EDI: A few folks on grindr but no hook ups. Actually, saw one of the guys in a queue next day. Old CFS site is now closed and I never did figure out location for cruising area and cruisy toilet from many years ago. Did not check the sauna either. Whole month of August is Fest and Fringe and town is packed. But it is also very expensive to be here now as a result of this. Most folks will spend the day seeing plays, comedies, etc and lots of drinking. So, folks are likely too tired and hung over to play and it really is not a big gay event per se although tons of LGBTQ+ are in town. Also, the couple of gay bars are at the edge of the downtown core and not up against the main staging areas. I think the sauna is peripheral too. Not aware of any pay for play.

ATH: Cine Athinikon near the Fresh Hotel. This cine is the one closest to the corner. There is another one as well – never saw any comments about it. First night - just a few guys for play and only a few regular punters. Pre Covid Cosmopolit / Kosmopolit Cinema was much busier. Maybe my timing was bad. I got pick pocketed so be very careful. Whoever did it was really good. Very lucky I did not lose my phone and credit cards. Went with one average looking guy for 20 e. As of this posting he was the one only guy that would suck me off and only kisser. Also, the most average looking guy I had paid sex with. On this trip the young paid guys were all about servicing them – and it was good fun. Had non-paid sex with some regular non young guys too.

Kosmopolit cinema is still closed. But alley way on the right is cleaned up now, so no place for sex. (Some of the Kosmo area druggies have moved a few blocks west, but think the current drugged out folks area was in the same general area before covid.) Cosmo / Kosmopolit Hotel next door is open. Only boys I saw were likely regular teens staying at the hotel having a beer outside. No other young guys hanging out in the area. Looks like the area got cleaned up, really cleaned up. Same was true in the large park just a few blocks north of the National Archaeological Museum that has the large Konstantinos statue with him on horseback. They really cleaned up this park. Did not see any druggies and tons of joggers, folks walking dogs, families, etc hour before sunset. However, just beyond the 4 red steel poles on the left side of a main walkway I did find a few boys hanging out and smiling at me when I looked at them. Met with a smooth hot twink like young Afgan guy. I had no idea where it would be safe to play but he knew of a spot. Maybe 21 cm cut cock, but small balls, and he could not cum. Was not into blowing me and no kissing. LOL. He gave me his whats app so maybe we could meet next day. Cost was 20 euros; I should have paid less.

Next day I had multiple young guys in the cine Athinikon from 3-6pm. Only 1 did not cum for me. None would even play with me, much less anything else. Had sex with 1 young guy in the park at sunset. Hard for him to cum. Not into playing with me, etc. I must have been eaten alive by mosquitoes and maybe also had a contact allergy to whatever leaves / bushes etc were in the shrubs where we played. They got quite bad the next day. Third day was a national religious holiday and 3-day weekend. Downtown Athens seemed almost deserted! Only 1 working guy in cinema around 3 pm. Had sex with regular guys too. Got more mosquito bites in the cine, so left and did not go to park before sunset.

Seems the hot summer is a bad time to be looking for sex in Athens. Many mosquito bites did not help. The 3-day holiday weekend made things even worse for sex as I assume many get out of town. Grindr, Scruff, Romeo, adam4adam, and sniffies have been a bust so far. One guy could not stop being chatty long enough for sex. Another wanted video calls for chat on scruff and only a few folks on sniffies. Some flakes and scammers too. A4A and Romeo had like 2 folks locally. Will likely skip Sammies and other nearby bar as I probably am not up to heading out at 0100 hours.

Thanks in advance for any other suggestions where to find guys.

 

Interesting report, thanks, when were you last in Athens? All those mozzie bites is a bummer!

Thank you so much travguy for this report. Honest and instructive. 

Khaolakguy I think I was in Athens around 2 years or ago, as COVID was waning, I think....

