Date Night in Athens

Taking advantage of the afternoon sun we hopped out of the taxi. Excitement filled the air for our date night in Athens. As we made our way up the mountain side, we paused frequently to drink in the magnificent views of the city below. We trekked passed the ruins of ancient Greece stopping only to attempt the daunting "couple selfie"  before we made the summit of Acropolis Hill.

"The Acropolis of Athens and its monuments are universal symbols of the classical spirit and civilization and form the greatest architectural and artistic complex bequeathed by Greek Antiquity to the world. In the second half of the fifth century bc, Athens, following the victory against the Persians and the establishment of democracy, took a leading position amongst the other city-states of the ancient world. In the age that followed, as thought and art flourished, an exceptional group of artists put into effect the ambitious plans of Athenian statesman Pericles and, under the inspired guidance of the sculptor Pheidias, transformed the rocky hill into a unique monument of thought and the arts. The most important monuments were built during that time: the Parthenon, built by Ictinus, the Erechtheon, the Propylaea, the monumental entrance to the Acropolis, designed by Mnesicles and the small temple Athena Nike." - UNESCO World Heritage Centre

The history of it all may not amaze her but the views... those will make it a date to remember. A tip: check out the admission times for Acropolis you don't want to miss on the final entry time. You can also hire a certified guide to take you through if you want. And be sure to pray to Zeus for good weather.

Ya... this view

Pandrousso street market

Ice cream at the ice scream shop!

As it started to get dark we made our way to Monastiraki Square near the Plaka District; a very busy part of Athens. It was here that we found the Pandrousso Street Market which was lit up beautifully. The many shops provided the chance to find the perfect souvenir and the aroma of Greek fare wafted from the many restaurants. We stopped for some ice cream along the way.

Rewarded for my always entertaining dance moves

A traditional Greek feast at a typical taverna in the renowned Plaka district is the perfect way to finish your night out in Athens. I'm talkin' mouth watering lamb and rice with loads of feta and olives - all topped off with dancing (well, some may call it that). The Unique Greek Zorba Dance is the perfect recipe for fun. The dance cast interacts with the audience and pulls them onto the stage to dance along in the show. You and your date will never forget the experience, I'm sure of it. Check out the fun the fun we had in the video below.

Another tip: Planning a date in a city like Athens can be a little overwhelming with all the different things in the countless different neighborhoods. Thankfully there are tour companies like Key Tours who have it all figured out for you

Of course, if the date is going well, it dosent have to stop there. Head over to the local bar Sinatra or Einstein and dance some more. If you have any other places that you would recommend in Athens feel free to let us know in the comments section.

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Date Night in Paris - Night Rafting on the Grand River

Six friends ready for rafting, will they come back alive?  Read on to find out...

The sun was just starting to set as we watched a couple of fisherman try their luck near the bottom of the modest waterfall. I could still taste the delicious barbecue sauce from my tender rack of ribs I enjoyed at renowned Camp 31 rib house earlier. Our group had been anticipating date night for quite a while, finally we were standing on the banks of the Grand River in Paris, Ontario. Our guide, Nick from Grand River Rafting, approached us with a smile, he knew right away that he had a special group on his hands and sensed that the bond was strong.  He was right and we were starving for a romantic adventure.

My eyebrows, Alison and Nick having a great time together

Sam and Lianne doing a J-stroke

The gentle current took hold of the raft, and as we set out on our star gazers drift (one of 11 special offers from Hamilton, Halton, and Brant's Our True Nature) we found ourselves in many separate conversations and telling jokes. In no time Nick had become our seventh wheel. He would occasionally interrupt, politely of course, to educate us as on the constellations and planets visible in the clear night's sky (we were fortunate enough to see Venus and Mars), and to steer us to other focal points along the river banks.

This is the rear of Paris' downtown core and yes, those are riverside bars and patios!

Terrina and myself let everyone row while we took a photo together

The total raft ride takes about three hours to complete, depending on current, how much you row and how many stops you make. We made two stops to explore the true nature of the river bank. On the first stop, we drank from a natural spring that trickled down to the rivers edge, while on the second and final stop, we explored an old gypsum mine shaft that reminded me of a petite version of the bat cave.

Sam having a drink of the fresh spring water.

Ed and Sam in the hobbit sized bat cave

Ed and Terrina exiting the gypsum mine

By the time we finished our second adventure the sky had darkened and we could no longer see very far ahead of our modern, spacious raft, which made it all the more exciting. The stars weren't the only attraction of the evening as the firefly's put on a show of their own. A pleasant surprise that rivaled the sights, no bugs! Keeping our crew free from bugs while enjoying the warm summers eve definitely upped the romance factor.

When the night was finished we rowed the raft onto shore and awaited the van to pick us up and take us back to our cars. We were all smiles as we welcomed the warmth of the shuttle van (it cools off considerably in the last hour of the trek so be sure to bring a sweater), and while not a physically demanding trip, our weary heads yearned for rest .With our adventure complete we retired to the nearby Hampton Inn (when booking mention Grand River Rafting and get a discount) where the beds were as heavenly as the evenings company.

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