Socrates: To Do Is to Be

The title is just a little food for thought as you peruse this week's posting, which relates to all things Athenian.

While we all enjoyed our trip to Athens, I think daddy enjoyed it the most. Athens exceeded his already high expectations.

There are prettier cities in Europe (although the city itself is set in a very pretty location), but none of them have the sites that Athens does, and none of them make you feel quite the way Athens does - like you can somehow still feel the influence of so many of the greatest thinkers, writers (playwrites) and religious figures of antiquity.

Day 1: Took the hotel's shuttle to the city center. Walked through the Plaka (the old quarter below the Acropolis - lots of narrow, winding streets with little shops and restaurants) to the Acropolis.

Climbed to the top of the Acropolis rock, stopping along the way to examine the theatres of Dionysus (where the first plays in history were first performed) and Herodes Atticus, and examined up close the most important monuments in the Western world, including the Parthenon, the Propylaia and the Temple of Athena Nike ("Victory").


(Maddie waiting for the Acropolis to open).

(Maddie wanted to go back to the entrace and do it all over again)

A funny Acropolis story: When we get to the top, the first thing Ally wants to do is take pictures. She says: "Why don't I take a picture of you and the girls in front of THAT." I respond: "By THAT, do you mean the Parthenon?"

After having all sorts of interesting adventures on top of Acropolis rock, we headed down the other side to the Agora (Athen's ancient marketplace), stopping along the way to examine the Areo-pagos rock, where Paul gave his famous "Men of Athens..." speech and where the first Athenians were converted to Christianity. Just below Areo-pagos and just before the Agora, we bought our first overpriced souvenir of the trip - a pink parasol that Maddie just couldn't live without.

As the Greek Orthodox Easter was celebrated during our visit to Athens, we spent the evening of Day 1 participating in a religious festivity where Athenians follow effigies of Christ on flower-covered biers in a candlelit procession through the city streets. It was a great experience, and the Orthodox church where the procession began was beautiful.

Day 2: Took a day cruise on the Aegean sea to visit three small islands. I think we all liked the island of Hydra the best (small, quaint, no cars and lots of good quality souvenir shops).

Day 3: Easter Sunday. Hiked to the top of Filopappou Hill to see the monument and the view over Athens. Toured the sites in the park that surrounds the hill, including Socrates' prision and the Pnyx (the location of Athens first democratic congress - also known as the birthplace of democracy).

Partook of the hotel's Easter buffet and sampled all the yummy Greek food. Spend the afternoon/evening in the hotel's rooftop pool, which has an amazing view of the city sites, including the Aegean sea and the Acropolis.

Day 4: Toured the Roman Forum (the ancient Roman marketplace, which replaced the Agora), including the Tower of the Winds and the Vespasianae (i.e. the ruins of a 68-seat public latrine - a must see for Ally, it was probably her favourite site in all of Athens). Ate lunch at McDonalds (have to do it at least once in every city we visit) and walked to Parliment to see the changing of the guard. Then, walked over to the Temple of Olympian Zeus and then returned to the Plaka for a little more shopping and dinner.

Conclusion: Athens was amazing - someplace everyone should visit at least once.