Saturday we set off for downtown Athens to tour the Acropolis. Don set the GPS and away we went, we considered riding the bus and Metro but it meant two bus changes and a metro change. So we opted for the car ride. We were so lucky, Don found a parking spot at the base just below where you buy your entrance tickets. We got out and headed right to buy our tickets, at the ticket office the gentleman smiled and said no fee today,"free because of Easter Holiday." We saved 36 Euro....we really felt blessed. The view of the Parthenon was stunning. I have seen many picutes of it in my lifetime but of course nothing is like seeing it for real. There is a short hike up to the top and you pass lots of parts of various temples and rubble, being catalogued for future use. There were not huge crowds with it being the Easter weekend, the Greeks really stay home and celebrate with their families. In 1456 the Turks arrived and converted the Parthenon into a mosque and added a minaret. The Turks had no respect for the ancient history. They tore lead clamps out of the walls to make bullets. I'm not going to try tell you all the history of the Parthenon, but it was considered the finest temple in the ancient world. The Parthenon is in the condition it is in, not so much from time, but from war. In 1687 the Venetian Army bombed Athens and laid seige to the Acropolis and a bomb struck the Parthenon blowing out the center. The Venetians considered it a lucky hit of mortar fire that ripped the center out of the Parthenon and wiped out the Turkish defenders. In 1801 Lord Elgin carted off pieces to London, and they are displayed as the 'Elgin Marbles." Athens has requested their return but hasn't had much luck in getting them returned. So now you know alittle bit about the history. But what you should know is that it truly is worth a visit. Just not in the summer time when it would be really hot. It was a perfect day when we were there.Afterwards we had a great lunch, right accross from the entrance gate with a great view of the whole Acropolis hill.
Cheryl & Geralynn enjoy the view, with Rick Steeves in hand.
Cheryl in front of the Parthenon
The view below is what we could see from a hill accross from the Acropolis.
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