Time for the final few days in Athens having got back from Hydra yesterday. Today we have a jam packed day visiting all the main tourist sites. We head into town after breakfast, getting off at Syntagma Square to see the Greek Parliament. Luckily there aren't any big protests going on today as this is where they usually take place.
We then wander through the gardens between the Parliament and the Prime
Ministers house and see our first main attraction of the the day... The "Goat Pit" as described by Yiannis. Apparently this is where he used to meet girls back in the day. Someone "let's meet up at the goat pit" doesn't sound that romantic.
The aforementioned Goat Pit...
We are not quite sure what is going on outside the Prime Ministers residence but the national guard are out in force and lined up in their amazing national dress outside. We quickly get ushered along though by a lot of plain clothed policeman.
The national guard in all their splendor.
Crazy changing of the guard walking...
Next stop was the highly impressive original Olympic stadium. The last time we were here was to watch the end of the women's marathon back in the 2004 Athens Olympics. This was the one where Paula had a little road side 'incident' and then dropped out.
Not much of a crowd today.
The mothers in the Royal box giving a royal wave.
This time we were actually able to do the full stadium tour which was fantastic. The highlight for me was a room underneath the stand that had the Olympic poster and torch from every Olympic games. There were some fantastic ones here.
We remember this one well...
And this...
Love the London 1948 one.
And the Mexico was a particular fave... Despite sending the eyes a bit funny.
After the Olympic stadium we walked down to the Acropolis to attempt to see the Parthenon again.
The view of the amphitheatre on the way up.
We manage to get in this time and explore this marvelous ruins. It really is a sight to behold, especially when you contemplate just how old it is. It was built between 447 and 438 BC.
There is a lot of reconstruction going on however as they try to preserve and maintain it.
Me in my yellow shorts for a change (I forgot to pack any more pairs so have had to live in these all week!)
Parthenon selfie.
Great views down towards Plaka and Monastiraki.
Great shot of the Olympic stadium in the background with the Temple of Zeuss in front of it.
The fantastic new Acropolos museum which is a work of art in itself.
In typical Athens fashion, whenever they dig up anything to build something new, ancient remains appear which they then have to protect. Therefor the floor underneath the museum is full of ancient remains with a nice glass floor over it so you can walk over the top of it for a better look.
We stop for a spot of lunch in the lovey Acropolis Museum restaurant underneath the Acropolis itself.
After lunch we head into the museum. It is such a cool museum. On the top floor they have built a replica of the outside of the top of the Parthenon and are using this to house the actual remains they find (minus the Elgin marbles of course, most of which are still in the British Museum). They do a great job of showing you what it would have looked like. Very impressive, especially the west and east master pieces that sat underneath the apex on each end.
A replica of what it should have looked like.
After this, everyone else headed back home but me and Nat stayed out for a few more drinks in the glorious sunshine around Plaka. We had a nice one on a roof top looking up towards the Acropolis and then went to one called Off White which had jazz playing. We then head to the very cool Booze Cooperativa (aka the chicken bar) and discover a great little area around this bar.
That evening we head to dinner in Kifissia which is like the Chelsea of Athens. We eat in a restaurant called Barque which was really good and had a fantastic big table for us all to sit at in the middle of the bar.
After a lot of great food and wine (that included me and Pete polishing off a quarter of cow between us) we head for some more drinks in a lively bar across the road. It's 3am before we know it so we call it a night. A great end to a truly fantastic holiday.
On the final day, as our flight isn't until the evening we head back into Plaka for a wander around and a bite to eat. After that it was back to the house to pick up our cases and sadly leave for the airport.
It really has been a great trip and we are all very sad to say our goodbyes. The Y'ster, Eric and Peggy have done us proud and given us a brilliant time. Can't wait to get the next trip in the diary!
Aaron- thank you for capturing the final leg of our Big Fat Greek Easter in such a fabulous way! I loved re-living our sprint through the splendour of Athens with you, and your photos are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThe Prine Minister's residence was buzzing on that day- we were so lucky to see dozens of the National Guard in their rich costumes. lining the grounds, and there was a frisson of excitement in the air as we watched the two sentries changing positions, marching in their Greek high-stepping fashion, attired in white tights and short skirts. The secret service guys, although plain- clothed, stood out like a sore thumb, and I was absolutely thrilled to be moved on by one tall, dark, sultry young man, in black leather and sunglasses!! Think someone important was about to visit.....
Second time lucky, for our visit to the Acropolis, and we all climbed right to the summit, in bright sunshine, braving the worn, slippery stone steps. Grace was particularly brave, as she had fractured a small bone in her foot days before our trip, and found the climb painful. Your gorgeous photos both of the majestic Acropolis, the stylish Parthenon and the sprawling, beauty of the white, sprawling metropolis of Athens beneath us reveal why Grace was so determined!!
We gazed down at the Stadium, where, an hour earlier we had wandered in the sun, with our headsets, and re-lived Olympic history, and the amphitheatre of Herodus Atticus, white stone tiers moulded into the mount. You captured the sense of wonderment we felt exploring precious monuments built thousands of years ago, and its majesty.
The museum was a glass, stylish work of art, displaying and preserving five of the six Karyatides, and all the myriad of gorgeous statues and embellishments lovingly taken from the Acropolis to preserve for posterity.
The meal we shared on the platform, under the Parthenon, was so special. We had enjoyed a momentous day together, in Athens, and had the sights and sounds still with us. There was, however, a sense of sadness...our special Athenian Easter was drawing to a close.
The last day in Monistiraki and Plaka, exploring the quaint shops, bars and restaurants was relaxed and happy, but, all too soon, the gate that had been flung open on the first day to fill the garden with laughter and chatter, was closed , and cases loaded into cars.
Aaron, Natty, Peter, Selena, Grace, Jan and Rich...can't tell you how much you enriched our Greek Easter 2015...we missed you terribly on our last night and day. Peggy, Iakavos, Theano, Katerina, Tony, Poppy, Marina and family.....a huge thank you for your loving and generous hospitality....I echo Aaron's final sentence of his special blog....let's do it AGAIN!! Greece is good :) xxx