Athens--where it all began!
Itinerary--3 nights and 2 full days
Notes:
A big, noisy city; right off the boat had a personal encounter on the metro with a pick-pocket--and survived; we were on to him immediately, he knew we knew; I had a good grip on my purse, Len watched him with an eagle eye as he nonchalantly edged closer; he eventually gave up, but subtlety gave Len the finger before we got off; walked everywhere, some very charming neighbourhoods, lots of young people; lots and lots of graffiti on everything--gave a bit of a rough edge to the city; many pedestrian streets; so many tourists; history everywhere...highlights include wandering the Plaka and Monasteraki areas, and walking the Parthenon Way; crazy experience on last day--got caught up in a traffic turmoil due to huge demonstration that shut down the whole main tourist area, the metro and bus system...luckily we were in a taxi but had to fork out big Euros to have him take us to the airport! Apparently demonstrations happen often here....
Photos
- Guards with pompoms do the Monty Python silly walk in guarding changing ceremony...hard not to laugh
- After the very weird ceremony, we watched groups of people go right up to the guard, probably trying to get a smile out of him..
- Ancient church in the middle of a modern city
- The remains of the Roman Agora, or market
- a neighbourhood modelled after greek village...in the heart of downtown Athens!
- View of the Roman Agora with the Acropolis above
- A proud Greek leader, Emperor Constantine, who was the final ruler of the Byzantine empire in the 15thc
- Hadrian' Arch, built by the Roman emperor to mark the entrance to his new city
- Amphitheatre at the Acropolis with Old city behind
- Had my picture taken in this very spot (Acropolis entrance) 38 years ago!
- Parthenon at the Acropolis--always restoration!
- The perfect photo spot!
- Cupid and Pan flirting with Athena...
- Found out the statues on the temple at the Acropolis are fake--these are the real ones!
- Acropolis at night--a fabulous view from our hotel rooftop bar
- Temple of Erectheon at the Acropolis
- This was the entrance to a Rick Steves restaurant recommendation..would you enter?! (we did)
- Mask of Agememnon in the Archaeological Museum