Today was a long day, we went and had a tour of the Acropolis, and took the hop on/hop off bus to the beaches and the Riviera, and then the Athens circle once again. We walked to the Panthemic Stadium and then from there to dinner. It doesn’t sound like much, you say? Well, consider that Acro means tip and polis means city, so we climbed to the tip of Athens. Recall that the Parthenon is up there, a temple dedicated to the beloved goddess Athena. She was the goddess of wisdom, strategy, equality, and fairness. The Pantheon was also a military fort. Anyway, it is obviously not intact because it has gone through a lot since it was built in 442-ish B.C. But some of it has survived and even the ruins that remain keep guard over Athens below. The temple was built in marble. Marble is strong and beautiful—and it can certainly be slippery. To get to the op of the Acropolis, one not only climbs a pretty steep uphill, careful not to bump into the many other people who want to visit this famous site, But also manages to do so in 100-degree heat, on uneven dirt road at times, gravel road, pavement, marble slabs, and a combination of marble-dirt-and stone. There are not many railings, but there is rope sometimes, primarily intended to keep visitors from touching/climbing on the marble. It was not easy, but both of us made it, and we are happy we did! Our you guide was knowledgeable and professional. The mythology surrounding Athens, Sparta, Greece in general can be complicated at times, but she made all of the characters come to life! There are other structures on the Acropolis, and beyond the mythology, their importance to the concept of democracy cannot be underestimated!
The beach route was interesting to see. We are looking at the Aegean Sea here, and as could be expected, some of the more upscale hotels/resorts and residences can be found close to the seashore. The palm trees are gorgeous—not unlike Florida! A stretch of waterfront/beaches was made to mimic Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive! They say the water is warm year round, pretty shallow and inviting to families with little kids, is clean and clear (it looks a beautiful turquoise from shore), and is rather pebbles rather than sandy close to shore and on the beach itself. We did not get off the bus to dip our toes in. We were still recovering from the Acropolis stint earlier this day.
We wanted to fill in some missing pieces in what we wanted to see of Athens, so we rode there’d line of the hop on/hop off buses once again. Still, we needed to see the changing of the guards ceremony at the Parliament House, the Panathenaic Stadium (also made of marble—fabulously present still), the ancient Bath Hoyse that was “accidentally” found while digging underground for purposes of the train system in Athens, and the vestiges of the Temple of Zeus. We walked to all of those after the bus tour. Again, we are delighted to have been able to visit these sites.
Finally, dinner was at another five-star Greek restaurant—a taverna—within walking distance of our hotel. It’s so darn hot that dinner is in an outdoor setting, but it is in the shade. John had his lams, which he thoroughly enjoyed, and I had stuffed peppers and potatoes, vegetarian dish and delicious! Dessert was ekvek, which is supposed to be a custard-type cake-y dessert, with cream and pistachios on top. It was a very sweet dish, so for those who enjoy the sweetness, this dish might be for you! The saga Kai was not called such on the menu. It was called fried cheese. Indeed, there was no flame, no “Opaahhh”—not that. Rather, the dish was a large wedge of firm and chewy fried cheese served with a lemon wedge. It was good….. All told, the bill was $40–and the tip is included!
A word about our hotel, the Hotel Amalia. We are right in the heart of historic Athens, with the modern section a walk away. Across the street is the National Garden, which we walked yesterday amd today. Down the street is the Parliament. Not far is the Acropolis%. The excavated Bath House is about a five-minute walk away. The Temple of Zeus and the Emperor’s Victory Arch are five minutes away., and soon. You get the gist. There are coffee houses, bakeries, and food establishments within easy reach. And the buffet breakfast, included in the room price, is elegant and fabulous to put it mildly.
Thus ends today in Athens, Greece. Tomorrow, we rise early for a trip to Delphi!
Our Travels 