Athena's Acropolis.

Upon finally leaving the small area of town where our hostel is located, I have since enjoyed my time in Athens much more and this city is definitely growing on me. Yesterday we booked our ferry for the island of Santorini, and we'll leave bright and early tomorrow morning (7:20 departure time). Yesterday we visited the Acropolis, along with a few museums. The Acropolis was incredible, and it is amazing the Partheon is still so intact despite numerous attacks and pillages, and being used as a pagan church, christian church, and islamic mosque over the past 2,500 years. Many of the columns are still standing, and even part of the friezes.

The Acropolis can be seen from almost anywhere in Athens, and stands a top a large hill in basically the center of this massively sprawling city. It is still incredibly impressive to stand in the valley of the city, and look up and see the magnificent building(s) standing watch over it all. It's so impressive today -- I can't even imagine how much MORE impressive it must have been in the 5th c. BCE. (The pyramids still hold out in my book as the best thing I've ever seen though...) The new museum of the Acropolis was cool as well (and not only because it was air conditioned when the temperature was 40 degrees celcius -- or about 90F). Unlike many European museums that occupy the space of a once grand palace or villa or estate or government building (the Lourve, Versailles, Ufizzi, Borghese Gallery, etc) this museum was just built recently, is very modern, and I must say it was quite well designed (http://www.theacropolismuseum.gr/?pname=Home&la=2).

Today we visited many of the sights a ticket to the Acropolis will allow you entrance for free -- the Roman and Ancient Agoras, Karamikos (ancient cemetary), and the Temple of Olympian Zeus. We also did a little shopping, and enjoyed fabulous gyros with extra tzatiki sauce -- so tasty! Our lunch today was only 4 euro and fabulous! Where as yesterday we felt a little jipped, and ended up paying 35 euro for basically a few pieces of lamb and french fries (labeled on the menu as pitas with lamb, rice, carrots, tomatoes, and onions and potatoes). Oh well, that is traveling...

The ferry ride tomorrow will be long, but I am excited for the islands. Antio!

CM