Next day just had one guy at the cinema around 1500 hours, but he could not / would cum and would not get me off either, LOL. I saw that guy hanging out near the cine entrance on other days as well. Did a couple of regular guys too. Was not feeling great due to many mosquito bites and contact allergy, so no more sex.

4^th day was busy: maybe a not so very young Moroccan guy in the park before 1500 hours. He spoke some French. Like other guys, not interested in sucking me or bottoming for me. It was fun though. 20 euros to blow him, with him cuming. The park was not blazing hot today. Saw a few guys but some might have been hanging out with other older local punters or other young friends. At least one seemed less Arab looking and more central European looking. A few minutes later and some left and others showed up. So, maybe it was best to hang out for a long time, but I had some fun and time for next stop. Cosmo Theatre area was again devoid of boys. Not far from the Hondos center entrance near Omonia Station or maybe across the street and on the west side by another station entrance I saw 2 young guys hanging out. Smiled. And then said hello due to eye contact. Neither spoke anything other than ? Arabic. Could have been Afgan, not sure. I thought we had agreed to go to a hotel for sex and that I would pay him 20-. He seemed to know a female sex trade worked on the way to the ? Odysseus Hotel. 5 euros at front desk for room. After he came I gave him 20 euros. He would not get me off and seemed not to like me grabbing his ass while blowing him. Was watching straight porn on his phone the whole time - this was also true for some guys at the Kosmo Cine pre covid. He demanded 30- and started to make a scene. I started shouting – we were on a floor just for sex and there was a maid or 2 around. After blocking door, he let me out while trying to pick my pocket. Not a happy meal, but no violence in the end. After eating and a bit of shopping I saw a guy walking on the street in the Indian / Pakistani area just west of Omonia and he looked a bit like someone I had sex with in the past, pre covid – 10 E to suck that guy off. Maybe an Afgan guy, but not who I thought he was. We did the eye contact and second and third looks as we walked past each other. He was shopping too, but also in the sex trade as he knew where we could play. We went to the Hotel or Hostel Mansion, about 2 blocks from the Kosmo cinema and just a few blocks from where we met on the street. Nondescript looks on the street but in hotel room he was thin and muscular and looked better with his clothes off. I fucked him but he did not cum for me. Traded whats app info. Great. Next day I just did sightseeing. Bites / contact allergy still looked bad but not as itchy. We texted a few times but did not hook up again. As I write this, waiting for a reply on whats app, but he has not been on whats app since last night. Hopefully, he will reply, but I won't keep my hopes too high, lest this be like Brazil. Might head to the park early today for “dessert”, or more  

Also over the past few days: Daytime I walked past but did not go into Samis Bar (correct spelling), which was closed – just a late night, early am place, or Bizzar Club (which I did not find, but only later realized I was on airplane mode to save battery, LOL. These are just west of the big park north of Ntl Arch Mus and near Victoria Metro stop. Did not try the train station a bit further west. I skipped the gay clubs in Gazi as I was asleep at 0200 hours Friday and Saturday nights. If you come to Athens, be sure to do the touristy sunset on the hill near the Acropolis main entrance, I think just to the north and a relatively quick 10 minute walk from Monasteraki metro station. It is truly magical. (But not a place to hook up)

Folks, be careful about what is in your pockets ! ! ! Napkins, condoms, and lotion for lube, plus maybe 50 euros at any time for expenses.

4 hours ago, travguy said:

Khaolakguy I think I was in Athens around 2 years or ago, as COVID was waning, I think....

Next day just had one guy at the cinema around 1500 hours, but he could not / would cum and would not get me off either, LOL. I saw that guy hanging out near the cine entrance on other days as well. Did a couple of regular guys too. Was not feeling great due to many mosquito bites and contact allergy, so no more sex.

