A day in Athens

As a result of ferry rescheduling, I had a twenty four hour layover in Athens. It seemed a pity to waste the day, and I had a tour guide to show me around. First thing was to get to the area where a lot of the historic buildings are. It’s on the metro, and I was soon on the train heading to a station called Monastiraki. This is the old metro service, I first used ages ago,  the small multi coloured trains thanks to the graffiti that often covers the windows as well as the body of the trains. Once at the destination I decided to buy the multi site ticket that allows entrance to many of the ancient  sites. First the Acropolis. It’s on a hill and I was soon heading upward with a throng of other visitors. You find yourself among humanity talking in many tongues, but one thing unites us all, smart phones in hand snapping millions and probably billions of photos every moment of the day. Once up on the top, there is more than one building to look at. It’s a marvel when you read the info boards and realise how long they have stood here. The first photo is the gate, the second two the Ancient Greek temple itself.

Before the main buildings there is a theatre to look at and thankfully it is still used for events. The seating has been replaced, but in a good way. It’s known as the Odeon of Herodes Atticus.

Next was Hadrian’s library, not far from the Acropolis.

Again not far was the Roman Agora of Athens 

There are plenty of other photos of these ancient buildings, but there is another site to the city. It’s nice just to wander around its streets and see what’s going on. There are countless cafes, restaurants, but also lots of other shops, many the sort of places, you don’t find in the UK anymore. Shops selling fabric, and all sorts of things, including this junk shop full to the gills!

I did exchange a few words with the proprietor, heaven knows how he extracts items if people actually buy something. Some of the streets have lovely marble surfaces, things being sold hanging on the outside of shops, it must take hours to set every thing up. 

Lining a lot of the streets are the famous orange trees, reputed to be only usable for making marmalade and the like. Scooters wizz around like insects and there is a gentle smell of petrol fumes. Occasionally bread or pastry shops emit a smell that encourages you to enter and buy a pastry or two. We miss that in the UK  where these shops are no more and we go in supermarkets with everything wrapped in plastic bags, so you can’t smell what you are about to buy. 

I did not go into this new and I believe controversial museum  as after nearly twelve kilometres ( by the time I got back to my hotel ) my legs were getting weary. There are lots of churches in the city, but I liked this little understated one.

I did go into gardens, which must be a relief for the city dwellers in the heat of summer, with the little streams running through parts of it. Out of all the ancient ruins, I liked the Arch of Hadrian best, but I could not tell you way. The way it frames some of the other ancient buildings maybe.

A last photo of one of Athens residents, in the midday sun. By Piraeus there a stray dogs, like homeless people looking for food to eat to sustain themselves. Which brings me to a point I keep forgetting to mention until now in these posts. If you want I can help arrange any donation to get to the people I know who run the Dog Palace and feed the stray cats on Serifos. No one is under any obligation, I know many people support charities at home already or can’t afford to do so. 

The Athenians are a fine bunch of people, they are friendly and put up with my efforts to speak their language with patience and reverence.