Athens Day 2 - Acropolis and Plaka

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Took the Metro for the first time today - it was built for the 2004 Olympics, and is the cleanest and nicest subway I've ever been on. For .80 Euro you can go anywhere in the city, and the Metro station is about 5 blocks from our hotel. The Metro stops at the foot of the Acropolis, and it is so much higher up on the plateau over Athens than it looks in pictures. There is so much to see in the Acropolis that you need a map of the monuments or you'll forget what you're getting your picture taken in front of. In addition to the Parthenon (which is HUGE, way bigger than I thought), there are 2 theatres, 3 more monuments, and some piles of rubble of past monuments that have been blown apart by either the Turks or Romans.

After the Acropolis and Agora, we sat at a sidewalk cafe for a couple of hours drinking frappes, which is Nescafe and about a pound of sugar whipped and served on ice. Apparently this drink is sweeping the nation. We then walked through the Plaka, which is the section of Athens at the foot of the Acropolis, and pretty touristy, but has a cool Turkish market feel. That is, if there are Greek flags and leather sandals sold at Turkish markets. Dad picked up some souvenirs, and we kept walking to Syntagma Square, where the Parliament building is located. We then stopped at the Grande Bretagne hotel for a 16 Euro bloody mary. Yes, 16 Euro, you do the math on the USD amount. So, for everyone back home, Grande Bretagne bathroom towels and sugars for souvenirs!

We went to dinner just as the Good Friday mass was ending, and the candlelit procession of Christ through the streets went right by our restaurant. I'm looking forward to the mass on Saturday night, which is supposed to be the higlight of Greek Orthodox Easter. We have rented a car, and hopefully will be getting out of the city on Sunday, maybe to Delphi. Athens is a pretty interesting and energetic city, but I will ber ready to leave for the islands on Tuesday.

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Photos

Delphi
Sanctuary of Athena

Delphi
Sanctuary of Athena

Delphi
Best pic I got of the rest - closed!

Comments

[Chrissy]

Candle procession
George and Kerri, I can only imagine how pretty the canlde procession was on Friday evening....Sounds like you both are having a grand time! Smash sends his love, and continues to watch out the window for his "Daddy". Happy Easter! Christos Eneste! Chrissy

[Cheryl]

Can't wait to see the pictures. Sounds like you're fast becoming quite the photographer. My computer won't open the photo you attached, but I'll check it again at work tomorrow. Everything you've done seems like the perfect vacation. I'm sure the islands will be even more spectacular. Meows from Lucy!

[Ycats]

It's necessarily Nescafe! Think the next craze will be taking the Nestea plunge??

[Cathleen]

peabody and herman
I can't believe the photos, they look like post cards. I really think another trip is in order..with all of us. :) :) :) :) :) :) NO DOGS of course. I wonder if I am on the souveniere list??? hmmm. Just remember those way cool kangaroo socks you got from me when I was in Australia! You probably have them on RIGHT NOW. Ok..I want a pic of you drinking Greek coffee on the banks of the shore overlooking the sea. Ok..everything statis quo in Green Bay...miss you heaps. xooxo LILY 1