Stop me if you've heard this before. For today's tour I have way too many pictures I want to share. So a few stories and then on to the good stuff!
The 2 previous days to our visit to Athens the temperatures were in the 100's. We had also heard that they had closed the Acropolis because of the heat at least one of those days. So we felt extremely blessed that the temperature forecast for our day was partly cloudy and only in the 80's. There was also a nice breeze blowing so that was very welcoming.
Thank you Lord!
Stephanie was nervous about the visit to the Acropolis, especially after the Santorini hill climb of two days previous. From the street level it looks like it's a long way up. We had discussed just sitting it out, but in the end she decided that because it was cooler (was still somewhat early in the morning-10:00) and that there was shade a good part of the way up (again because it was early) she was gonna go for it. What also helps is that unlike the Santorini climb, it winds back and forth for most of the way rather than just straight up. In the end, even being there early, it still took about an hour to get to the top level. Later in the day as the Acropolis becomes busier that figure goes to around 3 hours to the top.
It seems that most of the people in line for the Acropolis are in tour groups rather than individuals. When you are first starting out, there is a nice division between the groups. However as you begin getting closer to the top, groups start blending and it is easy to lose your group. Steph and I actually got separated from our group once we were at the top level as they turned right and we kept going straight. I had to park Steph in a safe place and go and find our group. Being tall definitely helped with this. Once they were located, I had to go back and get Steph and then try and navigate the crowd and catch them. The other obstacle to this is at the top levels of the Acropolis, the floor is either not level (jagged rock) or it's slippery. (I don't know if it is marble?) So travel is slow.
The rest of the day we stopped at the Panathenaic Stadium, home of the first modern Olympics in 1896. No lie we had 10 minutes there (As the explorer and picture taker I did NOT approve of this). Then on to the Greek Parliament Building for the changing of the guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, much like we have in Washington DC. This happens every hour on the hour and our timing for this was right on. After that we were dropped off in a busy area of Athens with less than an hour to explore or feed ourselves. We found a nice little bakery off the beaten path and enjoyed lunch with a new SU friend in our group.
View of the Parthenon from the street level.
Ok, this is Steph cutting in here for a sec….That pic does NOT seem like a fair representation of the "Parthenon from street level."
HERE it is from the parking lot/tour bus level. See the little building in the middle of the frame??? It looked FAR!!!
Back to the previously scheduled blog….
Outside wall of the theater (which is still used today). Official name is Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
We're climbing.
View from the top of the inside of the theater.
View of Athens toward the sea. Upper wall of the theater in the lower half of the picture.
Us of course.
We're getting closer to the top, but this is where groups start blending.
View of Athens looking inland.
View of Athens from the top level. Theater is in the lower right.
One of the sides of the Parthenon.
Hey who snuck this in? Are you people trying to be in every picture?
Another view of the Parthenon.
View of Athens looking deeper inland.
Now here's the mass of humanity trying to leave and go back down. This was no fun either.
Panathenaic Stadium…10 minutes, still salty about it. Because I guarantee if I had gotten inside I would have climbed to the top and gone out and at least walked the track.
Changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Greek Parliament Building. Notice especially his shoes…guessing they are not comfortable for that hour he has to stand motionless.
The new guys are ready to move into position.
The old guys gotta do their movements before leaving. Very well choreographed and executed.
Salute to those who have fallen in battle. Moving in any culture.
Moving out with view of whole building and the Greek flag.
View of the Acropolis from a city street.
Pics from the little bakery we found. Stephanie enjoyed the chocolate mousse on the right side.
I had the orange cake in the upper right corner. Very delicious. So no gelato today.
My main meal was the oblong pizza pies in the lower left. Very good but a little too much dough.
View of the side street of shops and restaurants.
That's all for today…
Todd
Note: Less than 1% of all demonstrators earn the incentive trip each year.
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