4^th day was busy: maybe a not so very young Moroccan guy in the park before 1500 hours. He spoke some French. Like other guys, not interested in sucking me or bottoming for me. It was fun though. 20 euros to blow him, with him cuming. The park was not blazing hot today. Saw a few guys but some might have been hanging out with other older local punters or other young friends. At least one seemed less Arab looking and more central European looking. A few minutes later and some left and others showed up. So, maybe it was best to hang out for a long time, but I had some fun and time for next stop. Cosmo Theatre area was again devoid of boys. Not far from the Hondos center entrance near Omonia Station or maybe across the street and on the west side by another station entrance I saw 2 young guys hanging out. Smiled. And then said hello due to eye contact. Neither spoke anything other than ? Arabic. Could have been Afgan, not sure. I thought we had agreed to go to a hotel for sex and that I would pay him 20-. He seemed to know a female sex trade worked on the way to the ? Odysseus Hotel. 5 euros at front desk for room. After he came I gave him 20 euros. He would not get me off and seemed not to like me grabbing his ass while blowing him. Was watching straight porn on his phone the whole time - this was also true for some guys at the Kosmo Cine pre covid. He demanded 30- and started to make a scene. I started shouting – we were on a floor just for sex and there was a maid or 2 around. After blocking door, he let me out while trying to pick my pocket. Not a happy meal, but no violence in the end. After eating and a bit of shopping I saw a guy walking on the street in the Indian / Pakistani area just west of Omonia and he looked a bit like someone I had sex with in the past, pre covid – 10 E to suck that guy off. Maybe an Afgan guy, but not who I thought he was. We did the eye contact and second and third looks as we walked past each other. He was shopping too, but also in the sex trade as he knew where we could play. We went to the Hotel or Hostel Mansion, about 2 blocks from the Kosmo cinema and just a few blocks from where we met on the street. Nondescript looks on the street but in hotel room he was thin and muscular and looked better with his clothes off. I fucked him but he did not cum for me. Traded whats app info. Great. Next day I just did sightseeing. Bites / contact allergy still looked bad but not as itchy. We texted a few times but did not hook up again. As I write this, waiting for a reply on whats app, but he has not been on whats app since last night. Hopefully, he will reply, but I won't keep my hopes too high, lest this be like Brazil. Might head to the park early today for “dessert”, or more  

Also over the past few days: Daytime I walked past but did not go into Samis Bar (correct spelling), which was closed – just a late night, early am place, or Bizzar Club (which I did not find, but only later realized I was on airplane mode to save battery, LOL. These are just west of the big park north of Ntl Arch Mus and near Victoria Metro stop. Did not try the train station a bit further west. I skipped the gay clubs in Gazi as I was asleep at 0200 hours Friday and Saturday nights. If you come to Athens, be sure to do the touristy sunset on the hill near the Acropolis main entrance, I think just to the north and a relatively quick 10 minute walk from Monasteraki metro station. It is truly magical. (But not a place to hook up)

Folks, be careful about what is in your pockets ! ! ! Napkins, condoms, and lotion for lube, plus maybe 50 euros at any time for expenses.

I admire your energy!

Thanks for the detailed report Travguy. You certainly are packing plenty of stuff in!

Did you try Hunqz, the escort site associated with Romeo?
From previous reports, there was a lot of availability on it for Athens, and some at reasonable prices.

 

