Till level 20 at least you don't have to worry about equipment upgrades, since you'll manage missions and stuff with your current setup. After that, I suggest you get yourself pre-made implants (you can buy them in any basic shop), maybe get carbonum armor (it's tradeskilled, plates cost a bit, so try looking for tradeskiller that will be willing to buy them, since he/she will be probably able to get them cheaper) and for weapon I would suggest Division9 assault rifle, those drop from dyna bosses (I assume you're soldier).
West Athens don't have whompa. You should run east and across bride into Old Athens. Continuing east, you'll come to center of it, the "hill". Turn south there and you'll come to whompas, door-like structures with high antena. Simply walking into those doors will transport you to city which name is over it.
Another fast way to travel is grid. Using those require different ammounts of computer literacy, so while West Athens have one, I suggest you check Old Athens one again (needs lower CL, think it's 90). This time you turn north from hill. You'll run straight into NPC called Raumn Bauer, grid is a terminal to the right f him. R-click on it to be transported inside. In there you'll have several raised platforms with names over it that will allow you to exit where you want (just be causios, since you can exit into Omni area and guards will kill you).
If you're totally new to game, I suggest you do
Clan start-up quest chain, since it will explain to you a thing or two about whompas, appartments, etc.. as well as give you some idea about which land is safe to travel.