Athens - Acropolis and museum

We had an early start on Wednesday morning, with a 7am transfer to Dubrovnik airport by our hosts. The alternative was a long uphill walk with our bags to the bus station, for almost the same price. The flight was spectacular over the southern part of Croatia, Albania and perhaps parts of Montenegro - very dry (at this time of year) mountainous areas and also some vast irrigation schemes. We caught the train into Athens from the airport and then sorted out the metro line - with a long walk with our bags to the hotel. I went for a walk in the afternoon to the area around the National Archaeological Museum and after my reconnisance, we decided to have dinner at the hotel.

Thursday was a busy day, starting with the queue for tickets at the Acropolis and ending with a trip back to the Acropolis Museum. After entering the Acropolis site, we went up past the Theatre of Dionysis and around the southern road to the east and northern sides, past the Klepsydra water source and caves to the main gate. Our first surprise after passing through the Propylaea (or entry to the sanctuary of Olympia) was the Herodeon - a hugh amphitheatre that we weren't expecting. The Erechtheion was impressive but we later found out that the goddess statues on site were reproductions. We saw five of the originals in the museum that evening - with one in the British National Museum. The area of ruins in front of the Erechtheion was the Temple of Athena Nike. The Parthenon opposite speaks for itself! After a KFC lunch, we returned to our hotel for the kids and I to have a swim - then caught the metro back into town again to the Acropolis Museum.

We were impressed with the Acropolis Museum, which has been open for about 6 years. It is built over excavations, which are visible through big glass floor panels. Many of the original items from the Acropolis area, including most of the Caryatids from the Erechtheion are in the museum - the ones on the hill are reproductions and one is in a London museum. There is also a full sized reconstruction of the frieze from around the top of the Parthenon, with original pieces distributed through the reconstruction. We had dinner on the rooftop terrace and returned by metro to our hotel.

Theatre of Dionysus

Theatre of Dionysus

Herodeon

Climb from the Herodeon to Propylaea on a hot day

Sophie at the Propylaea

Nike temple ruins in front of the Erechitheion

Sophie and Will at the Parthenon

John and I at the Parthenon

Views from the Acropolis to Filopappou Monument

View of Hadrians Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus from the Acropolis

Views of the Roman Agora (Market)

Overlooking Athens and the Temple of Hephaistos

The Parthenon from the front

The Parthenon

Remains of the Erechtheion

Sophie at the Parthenon

Will creates a slide on Mars Hill

Sophie and the Acropolis

Tower of the Winds and Roman Agora

Paying a busker who then played Zorba the Greek

Outside the Greek Orthodox Mitropolis Cathedral

Hellenic Parliament

Novotel rooftop pool with views to the Acropolis

History celebrated with displays in the metro station

Caryatids in the Acropolis Museum

Not only earthenware but a serious number of statues

Recreated sections from the Parthenon

Recreated sections of the frieze on top of the Parthenon

Nice venue for dinner -seafood pasta!

Local bakery for baklava and other honey sweets