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Have Camera, Will Travel
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Day 2, Panathenaic Stadium & the Acropolis.
The first full day of our trip in Athens was quite the full day! Breakfast was the same buffet we'd eaten at for our pre-days (although I appreciated it *much* more after all the drugs were out of my system!!) They had a really great selection of items (although they didn't change from day to day). We then headed out to our motorcoach to start our tour of Athens.
After driving a bit through a town dominated by the Acropolis
we arrived at the Panathenaic Stadium. This stadium was re-built in the mid-1800s on the site where the ancient Olympics were held. The first modern Olympics were held here in 1896. The entire stadium, except for the track, is made of marble. Seats, aisles, steps, walls, the whole shooting match! Very impressive!
Our incredible Guide Elena, telling us the history of the Stadium. The first of many, many stories! Elena is a story-teller par excellance!
(Click, it's a video!)
On non-Adults Only trips, the Junior Adventurers have a race at the Stadium. Since there were no Junior Adventurers, the Adults got to do it! Four of us decided to give it a go!
Action shot!
Unfortunately, Robin turned her foot right after this and went sprawling. So much for that race! But she was mostly OK, just kind of banged up her hip.
Underneath the Staduim, they have a museum dedicated to the torches from all the modern Olympics! It was really fascinating. I never realized that they were all so different!
After we finished at the Stadium, we returned to our motorcoach, and headed off to the centerpiece of Athens -- the Acropolis!
This is a theatre just outside the Acropolis that is partially restored (and actually used for performances)
Aereopagus Hill (or the Rock of Ares) in the center of the picture. This is said to be where the Apostle Paul preached to the Athenians. It was the site of a court in ancient times.
The Temple of Athena Nike, just outside the entrance to the Acropolis.
The Propylaia - the massive entrance to the Ancient Acropolis.
Wherever you notice really white marble, that's where they are restoring the structures. The marble will eventually age like the surrounding stone.
Looking back through the Propylaia towards Athens.
This is the first side you come up to of the Parthenon, which is currently undergoing re-construction. Part of what they are doing is taking the columns apart, which are held together by metal posts, which are rusting away, and replacing it with concrete. It's amazing what they've re-constructed here. Elena told us that at one point it was hit by a bomb! Also, a lot of the sculptures/friezes from the upper perimeter of the Parthenon are missing because they were taken by an Englishman named Elgin, and are now in the British Museum. England said they would return them, so the amazing Museum of the Acropolis was built to house them. Unfortunately, they are yet to be returned, so there are reproductions in the museum at the moment.
The remains of an ampitheatre below the Acropolis.
The Temple of Zeus from the Acropolis
The magnificent Parthenon from the other end.
A bit of sculpture that still survives.
The Erechtheion. The 6 statues holding up the porch roof are called the Karyatides. These are actually reproductions, as the originals are currently in the Museum of the Acropolis, being cleaned & restored.
Our other wonderful Guide, Landon.
This olive tree, on the far side of the Erecthion, is said to be the original olive tree planted by the goddess Athena!
Another view of the Parthenon.
The whole area was just so amazing and impressive. The sheer ancientness and size of the structures... Amazing!
Continued in the next post
The first full day of our trip in Athens was quite the full day! Breakfast was the same buffet we'd eaten at for our pre-days (although I appreciated it *much* more after all the drugs were out of my system!!) They had a really great selection of items (although they didn't change from day to day). We then headed out to our motorcoach to start our tour of Athens.
After driving a bit through a town dominated by the Acropolis
we arrived at the Panathenaic Stadium. This stadium was re-built in the mid-1800s on the site where the ancient Olympics were held. The first modern Olympics were held here in 1896. The entire stadium, except for the track, is made of marble. Seats, aisles, steps, walls, the whole shooting match! Very impressive!
Our incredible Guide Elena, telling us the history of the Stadium. The first of many, many stories! Elena is a story-teller par excellance!
(Click, it's a video!)
On non-Adults Only trips, the Junior Adventurers have a race at the Stadium. Since there were no Junior Adventurers, the Adults got to do it! Four of us decided to give it a go!
Action shot!
Unfortunately, Robin turned her foot right after this and went sprawling. So much for that race! But she was mostly OK, just kind of banged up her hip.
Underneath the Staduim, they have a museum dedicated to the torches from all the modern Olympics! It was really fascinating. I never realized that they were all so different!
After we finished at the Stadium, we returned to our motorcoach, and headed off to the centerpiece of Athens -- the Acropolis!
This is a theatre just outside the Acropolis that is partially restored (and actually used for performances)
Aereopagus Hill (or the Rock of Ares) in the center of the picture. This is said to be where the Apostle Paul preached to the Athenians. It was the site of a court in ancient times.
The Temple of Athena Nike, just outside the entrance to the Acropolis.
The Propylaia - the massive entrance to the Ancient Acropolis.
Wherever you notice really white marble, that's where they are restoring the structures. The marble will eventually age like the surrounding stone.
Looking back through the Propylaia towards Athens.
This is the first side you come up to of the Parthenon, which is currently undergoing re-construction. Part of what they are doing is taking the columns apart, which are held together by metal posts, which are rusting away, and replacing it with concrete. It's amazing what they've re-constructed here. Elena told us that at one point it was hit by a bomb! Also, a lot of the sculptures/friezes from the upper perimeter of the Parthenon are missing because they were taken by an Englishman named Elgin, and are now in the British Museum. England said they would return them, so the amazing Museum of the Acropolis was built to house them. Unfortunately, they are yet to be returned, so there are reproductions in the museum at the moment.
The remains of an ampitheatre below the Acropolis.
The Temple of Zeus from the Acropolis
The magnificent Parthenon from the other end.
A bit of sculpture that still survives.
The Erechtheion. The 6 statues holding up the porch roof are called the Karyatides. These are actually reproductions, as the originals are currently in the Museum of the Acropolis, being cleaned & restored.
Our other wonderful Guide, Landon.
This olive tree, on the far side of the Erecthion, is said to be the original olive tree planted by the goddess Athena!
Another view of the Parthenon.
The whole area was just so amazing and impressive. The sheer ancientness and size of the structures... Amazing!
Continued in the next post
Elgin basically stole them. But I suppose that happened a lot.
But wasn't the Acropolis Museum amazing?
Hopefully this weekend!
I've slated time this weekend to finish up Part 3, and start on the rest of it!