Many thanks to all of the various posters in this and other threads

Further adventures: with the Air Canada strike I got sort of stuck in Athens for a few extra days. So doing a ton of work from the hotel. Why a hotel: large good bf and good wifi. Not bringing anyone back to your room is quite reasonable here. Had I met other middle class folks in Athens, then yes, would think about bringing them back to my place. Please, I am not trying to be prejudicial here. Even Grindr hook ups can go bad. I took a day off from sex for sightseeing. Next day I met up with the Iraqi or Iranian guy. He tried skype calling me multiple times - but why – we did not understand anything except price. LOL. He was on time to the meeting spot near Omonia Hondos Centre and we went to the Hotel / Hostel Mansion to play. 5 Euros for the hotel and 20+5 for the guy. He wanted 30 euros but I said no and left the room. I just didn’t like being hustled, but it was more like begging. I would gladly have paid for lunch with him to follow. Communication issues. Did a bit of shopping. Went back to cine at 1400 hours. I think they have a true noon lunch crowd too. Found the guy from the past who you could suck off for 10 euros. Still does not speak anything but Greek, LOL. He did look older post covid. Played with a somewhat non lean Albanian guy. Room to play in was so hot we just stopped before either could cum. I paid him 20. Oh well. Another word of caution: one rent guy kept following me, especially right after I entered. It was so dark and it takes time for your eyes to adjust. I tried to stay as far from him as possible to avoid a pick pocket. Of course, he might have been just plying for sex work and nothing else. Trust your cautious instincts. Did more regular stuff and then went to the big park around 6pm. There was trade available, but I was a bit hungry for food and did not find the young guys too hot. I could have stayed longer and likely would would have had a couple of scores. As before, lots of families, joggers, and the most security folks I have seen this trip. They seemed to be checking into a group of adults as I walked nearby. But I needed dinner as I skipped lunch and thought it ok to leave, I had already cum and was not super horny. As for hunqz, I think it is part of the Romeo app. If so, I really did not find much. Maybe it is a separate app and given how hot Athens is now, maybe the boys are elsewhere. I am not sure. Happy to be clued in. After wasting hours on the phone and chat I finally got a flight out of Greece.

Thanks for your posts @travguy and for writing such detailed reports. 
 

May I ask you to expand on this observation you made. I ask because I’m a top only. I really enjoy kissing and topping a guy, and I love getting sucked off. I especially value a guy who sucks me to completion and, as I find it so hot, swallows my load.

On 8/18/2025 at 8:28 AM, travguy said:

Like other guys, not interested in sucking me or bottoming for me.

Do I take it from what you write that none of the many working guys you saw wanted to provide full service?
Was that a matter of price and you simply didn’t want to pay more?

Or is it that the men define themselves as ‘str8’ so they are horny and happy to be sucked by a guy, but to suck another man’s cock would be ‘gay’?

Or is it that the age-gap between you and them was too great? Or not great enough?

I’m intrigued because years ago as a middle-aged man, I had fun with younger Greek men (mid 20s to early 30s). I’ve played with three different Greek guys in London. They were not working guys and each was happy to perform fully. In Athens itself, I had several dates with a versatile Greek muscleboy who was happy to please me in bed, and I was keen to keep him happy by paying for dinner & drinks. 
 

 

Thanks for your reply, Travguy.

Regarding Hunqz, it was originally a subsection of Gayromeo, but  it is now a separate website (or app). No need to download the app to read it, just look at it on the web. You can log into it on using your Gayromeo account, although it doesn’t make that much difference whether you are logged in or not.

The reason I brought it up is that it seems to the main escort site for Greece at the moment. I just checked and when you do a search for a 40 km radius around Athens, over 100 escort ads come up.

You have a lot of guys offering massage on the site, as well as escorting.

I plan on visiting Athens next month, and I’ve been thinking of using it, as I thought it might be a safer option than copying your adventurous exploits by meeting guys in public parks etc. I like reading of your adventures, but I’m not sure if I’d like to copy them (you may have read some of my interactions with street trade in Athens on this site already, which mainly involved walking around Omonia Square but not going to any hotel anybody as I was too nervous of them).

I might chance trying out the cinema. I’m just wondering, how do the the encounters work in practice? Do you have sex with somebody amongst the general seating, or is there separate booths you can go to, or do you go to one of the toilets?

Any clarification would be gratefully received as I’m rather nervous public sex seeker, lol.

