Espa
our team

Josephine

tour leader Photo of tour leader Josephine

“A wise man is one who enjoys the spectacle the world has to offer him.”

This quotation has been guiding my life for as long as I can remember. The need to shed my eyes upon everything that prevails out there has been almost agonizing. And when the present reality as it is fails to meet my expectations, I would turn to the past and its long-sunken antiquities. If they could endure for so long, so could I. Inspired by their longevity, I decided to become an archaeologist. Taking a step further, soon enough I found out that passing a lifetime stranded in one place and only, ignorant of what the world’s diversity –both old and recent- has to offer, just wasn’t an option.

And so I absorbed plenty of valuable experiences living and travelling abroad, I saw magnificent landscapes and I shared these spectacular images with the most inspiring people. The more I saw, the more I wanted to give back. To hand back the best of the things I knew about my roots, my heritage, my people – these lovely perplexed Athenians!  

Joining Alternative Athens seemed –and still is- the best of options. Even though I didn’t know what to expect, at least I was firmly aware of what I was prepared to give. As the great mythologist Joseph Campbell once said, ‘we must be willing to get rid of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us’. And so I did and I joined this big family of passionate people that will be, hopefully, getting stronger and bigger.

Being a tour leader has given me the opportunity to share the diversity and the wealth of Athens with the people I escort throughout city tours. If we understand foreign places and people, we are far more likely to be empathetic to other people’s struggles and able to tackle problems in our society and even find similarities among different nations. Learning history and being aware of our shared heritage makes it possible to celebrate diversity, model democracy, and opt for social justice, qualities that are essential for a community to survive in this ever-changing era. So, I do embrace the life waiting for me with all of its alternatives.  

Photo of Founder Tina.

Tina

Founder

In 2010, the Greek crisis hit and the country went into freefall. From there begun a great and long adventure...

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Photo of tour Leader Andreas.

Andreas

tour Leader

I grew up in a neighbourhood called Nea Smyrni. The first settlers here were refugees from Asia Minor. People in our neighbourhood are proud of where they come from.

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Photo of travel designer Katia.

Katia

travel designer

As I was growing up, I jumped on every opportunity to create friendships without linguistic or other kinds of borders. It was never enough. 

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Photo of tour leader Pavlina.

Pavlina

tour leader

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass; it's about learning to dance in the rain

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Photo of certified guide Vassia.

Vassia

certified guide

There is a book I like a lot. Its final sentence reads: “It is never too late to have a happy childhood”. 

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Photo of tour leader Niko a.k.a. Rude.

Niko a.k.a. Rude

tour leader

It must have been at the end of middle school when I discovered graffiti. My new hobby began stealing ‘precious’ time I could have used for studying for school. I realised that action had to be taken...

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Photo of Accounting Associate George.

George

Accounting Associate

As Euclid said, the laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God. So, maybe the reason I developed an inclination to mathematics is because I was so connected to the earth since my childhood.

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Photo of tour leader antigoni.

antigoni

tour leader

There is a theory that claims that your name determines who you are. Antigone, the famous heroine of a Greek tragedy, defied the rules and for that she faced death.

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Photo of tour leader maria.

maria

tour leader

Growing up, I had always thought that life always puts us on the right path. As I got older, however, I discovered that...

 

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Photo of tour leader katerina.

katerina

tour leader

I am a fan of poetry. Poems have the ability to paint a picture in just a few words… especially while traveling.

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Photo of tour leader Elizabeth.

Elizabeth

tour leader

The French poet Arthur Rimbaud once wrote that "Eternity is the sea mingled with the sun " and I guess there' s a little bit of truth of that in me.

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Photo of tour leader Tania.

Tania

tour leader

I was about five, and I was taking part in a school celebration. When I stood behind the microphone, my mind went blank and my mouth went dry. Tears welled up in my eyes.

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Awards & Accolades

Testimonials

"First time family trip to Greece we did a fantastic private tour to Delphi, perhaps the most interesting of all the ancient destinations we toured during our two week trip. This is a fantastic way to see the countryside, visit Delphi, enjoy local food and learn about local small businesses. I wish I could travel this way everywhere we go. I will recommend this tour to anyone heading to Athens. A Must-Do!"

needhamcollins

"We had the most amazing day in Hydra! Everything was absolutely perfect. It was so well organized and we did so much in just one day. Being the trip planner and organizer for my family it was so nice to just relax and let Alternative Athens be in charge of all the details and timing. Our guide was so sweet and had such a lovely personality. My kids all adored her and my youngest especially was so sad to leave her."

RatherBeInAlaska

"Tour was awesome! Nice and intimate and Nikos was an awesome guide. So much knowledge about the city and street art and food!! Highly recommended :-)"

Colette