Athens and environs, Page 1 ..
It would be difficult to spend even a few hours in Athens .. and not notice the main attraction.
The Parthenon stands atop the Acropolis, lighted like a beacon, visible from every rooftop garden restaurant within miles. This is the view from the roof our hotel, not one you're likely to ever forget.
It has a price.
You have to go to Athens to see it. Remember the Poseidon Hotel on Mykonos?
Well, this is the Attolos, nestled between two hardware stores, on Athinas Street, in Athens.
This is true cultural shock.
Yesterday, Poseidon and the blue Aegean Sea .. today, Attalos and the local version of 'Home Depot.'
Not to worry. The Attalos is pretty much 'as advertised,' that is, clean as a pin, with full bath. It has TV and a phone, although it's pulse and I can't use it to connect to my Greek internet service provider .. and it's just $48 a night. Which means we're saving about $100 a day, not staying at the Hilton, money to spend seeing the sights. This is a big, bustling city, in a beautiful part of Greece, it's too early for the air pollution to be really bad, and the shock is wearing off, and we're getting used to the exhaust fumes, the roar of the moped and the shouts of the taxi drivers ..
Meanwhile, here's what we've been up to. Ramona:
Our last trip to Athens was 12 years ago. Some things are different. Cell phones are everywhere, much more in evidence than in the United States. An amazing number of women of all ages have dyed their hair red. Awful! There are signs everywhere of Athens’ fevered attempt to have the city in top shape for the Olympics, to be held here in 2004. Buildings are being cleaned. Construction is stepped up.
But, on that hill high above the city, still stands the magnificent Parthenon. Timeless. Unique. From the roof-top garden of our hotel, it presents a spectacular sight.
We visited the National Archaeological Museum, one of my favorites in all the world. I loved seeing favorite pieces again.
The bronze busts, created by artists before the time of Christ, are striking in the lifelike and individual features they depict.
The philosopher ..
The pugilist ..
And my favorite, The Man From Delos.
The Little Jockey ..
And one we like especially, Aphrodite, Pan and Eros. Aphrodite is threatening Pan with her sandal for watching her bathe, and Eros is trying to placate her.
The tombstones, called stelae, bore the likeness of the deceased, and often also of those who mourned, even beloved dogs or cats, saying goodbye.
Finally, the delightful little boy with his goose ..