the rest of my trip to greece

Thursday, September 13: Rather than reblogging the rest of my posts about Greece, here are the links to all of them.

a close encounter of the bizarro kind {or not really an encounter at all….}

argolis tour. {stop #1: the corinth canal}

ancient mycenae

a short stop in the quaint town of nafplio

epidauros & last night in athens… 😦

travel theme: on display {national archeological museum in athens}

I’m really far behind on my blogging because of my travels and being back to work in Oman.  Sadly, some of us have to work for a living… 😦   I’m slowly catching up with all my favorite bloggers. I hope you’ll all be patient with me and stay tuned for my posts about my trip to Ethiopia….

I won’t be reblogging my posts on Ethiopia on this blog, but I would love to have you follow my first-ever adventures in Africa on african meanderings {& musings}.   Please join me in the Horn of Africa. 🙂

 

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a musical night out in Athens! 🙂

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back to Athens after leaving the islands…

greek wanderings

Saturday, September 9:  After checking back in to the Acropolis View Hotel, I venture again out into the heat of Athens to explore the rest of the historical route.  After having an iced coffee at an appealing little cafe along the road,  I go by metro to Syntagma Square, where I see the funny guards at the Parliament.

Greece’s Parliament was built between 1836 and 1842, after being designed by a Bavarian architect.  Originally it was the royal palace, and from its balcony the constitution (syntagma) was declared on September 3, 1843.  In 1935 the palace became the seat of the Greek parliament.  When the monarchy was abolished in 1974, the royal family moved to a new palace, renamed the presidential palace.

The war memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, sits in front of the Parliament, and is guarded by the city’s presidential guards…

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A long and lurching ferry ride in angry seas!

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Saturday, September 8:  I reluctantly head to the new port in Santorini, where I turn in my rental car and climb the ramp of this ferry, thinking it is the SuperJet Sea Jets ferry to Piraeus.  However, I’m turned away on the ramp when I show my ticket.  I’m told to join the hordes of people lined up inside a l0w-slung building at the opposite end of the port. This ferry, shown in the picture below, is similar to the one I took from Crete to Santorini.  It is apparently the SLOW ferry.  I’m to take the FAST ferry tonight.   FAST being 5 hours from Santorini to Piraeus.

At about 6:30 p.m., the SuperJets ferry comes speeding into the dock like Superman on steroids. Within moments of its arrival, hundreds of us are lined up and boarding, tossing our suitcases into the hold and taking our seats. It has…

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my last visit to ancient places in Athens….

greek wanderings

Sunday, September 2:  After my lunch and making my way through the markets, I head to Kerameikos, the potters’ quarter of the city, from which the English word “ceramic” is derived.  This was also the site of an important cemetery from the 12th century BC to Roman times, as well as numerous funerary sculptures erected along the road out of the city towards Eleusis.

It is quite a long walk in the sun along a pedestrian walkway, and I am struck by all the graffiti on the walls along the path (See my earlier post: graffiti in athens: youth crying out to be heard in the midst of economic crisis?).  When I go inside, I am happy to escape into the air-conditioned Kerameikos Museum, a small neoclassical building that houses an extensive collection of burial-related artifacts, varying from large-scale marble sculpture to funerary urns, jewelry, toys, etc…

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Modern and ancient markets in Athens…

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Sunday, September 2:  I start this morning by repacking my newly arrived bag, trying to squeeze in all the extra stuff I bought.  I have to check out of the Acropolis View Hotel because I’m flying to Crete this evening at 5:00, so I will leave my bag in the hotel all day as I explore more of Athens.   Because it’s so difficult to squeeze in all the new stuff, I take everything out and reorganize.  I decide then and there that I will go back to Ermou Street on my way to the Ancient Agora and return some of the stuff, if I can.  Of course I cannot read the receipts to find if the things are returnable, but I figure it’s on my way, so I’ll try.

Today I take the metro for the first time, so I can prepare myself for taking it later this afternoon…

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Street scenes of Athens and happy returns!

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Saturday, September 1:  I continue on the Athens Open Tour after I finish walking all around the Acropolis and its slopes.  We pass the Temple of Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, Parliament and the National Gardens, Syntagma Square, the Bernaki Museum, the Presidential Residence, the Panathenaic Stadium, the National Library, Omonia Square, the National Archeological Museum, and Karaiskaki Square. I’m intrigued by the street scenes I see along the way.  As we drive past all these places, I take pictures, not really knowing always what is what.  Here are a few scenes from the open air top of the bus.

Finally at Thession, I disembark so I can walk down the main central shopping street: Ermou.  I intend to buy some clothes just in case my suitcase doesn’t arrive, since I am leaving for Crete tomorrow.   I have continued to check my phone in case I’ve missed a call from Egypt…

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Strolling along the slopes of the Acropolis….

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Saturday, September 1:   I descend from the Acropolis and make my way along the circular path called the Peripatos that goes around its slopes and intersects the Panathenaic Way at the western approach.  These slopes were home to many sanctuaries that played important roles in the religious lives of the ancient Athenians.   It’s likely that most of the north slope was part of the sacred area at the foot of the Acropolis known as the Palargikon.

At this point in the day, it’s starting to get hot, and my clothes are starting to get quite soggy and smelly.  I have checked my phone all through the morning for word from Egypt Air, but not a soul has called.  I feel a little bedraggled and even a little defeated.

I head first to the north slope, which holds the more simple shrines, the ones that are sometimes called “rustic.” …

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My morning at the Acropolis….

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Saturday, September 1:  This morning I put on my same old clothes and head to the lobby, hoping to find some word of my bag.  Sadly, there has been no word at the front desk, nor has Egypt Air called me directly.  I eat breakfast, included in the price of my room,  in the lobby cafe.  They have quite a spread of hard-boiled eggs, toast, bread, cakes, cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, and olives, among other things.

I wander out in the street to make my way to the Acropolis, considered the most important ancient site in the Western world. The weather is beautiful, so cheery that it’s difficult to dwell on my worries.  As I’m walking down the street, I come across the bus stop for the Athens Open Tour,a hop-on, hop-off bus tour.  I know some people may think it’s hokey, but I like to take these open-air…

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My first Greek food in Athens… 🙂

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Friday, August31:  After enjoying my wine on the terrace of the Acropolis View Hotel, I wander a few blocks down the street to a place recommended by the hotel: The Acropolis Restaurant.  I go inside on the first floor and find I am the only patron in the restaurant.   I have heard the Greeks usually eat quite late, but as an American, I’m used to eating at an early hour.  It’s about 8:00.  For me that’s late, and I’m tired from my busy day of travel and my luggage debacle.

I have no idea what to sample, but I have two weeks ahead and should have ample time to try a wide variety of Greek foods.  I order another glass of wine and then order something called mussels saganaki, which is listed under “starters.”  I have no idea what I will get, as I’ve…

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