Greece - Tours

Coming in during the middle of the night does not allow you to properly establish your surroundings.  This is why I opted to sleep for only 4 hours and get up in time for the free walking tour.  Free walking tours are great for day one, as they allow you to see the city, visualize important landmarks and get a feel for how sketchy things are. I was pleasantly surprised on this 37°C morning, to learn that everyone on the tour would get a water gun to help keep the group cool.
The tour was lead by a Canadian from Victoria, his name now escapes me. He said he had come for 3 months and ended up staying for 8 years. He was the perfect guide, as he gave history, shortcuts, money savers, food/restaurant suggestions and tips on how to get more culture and less heat stroke. He showed us shadier paths to the Acropolis, told us to go after 5:30 to miss the crowds AND the midday sun.  He stressed how safe the city actually was and circled the only areas to avoid.
At one point on our tour, this little old greek lady came out and lectured everyone (in Greek) not to use water guns as it encourages violence and gives her neighborhood a bad name! 
By the end of the tour I was feeling much better about Athens, but my body still struggled with the heat.  I drank 4 litres that day and peed once... dehydration. Anytime I moved I was instantly sweating. I think I sweat off 10 lbs. No matter how tan I get and how many douchey fedoras I own, I still die a little every time I go outside.