Day 126: Athens, Greece

It’s more than a perfect day. The sky is clear blue, the sun is shining pleasantly, the air is warm with a slight breeze and we are clamoring all over the ancient ruins scattered with overgrown grass and wild brilliantly red poppies streaking the landscape in fiery bursts. Even the air smells like summer. It feels like late May in Indiana today, characteristic for Greece but a nice reminder of the changing seasons we’re missing at home.

Poppies and the ruins

Through the columns

The ruins are scattered all around, by now so dilapidated and degraded it is difficult to have any clear idea of what once was here. It’s a shame really, to not be able to fully imagine the grandness of the ancient world, the beginnings of life so advanced and prosperous and organized. We would certainly be as surprised as the ancients if we could both meet in the other’s world. Just as they might marvel at our electronic gadgets, we would marvel at their ways of life which were probably far more advanced than we can rightly give them credit for.

Painting in the chapel

Nonetheless, it’s an incredible area to be in despite how little actually remains here. But admittedly, the Acropolis is rather depressing. The Parthenon has been in reconstruction since 1983 and today it stands rather sadly with more areas covered by scaffolding than not. In fact the smaller temple beside it is in much better repair and makes a rather interesting sight by comparison.

The Parthenon

Another view

With a full afternoon of sightseeing under our belts, we stopped in the market at a pita stand (so delicious! and the pork is almost always better than the chicken) where we met an old man who declared that he was very happy to meet us because he really likes Americans. Now that’s a first! Anyway, it actually felt like we where on a real vacation today!

Travel Tip:

Buy the 4 day ticket for 12 euros (6 euros for students) that lets you into the Ancient Agora, the Acropolis, the Theatre of Dionysus, Temple of Zeus and 2 or 3 other major sites of interest. But be sure to take sun screen and water, maybe some snacks too, when you go sightseeing because there are no vendors inside the sights. Sometimes there are men who carry a case of water and stand outside the exits to sell small bottles for 1 euro but it’s cheaper just to bring your own stuff. But there are some days (schedule seems to change) when admission is free. Woopie!