Day 23 - Saturday May 6 - Athens Greece

By Ellen Outten



Our second day in Athens Greece led me to the Acropolis.  I have been looking forward to this as one of the highlights of this whole cruise.  My tour, which I did pay for (not an included tour) was called "The Acropolis and a Walking Tour of the Plaka District.  Wayne stayed on the ship today.  He's been to the Acropolis several times and his knees didn't particularly like the idea of the 82 steps that need to be climbed to get to the top, and the Acropolis, which by derivation means the highest part of the city.
Athens still does not allow any buildings to be taller than the Acropolis.

Athens Basketball stadium built for the 2004 Olympics

Panathenaic Stadium which was the Olympic stadium built in 1896. 





Changing of the Guard at the Presidential Palace





The University of Athens

The Academy (of Science)

National Library

We started with the bus tour that took us back over the same ground that we covered yesterday.  However, today we were able to stop at the Panathenaic Stadium which was the Olympic stadium built in 1896.  We rode by yesterday but didn't stop.  Today we stopped and I was able to take some good photos.  

From there we moved on to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Changing of the Guard.  We really got lucky to be there 'on the hour' to see the changing.  We didn't get off the bus so my pictures are from a distance, but it was interesting to see them marching, in their uniforms.  They stand motionless for an hour and change the guard again.

We passed the "trilogy" of buildings which includes the University of Athens, the Academy (of Science) and the National Library.

And, then finally, our bus driver took us to the Acropolis.  I didn't realize it's just a short walk from the Plaka District which is a pedestrian walking area full of shops and restaurants.  It was only about 100 meters from the entrance walkway of the Acropolis to the shops and our eventual bus pick up area.

I was a little concerned about the "80" steps that was advertised as the walk up to the top of the Acropolis.  It seemed like a short walk with no problem at all.  There were crowds which kept the walk slow.  I took my cane for stability and Wayne brought a walking stick.   Those two together are cumbersome!  Walking with them in each hand, trying to get a picture with your camera.  A pain in the ass.  I think one walking stick is plenty.  

Being up there, looking at the remains of these ancient buildings is absolutely amazing.  The details that are still left are incredible.  What a day.  

We walked around for quite some time doing all the photo taking expected and then hiked it on down to the bottom.  

At the entrance to the Acropolis, the first building you see, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, an open air theatre built for musical contests.




Looking up from the Odeon to the gateway or Propylaea


the gateway or Propylaea

in front of the gateway or Propylaea


The western part of this building, the Erechtheion was dedicated as the (old) Temple of Athena (right side of the picture).  The eastern portion (left side of the picture) was dedicated to Poseidon.

The Parthenon

The old temple of Athena which has several sections dedicated to Athena and Poseidon

The eastern part of the Erechtheion - dedicated to the worship of Poseidon



Parthenon pictures

The Parthenon


The old temple of Athena

A bad selfie in the wind with the Goddesses behind me

The Old Temple of Athena

The Old Temple of Athena built to honor Athena Nike, goddess of victory

The Parthenon

Greece proudly displaying their flag on the Acropolis                   The Parthenon

Pictures of the top of the Acropolis - look at the detail in the statutes just on the top

Top of the Parthenon

Propylaia, the monumental gateway as you enter the Acropolis.

Propylaia

Looking up into the Propylaia as I was leaving the Acropolis


Part of the gateway or Propylaia      


The temple of Athena Nike dedicated to the goddesses Athena and Nike built around 420 BC

From there we walked to the Plaka District and had some lunch.  I had a real, local gyro (lamb).  It was ok.  I'm not sure if it  wasn't the best one to eat or if they're supposed to taste like that.  I'm not complaining.  The lamb was a little dry.  The highlight was the local bottle of beer I had.  It tasted very good.  Mythos beer.  Afterward, back to the ship for the end of a really nice, sunny day in Athens.


We leave Athens soon, within the next hour and head to Crete (still Greece).  We were informed last night that we would not be stopping in Herkalion Greece.   The weather, mainly the wind, has made the captain decide not to port there.  Instead we are porting at Suda Bay, Crete.  This means a different walking tour tomorrow.  We'll be talking a walking tour of Rethymno.  You have to go with the flow; and it doesn't matter to me where we port.  Tomorrow will be our next to last stop in Greece. We go to Rfides Greece tomorrow.  From there we head to Turkey.  The trip is winding down.  Our passports were collected today and will be returned on Monday.  As we leave the European Union and enter Turkey, I'm guessing that the Turkish officials will be checking passports and our required Visas to enter the country.  Another new experience.

 



 

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