I went to the cinema from 430-6pm and paid for one guy, 20 euros. He put a condom on me and sucked for a short while. I sucked him off and he seemed to find it odd that I did not cum. The tiny room we were in was very hot, too hot for me. There were other guys, including one that kept following me again. I made it clear that I was not interested. LOL. The park was very quiet from about 645 to 715pm. A few guys, but also lots of security folks again. Nothing I thought I needed to go into the bushes for. As a generality, there might be many gay for pay but otherwise straight sex workers. In general I only found a couple of guys willing to service me, almost all were only interested in me sucking them off or letting them top me (I am only a top). There were some guys that would bottom privately pre covid in the bathroom stalls or couple of rooms at the Kosmo before it closed. As most have always been from an Arab / moslem or central Asian background, I think there is huge prejudice about being passive sexually. I don’t think the issue is price. But I am not offering 100 E to get me off. As I noted, I had one street pick up who bottomed. Go figure.

I just found hunqz on the web, but did not check prices. I was paying 10-25 euros per encounter. The boys know which hotels to go to and the Mansion was used for sex pre covid as well, 5- per romp. The boys will tell you where play will occur where ever you meet them. But most want privacy. The issue is that if they block the exit door of your play space while demanding more money it could get out of control pretty easily. Also, unlike Brazil, or Spanish speaking latin america where many of speak a bit of PT or SP, who among us speaks what the guys here speak - Greek, Arabic, Farsi, etc? As elsewhere, the smarter boys are likely looking for locals for multiple encounters. The guys I saw in the cine were a mix of 50+ and in ok shape and older almost in need of canes and walkers to get around. At the park, the punters were all ambulatory, some quite old looking, but not all. My guess is that those offering services were up to 30 yrs old and most were quite thin, wire-ey muscular. Some were dark skinned, maybe Pakistani / Indian, the Afgans could be more pale and reasonably western looking. Only saw a few Albanians and no Bulgarians this trip. The place where the busses for these folks drop off may have changed from just west of omonia. That drop point could be a potential place to meet new talent. Well, maybe someone can figure it out….LOL.

As for comparisons, think of Athens more like rough trade for sex. Also, the city is never clean, never. As you go west of omonia, you also find the druggies and some non druggie sex workers. I am surprised that the Port of Piraeus never comes up. It has some pretty grimy areas, but I have never been there late. Also no clue for paid gay sex on the islands. If you are hot and 20 yo, you can make your own fun anywhere.

Here are a few observations from my stay in Athens last month:

I stayed north of Victoria Sq (5min walking from Victoria metro st/Victoria Sq. in a predominantly Arab/Middle East area. A 5-day transportation pass for 8.20 Euro is great value as it gives free access to all metro and local busses (including to Pireaus) except to/from the airport on the M3 metro line which requires a 9 Euro special ticket.

Sex apps

Grindr and to some extent Romeo are busy. Most guys approaching you will be top and for pay and will be street trade (immigrants or refugees) from Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, North Africa etc; almost none from Greece. Many will have blank/no-pic profiles in Grindr but most of the time their intentions/availability for paid sex is more or less clear from the profile name/text. Guys will send pics in their communication with you and are eager to earn cash so full sex is possible from as low as 30 Euro. 40-50 Euro will satisfy most and BB is often no issue. Asking price from Hunqz guys is 100+ Euro but often negotiable, but don’t expect these more prof. rent guys to come to you for 30-40 Euro.

Pedion Park (Pedion tou Areos) to north of the National Archaeological Museum

Info provided by Santiagodc, including the pic from Google map, is spot on. Quite a few young guys before sunset; some in small groups by the benches; others on their own looking to get in contact. Seems to be Middle East, Syrians, north Africans etc; all a bit on the rough side/street trade. It can be difficult to figure out if guys there are looking for action or just having a good time with friends. A few mature punters walking around as well. Once you have walked past the open circle area and the red steel poles on the main walkway you are in the right area, but it seems that action takes place along the small paths and in the bushes to the south of the main walkway; the guys know the spots where to take you but action can quickly draw spectators. I sucked off a young cute Egyptian for 10 Euro in the bushes. Small dick and he nutted after 1-2  min; underwhelming experience. No obvious drug addicts as reported in the past but lots of families, joggers, dog walkers etc in the park.

