A couple days ago, The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced its 2009 list of a dozen unique cites to visit for a less than usual travel experience. Those of us who live here can attest to the fact that this is a unique place to live, and therefore, visit. When I think of a tourist here, though, I think about Anthony Bourdain, host of No Reservations, a very fun program on The Travel Channel. His experiences always seem most 
poignant/memorable when he is hanging out with the locals. His trip to Venice is a classic example of that. While there is much to see, the tourists all seem to miss the Venice that is right under their noses but not noticeable unless you really dig in or know somebody. Athens is the same way (No, I am not comparing ATH to Venice). Tourists in Athens need to talk to people, be social, and ask questions. If you do that, the town will change right in front of you. If not, you may end up saying, “While in Athens, I saw some cool architecture, lots of bars and college kids, a double-barrel canon, and a tree that apparently owns itself.”
I said this before about this town: First and foremost it is a people town. If you are an extrovert, plan a mini-vacation to ATH. You’ll love it. Maybe pick up a real estate book while you’re here, and you can spend you first evening in a cozy tavern, planning your next move. I’ve seen it happen…
By the way, those of us who own homes in ATH never complain about the effect coverage like this has on our investments. Please note that Athens feels less pain when the national real estate market is squealing like a stuck pig.
Hey, if you are new to this blog and are thinking of a visit to Athens, please see my post on my limited supply of Guides to Athens. They have some really user friendly maps in them as well. Drop me a line, and I will mail you one for free! No Strings attached, and no kidding! If you are coming to town for a mini-vacation, drop me a line too, and I will meet you downtown. Always eager to meet my readers!
Here is the link to the NTHP site and some other links to various media sites that picked up the NTHP press release:
Check this out. Classic City Guide beats the local paper to the scoop!
This is such an honor for our community! Be sure to check out the photos and video from the ceremony! At the Athens Visitors and Convention Bureau website!