Our day in Athens... for some reason, I heard from several sources that Athens was boring, dirty and congested, and that it really wasn't worth a visit of more than 1 or 2 days. We actually found it to be quite the contrary. It was pretty tough packing in all of the sites into a single day. Instead of finding it boring and dirty, the skies were blue, the birds were chirping, and the air was perfumed by the fragrance of orange blossoms! We found several cool neighborhoods and districts that were quaint and festive, and everywhere we turned, we saw ancient ruins. What's not to like? It's the Parthenon!
And the Theatre of Dionysus...
And this ancient temple, held up by the Caryatids, these lovely women with the roof on their heads, a sacred place of worship to Athena and Poseidon...
And the Ancient Agora, where Socrates drank his hemlock, and St. Peter witnessed to the Greeks, and the idea of democracy was debated and founded...
All that in one morning... time for lunch at a cafe in Syntagma Square, and a moment to figure out what's next!
Just in time for the changing of the guards in front of Parliament!
Emily and I with the Greek guard, trying to look just as stern.
Then on to the National Archeological Museum, which we pose in front of... this picture was funnier when we were actually taking it... it's hard to see the statues that we're imitating in the background. But they're there! Really!
Ancient figurines made out of bronze...
Marble Statue of Aprhodite swatting away an amorous Pan with her sandal.
Another loukomades run, this time at Krina's, a cafe which supposedly sets the standard for all loukamades... check out the giant honey stick! Delicious! Light, crispy and airy, with a slightly doughy center.
Roaming through Omonia Square, we stumble upon the Central market, which is a giant meat market, in every sense of the phrase.
But they also sell some beautiful produce... Greek olives really are to die for.
Jack and I headed out for a pre-dinner drink at a cafe near our hotel, as Jay and Emily took their siesta.
For dinner, we headed to the Gazi district, still somewhat of a transitional neighborhood, but with some cool new restaurants, bars and galleries filling in the holes. A fabulous dinner at Mamacas, sitting on this beautiful patio beneath the flickering lights.
And enjoying some last moments together before catching a taxi back to our hotel.
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