Cinema Athinaikon

Easy to find behind the Fresh Hotel and Pireaus Bank, just south of Omonia. 5 Euro entry. Sunday late afternoon had quite a few older men watching straight porn from the seats in the main cinema room. The stairs to go up or to the basement are in the back of the main cinema room (separate doors). The upstairs balcony area was almost deserted. The basement has a screen playing gay porn and 2-3 small but dirty private cabins. 2 working guys (looked eastern European to me) soliciting their dick and services at the back of the main room or downstairs; none of my liking. No action for me but it was worth the experience. Same day re-entry with the ticket seems possible.

Victoria Square

Boys/young guys, all foreigners, seem to hang out there at all times; most are in small groups by the benches. A couple of guys hang around the stairs/escalators down to the metro station. Difficult to establish contact as they seem to be busy with each other. I suppose you would need to sit down on one of the benches or otherwise hang out at the park to establish contact. Seems to be the same kind of street trade as in the Pedion Park. I didn’t pick up any guys there; felt a bit intimidated by the need to hang around and openly show interest in the guys.

Omonia

A few street hustlers (primarily arab or Middle East) around the west entrance to the metro on Omonia Sq. and at the pedestrian street to the left of the Hondos center. Difficult to tell if the guys are available for business. I didn’t have the nerve to initiate contact or have a seat at one of the cafes to see if something would happen.

The pedestrian street leads to the Cosmopolit hotel in the area behind the Hondos center. Cinema Cosmopolit next to the hotel remains closed. The area feels a bit rough with hookers (female) and drug addicts in the streets west of the Cosmopolit hotel. Also 1-2 blocks west of the Cosmopolit hotel you find the Mansion Hotel reported by others as available for short time (I didn’t check it out; only walked past it)

Pireaus

Easy accessible via metro. Lovely get-away from Athens with a nice city centre and a nice marina; underrated and well worth a visit IMO. The mature Albanian top in Romeo will fuck you raw for 1h/40 Euro at his room in the city centre. Recommended!

Hello Folks:

Just wanted to add a summer update of things. So, I will plonk it all here.

Had to cancel Brazil due several last-minute events that happened pretty much over 1 day. Airline refunded price of out bound ticket, but my return was a separate ticket, so no refund, just a travel credit.

I was also in Southern California. Very bad homeless, drug user issue around MacArthur Park west of downtown LA. Lots of hookers near the navy bases in National City just south of San Diego. Some "out of sight" homeless camps in San Diego. Went to a sex club on Beverly Blvd near Vermont west of DT LA. Not as good as pre COVID. Also went to a sex theatre near the Sports Arena in SD. Semi slow when I went. The weather in SoCal was great.

United international planes were definitely nicer then American, especially walking past business class. Food on AA in economy was not that good and very small portions for very long flights. AA app remains a total joke vs United app, though improved vs 2025. Maintenance on AA planes was also very poor and some AA gate agents pulled folks from boarding due very small 3rd items. Absurd.

Edinburgh Fringe had tons of LGBTQ+ content this year. There were some parties as well, but as I was doing shows from lunch to after MN most days, I had no energy left for 2 am parties, plus waking early for breakfast. The Fringe simply got too big this year with around 4000 performances at around 200 venues over 3+ weeks. There are a few gay bars but not in the core downtown area, though only a 5-15 minute walk away. No idea regarding any gay for play. Grindr, Scruff, and Sniffies were not that busy for folks over 40 yo or so. Did not check Romeo for pay. Stayed at University of Edinburgh student lodgings as the price was about 100 GBP per night - very cheap for EDI during the Fringe and they host the musicians for the Tattoo as well. Breakfast was buffet style, eat all you want, though quality was not the best. LOL.

