared at the Evzones, took a look at Parliament House and the Academy, mingled with the crowds in Syntagma Square and Omonia, drove down to the sea, climbed up Lykabettos, exchanged niceties with hundreds at a reception or two, distinguished yourself at that conference you attended, excelled at the Olympic Stadium, calmed down in the tranquility of the Keramikos. And all of a sudden you discovered that you hadn't discovered Athens. Because you can't get to know Athens in a month or even a year. Yet you can get to know Athens in a moment. Seek out those moments in Athens: Let yourself get lost on the bus or while walking, go to neighborhoods unlisted in the official programme, stroll through untrodden by tourists, knock at an unfamiliar door, rent a boat, keep your eye out for unknown spots (most of which will be known), find a forgotten tavernaki, take a walk on Mars Hill or around the theatre of Herod Atticus, but also amble through the crooked lanes of an old residential district, by night or by day. In order to get to know Athens you have to lose your way. Even if you don't find Athens, you'll surely find yourself.

ATTICA ISN'T ONLY ATHENS

Athens isn't just the Acropolis Athens isn't just the squares at Syntagma and Omonia. And Attica isn't only Athens. Athens is made whole by the whole of Attica. And it's such a lovely place to get to know. So many things await you: the majesty of Cape Sounion, the quest for luck or nature on Mt.Parnes, sophisticated surprises on the ships at Piraeus or in its tavernas, Byzantine mosaics and gushing wine at Dafni, history at the tombs at Marathon, the sun setting into the Saronic Gulf, stalagtites and stalagmites at Koutouki, the ancient theatre at Rhamnous, Byzantine gardens and mystical initiations at Kaisariani, modern life cheek by jowl with ancient memories and monuments at Eleusis, Brauron, Amphiaraion, Thorikos. Start getting to know Attica from its sky and mountains all the way down to its marinas.Take a boat and get to know Attica from the sea. A luxury liner will take you from Attica into the deep blue Greek sea and introduce you to its multifaceted islands. You'll travel everywhere. Most of all in a dream.

Emmanuel Hatzikostas

SV1COD