Tuesday 8 November Athens
Packed in a few minutes except for clothes on hangers. Left the bags in room. At 9am we went up and the new room was ready. The lady came down with a trolley with rail and brought all the bags and clothes up. More champagne, Silver Cunard cards and a new pen waiting for us. We shot straight off for Athens.
A shuttle bus took us to the cruise terminal. 15 minute walk down to the station then 15 minutes by train to Monastiraki. We stepped out and stared straight at ruins.
The Acropolis towered over us and we wondered how to get up there. Wandered in that general direction, noticing the Roman Agora and the Ancient Agora at the base. It seemed like a long way up but wasn’t too hard.
Hadrian's Library
The Acropolis towered over us and we wondered how to get up there. Wandered in that general direction, noticing the Roman Agora and the Ancient Agora at the base. It seemed like a long way up but wasn’t too hard.
First we saw the Odeon of Herrod Atticus, a thoroughly restored theatre. The theatre of Dionysus was much bigger but little remained of the 17,000 seat auditorium. It was hardly worth the downhill walk to see it.
Odeon of Herrod Atticus
Parthenon
Back on top, the Parthenon dominated the hilltop. It was undergoing heavy maintenance, including replacing a lot of the huge slices of fluted columns. It had been almost destroyed during a war between the Venetians and the Turks but is still very beautiful.
On the other side, the famous statues of the women holding up the roof of the temple was disappointingly small. The original Caryatids have been stored in a museum and the temple is held up by copies. The building is a strange hodgepodge of different facets and wings but it looks good from down below.
Temple of Athena Nike - fully restored
Temple of Asclepion in pieces. What a giant jigsaw puzzle
On the other side, the famous statues of the women holding up the roof of the temple was disappointingly small. The original Caryatids have been stored in a museum and the temple is held up by copies. The building is a strange hodgepodge of different facets and wings but it looks good from down below.
Wandering down towards the Agoras, we had a look at the Theseion, much better preserved than the Parthenon but not as aesthetically pleasing. Seemed squat and stumpy.
Suddenly we were back the train station, where we bought return tickets, to the amazement of a pair of Canadians, who turned out to be on their way to catch Victoria. We took them along and helped them get tickets and find their way to the boat, which we reached at 3pm – just in time for lunch.
Suddenly we were back the train station, where we bought return tickets, to the amazement of a pair of Canadians, who turned out to be on their way to catch Victoria. We took them along and helped them get tickets and find their way to the boat, which we reached at 3pm – just in time for lunch.
We went to the gym for the voucher draw and I won again! $100 this time. Have booked massage for tomorrow since they refused to let us take it in cycling classes. Dinner was delayed because many passengers had been held up by air traffic control problems.
We had been placed at table 314 again, which meant we would be sharing with Vampirella from the cycle classes. Sure enough she was there with her 5’6” husband and another couple of Canadians. They had all come from Venice and were sailing on to Fort Lauderdale and New York respectively.
We had a cup of tea on our balcony before heading down for the first quiz. We came 2nd by a point with an English couple. Watched from our balcony as the boat sailed out of Piraeus and then back for the next quiz, which we won with the same couple and two of their friends.
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