Airport hassles. US was much faster. In Europe, you might get through border control in 10 minutes or it might take over an hour. Automatic passport control areas might be fully functional or completely shut down. Your bags might take 30+ minutes from gate arrival. Security screening could be a bit easy or via Soup Nazi's from Hell and take a very long time due to poorly trained personnel and improper supervision. So be sure to allow at least 2+ hours for check in procedures once you arrive at the airport. I am not joking !! And you still have to reach the gate !

Europe was very hot through much of the summer so far. Athens was at or near 100 F / 38 C, sunny and not always very dry. Basically, unbearable mid day. There were very few boys / guys for play in the park north of the Archeological Museum around 1800-1900 hours, when they should be busy. The City was also setting up for a very large outdoor book fair that runs 4-20 September 2026. Tons of families, kids, joggers, and dogs as well. Yet there was some minimal action. But it was simply too hot for anyone to cum. There were guys in nearby Victoria Square, but they were hanging out in groups, so I saw no chance to hire. In front of the Cosmopolit Hotel and closed cinema area, (the) one guy hit on me. I had just done some food shopping but went to the Mansion Hotel (5 euros, he paid with my money) with him. The sex was not as agreed to, and he picked my pocket in front of me (loss was small) and violence was minimal. I think I saw him in the park a few days later. There were several times with the park guys that I said no and walked away, With one guy we verbally agreed to 15 euros. I then showed him the money and he said noooo, despite clearly agreeing to it a minute before. Trust your instincts and not your little head. The Athinikon cinema and another 3 level video cinema are almost next to each other near the Fresh Hotel and Economy Hotel and old Athens City Hall. Prices are now 6 e each, but no re-entry at the clean video place, but only regular folks. No pay for play. The Athinikon is nasty and was almost empty several times. Busier last year. Best by far was curiously Tuesday from 1800 hours, lol. The boys were mostly 30-50 yo !! Going rate I paid everywhere was 10-20 euros. But some asked for up to 25-50, before I said no. At the cinema there was a new scam - play with the customer and or let him suck you. Then stop. For anything else a new session and extra pay was needed. Who were they joking, the place was almost empty and they were just older average looking guys. Oh well. Never saw more than 4 guys for pay in the park, only saw a very folks near Omonia subway entrance by Hondas Center and Cosmopolit, and often 1-3 guys at the Athinikon. The number and quality of the guys was hugely less than last year. In the park, 2 guys might have been around 20 yo and neither could cum (likely due to the heat). Only 1 at the Athinikon would kiss, suck or be a bottom. All were Egyptian, Middle Eastern and maybe Pakistani. No "white" Bulgarians, Albanians, etc this year. Be aware there were also tons of police in a brown uniform, maybe like tourist police, all over Athens and many around Omonia. The druggies had to move a few blocks further away. I hope the dismal pay for play scene in Athens was more due to the heat then the ramped up policing. But we will need further reports as the weather cools and to see if Athens continues to cough up the money (which it does not have) for police. The big park clean up was apparently paid for via the Onassis Foundation and to be honest, they have done a good job.

Bugs and skin issues. At the Athinikon I got a bad contact dermatitis from the armrests in the main cinema. LOL. Mosquitos were bad at the park towards sunset, but also bad elsewhere. Lots of bites despite eucalyptus spray - I timed the sprays poorly and did not use enough. Used bilastine 20 mg up to 3x per day for the itching and an antihistamine spray.

Fleas and Bedbugs. Saw several folks in Edinburgh with bad flea or bedbug like bites. One hotel in Athens was treating some rooms for bedbugs. BBs and fleas are everywhere and as a tourist there is little you can do to avoid them.

I prefer hotels in Athens as they usually include a decent breakfast for the same cost as an Airbnb or misterbandb or ebab. Accommodation costs in SoCal and Europe continue to be very high. Prices seem to be up 50-100% vs pre COVID. When I checked for Barcelona (due to reasonable temps), prices for decent looking places were often 150+ euros per night. Brazil keeps looking better.