Awash in Athens

actual events:  28 May, 2008

 

I am completely infatuated with Athens.  Today has been absolutely break-neck after last nights unintentional adventures (My directions to the hostel from the airport were inaccurate.  That caused much wandering and phone calling, but eventually and awkwardly I made it to my first night in a hostel).

 

Today I woke at the crack of 10 to begin my escapades.  I did further wandering until I made it into the heart of the city center, the Plaka.  And here's where navigation in Greece gets really easy.  All the buildings are 3-5 stories high, I mean all of them, but none of them are any higher (ok, some exceptions).  Point is, when you want to go to the Acropolis, you can see it from damn near any street corner.  And since it's just there, you just walk right up to it, which I did, by way of major thoroughfairs, side streets, back alleys, and I think at least one backyard.  But I got there, made the ascent, and didn't come down for almost 4 hours.

 

I loved it up on the Acropolis.  As a classics major, sure, it was a point of interest, but there was something more.  I just felt great being up there.  Clear air, lots of wind, and tons of sunshine.  Add in the free water and restrooms located on the summit (plus a touch of shade), and what reason did I have to leave?  I went tour-hopping, bouncing between French and English tours (the latter being much more informative for me) and catching a little something different each time.  These tourguides weren't following any formula, just talking about what they knew (or even just believed).  Fun.

 

the place is marvelous, and I could keep describing it, but you get the idea.  There's a plethora of photos you can look at on-line, and probably a virtual tour somewhere.  One thing I've found fun was the contrast between the British Museum and their Elgin Marbles exhibit, and the Acropolis guides.  Sure, they're on opposing sides of the argument, but I think it's clear that both has some good points, and some weak ones.  The Brits contend that if they hadn't "rescued" the classic pieces, they would have been destroyed by vandals.  They point to some examples where this did happen.  The Greek counter that the ones they saved are in just as good (or better) condition than the British marbles.  This is because the Brits recovered them in the 1800s, and used early archeaological techniques like bleach and wire brushes to clean/maintain them.  The Greeks didn't get started on preservation until the 1930s, and apparently primitive archaeology was worse for the marble than the intervening years in the elements.

 

Anyway, fun argument to hear (vehemently) from both sides, and a good case study in my "Everyone is always right with just the proper restriction of facts" theory.

 

With the Acropolis ticket you get free entry into other archaeology sites, so I had to take advantage of that.  Hadrian's Gate, Temple of Olympic Zeus, Roman Marketplace, Ancient Agora and The largely-complete Temple of Hephaistos (a personal favorite) followed.  And that was one long day.  I stopped off in the Plaka for a Gyro and to buy a hat.  Boy was I getting sunburned!  Also had to find some sunscreen.  The hat helped my face, but my arms were looking like Lobster claws.  Oh what a tourist I am.

 

That's all for now, more updates on the other days shortly.

 

Weber (on the Lamb)