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Published: October 22nd 2012
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Up with the birds after an amazing sleep, the first in two nights in a bed. The hotel is fabulous and very comfortable. We were being picked up at 8am for a half day tour of the city, ended up feeling a bit like we were in the movie my life in ruins with the tour guides.. On one bus, off that bus on another, then onto another and finally we were off, we began the morning visiting the temple of Zeus, an amazing place the energy in that place was amazing col and I could have stayed there for ages, we will return on Thursday.
it has 15 columns of the 140 columns left and the detail on them let alone the height and weight of them was incredible to think when it was built. I loved it and could have sat there and 'been' for a while. But we were on the bus and again and off to see the sites of the city. Very busy with 6 million people living within Athens itself. what surprises us the most is that that there is graffiti every where and there doesn't seem to be any road rules. Apparently youth unemployment is 50percent of that population here at the moment.
We saw the tomb of the unknown soldier and the soldiers in their costumes doing their walk, I did say to Colin that it looked like the John Cleese silly walk... Customs are very strong here which is wonderful. We stopped and spent some time at the panathinatro stadium the original olympic staduim where the first olympic games were held in the modern era one of the original buildings it was part of the original city of Athens and dates back centuries. The Olympic torch stops here due to its significance.
We arrived at the Acropolis it is breathtaking... Literally breath taking as it is quite a steep walk up to the top... But it really is breathtaking.. The path is a marble rocky out crop and was quite slippery one of the tour group fell soon recovered and continued walking onwards and upwards. We arrived initially to see the Dionissos Theatre where the current stars perform such as Elton John, Neil Diamond, Yanni, banana maskouri sorry Nana maskouri.... almost like our day on the greens.... Anyway onwards and upwards we looked up and saw the temple of Athena.. Incredible.... Then around the corner was the grand entrance of the Acropolis and through the door we could see the Parthenon in the distance and several other buildings Beautiful buildings... WOW... Words cannot describe it at all... Or do it any justice... amazing....
It was quite busy and col and I remarked on the fact how hectic it would be in the middle of peak time.. We walked through the grand entrance I was trying to imagine what it would have been like back in the days of it being built. It was a temple for the Gods..
We stopped to have a look at erechthio colin was taking photos and so I got out my pirate toy, you will see it in some of my photos.. Pirate has travelled with me on several trips now, anyway I got him out thinking he'd like his picture taken at this space and next thing we know there is a whistle being madly blown and as Colin says a Greek ninja swooped on us carrying on like a pork chop about something... Apparently we were being disrespectful if we took a photo with pirate and she checked all our photos to ensure the hadn't taken one previously.. So there you go as quickly as she appeared she disappeared ninja style.
Anyway that added a bit of spice to the day, we wandered around looking at each of the buildings there, they truly are spectacular its almost to hard to put into words, we've seen it on tv many times and here we were actually there. We said goodbye to our tour as they left to catch the bus we decided we would stay. Everyone has told us many times since we have arrived that it never rains in Athens, well it did rain today it didn't spoil things for us it made things a little slippery and damp that's all.
We spent a further 2 hrs or so sitting and admiring and taking lots of photos, we left once the rain set in and wandered out and down to the Ancient city of Agora, so much to see here lots of ancient ruins, agora was the ancient Athens.. We wandered throughout the ruins and visited the Ifesttos temple of the top of the hill most of it is still standing, quite amazing... What an incredible place to visit. By this time our stomachs were telling us we needed to find food as it was about 2pm. Everything closes here early and the ruins were closing so we weren't able to go back the way we came and they very nonchalantly waved us away and told us to go around.. Around what??
We wandered some more and eventually came to a wonderful cafe on the side of the walk so we stopped and enjoyed chicken souvlaki which was yummy and the owner bought out a chocolate cake and ice cream for us.. Mmmmmmmmm col and I enjoyed it, nice way to finish it off, but still there were more cats.. No joke there must have been about 10 cats wandering around, some mangy some very well fed and pretty. No don't go there we were eating chicken... Weren't we?
A double espresso for me and a pint of beer for col and we were off again on an adventure to find our way back to the other side of the acropolis to find our way home. The walk up was steep and yes we found our way much easier than we thought. Where ever you are you can see the pantheon it stands as a reminder of the many times it has been attacked and stood firm.
We found our way back to where we could recognise where we were and found our way home.. by the time Col came out of the shower I was doing as the Greeks do having a nanny nap, snoring away apparently, I honestly don't know what he's talking about girls don't snore do we?..
I was knackered, I think my cold has taken more out of me than I like to think over the last couple of days, it is feeling better I can breath again At least.. Showered dressed and out for tea to my new favourite place called smile, I think we will come here every night for tea they make the most amazing pizza's. col is in heaven...
tomorrow we are off island hopping we look forward to that... catch you all on the flip side...
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Nancy Elliss
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Wow Janine, sounds like a dream. I bet you are still pinching yourself. I will, for the time being, like my life vicariously through you and your travels. It's the best I can do for now. Thanks for sharing xx