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Athens
Temple of Olympian Zeus Saturday 2nd July, 2011
We didn't go out again and had an early night after our tiring last two days.
Sunday 3rd July, 2011
Had a really good night sleep and eventually stirred at 0945. Breakfast is part of the arrangement with this hotel and is served from 0700 to 1030. All the usual continental stuff.
We got ready to go out and left the hotel about 1120. Our objective was a few of the lesser sites that we had tickets for from yesterday.
There is a city sightseeing bus stop in the square the hotel is situated, and one was due shortly. So instead of the metro we elected to wait a short while for the bus - we still have a little while to go before the tickets run out - and that way we get to see some more of Athens. The bus came along and we plugged into the commentary again. Some of it we had heard already but so what. We had to change buses but we got off near our intended objective.
The first place was the Olympian Zeus, next to Hadrian's gate.
The temple is another large site
Athens
Temple of Olympian Zeus with the Acroplois in the background and with the Acropolis as always in the background is another wonder of history.
We came out and next on the list was the Agora, the other side of the Acropolis, so we headed for the Metro and made our way underground.
The Athens Metro is nothing like the size of the London underground and is very manageable. It is pretty clean and oddly displays lots of archaeological stuff all around the stations. Pat and I have both noticed that there are no kiosks or shops inside which we find surprising.
We arrived and took a little to find the direction to head in, but duly found what we were looking for the Agora - not to be confused with the Roman Agora and something else entirely.
So our entrance was free and another part of our ticket was taken from us. A large site that apparently was cleared of more modern houses at one time to allow for the excavations. The Stoa of Attalos and Agora museum is a large building that has been restored and holds various artifacts from the surrounding area.
Hadrian did a lot in Athens and his name features on
Athens
The Stoa at the Agora a number of buildings and features.
We wandered around the rest of the area, but to be truthful it was a very hot day and we were both beginning to flag a little. On the way in we had seen a number of cafes and decided it was time for a drink, some food and a sit down. Not necessarily in that order.
We sat at the Antica cafe and ordered Moussaka, Gyros plate, beer coke and water. The prices looked reasonable on the menu, so I thought that maybe the portions might be small, but when the meals arrived there was loads of chips and pork on my plate and Pat's was a good sized lump of moussaka. When finished we were both stuffed, I even left some chips and the bill was ₤26.90, so a pleasant surprise.
We talked about doing something else but we had had enough for the time being so headed back to the hotel on the Metro.
We arrived back at the hotel 4 o'clock ish.
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