Ferry from Kea
 

Does anyone know if I can take a ferry straight from Kea island in Greece to The Pelopponese? Or, do I need to go to Athens and then drive?

You will have to take a ferry to Lavrion, which is near Athens Airport. :-)

Thanks Heimdall. I noticed you mentioned on a different forum that you know of some great neighborhoods in Athens that are lovely and away from the typical tourist stuff. Can you recommend any of those?

1. Kifisia end of green metro line
popular northern suburb, walk around there are plenty of great restaurants, cafes, shops and there are also some protected typical "Kifisia" manor houses

2. Glyfada take the tram from Syntagma Square
posh suburb on the sea, on the so called Attica Riviera...
There are many good restaurants, cafes and shops.

3. Kerameikos take the blue metro line from Syntagma Square, get off at Keramikos.

relatively new area, now a nice place to have a meal or coffee and watch Athenians, also very popular at night as there are many bars some with high quality artists.

4. Marina Floisvos

great place on the sea to relax watching huge yachts... and having a meal or coffee....
Best way to go there, is by taxi.

Here is the Athens official website with info on the city and suggestions on what to do according to the length of your stay:

http://www.breathtakingathens.com/

I think what changed my mind about Athens was one evening when invited by friends to the wonderful Stavlos restaurant in Thissio. I was a little early, so walked up Apostolou Pavlou and sat at a sidewalk cafe watching the sun set on the Ancient Agora and Parthenon. The area had a festive atmosphere, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Last September I had a great evening at a taverna somewhere near Akropoli, but with Athenian friends having shown me the way, can't remember exactly where. :-)

The walk from the Acropolis to Monastiraki i think is a must see in Athens..
It will give you a wonderful view to the Acropolis , especially from Thissio, that Heimdall described.

There are 2 very helpful sites for eating in Athens, that unfortunately are available only in Greek, but if you understand a little , here are the links :

www.athinorama.gr ( also lots of info on what is going on in Athens)

www.ask4food.gr critics for all possible restaurants, cafe bars and tavernas of the greater Athens area, from Athenians !!! Very good and trustful site.