It was a bit sad to leave the beautiful island of Mykonos (as well as our traveling companions Stephen and Jim who are returning soon to Canada.) The plane left on schedule, though, and transported us to the Athens airport where we caught a bus into the center of the city. A short walk down the Ermou pedestrian street brought us to the business location of our Athens host. His assistant escorted us to the studio apartment we are renting for a few days. It's a large, high-ceilinged room outfitted in Ikea furnishings and fun artwork. The large windows provide a view of Ermou Street, three stories below. We were delighted to have a washing machine to use, though Leroy was terrified he would drop the clean clothes as he pinned them on the drying rack suspended over an air shaft (no apparent way to retrieve them if they fall!)After getting settled, we wandered down Ermou Street without a map in what we thought was the general direction of the Acropolis. Turns out we were a bit disoriented, but that allowed us to see more of the city! Eventually we got on track and saw the stone columns of the Acropolis looming above us. It was too late in the afternoon to buy tickets, so we just walked around and gaped at the impressive monuments from a distance.
Very close to the Acropolis is an outcropping of rock that provides a panoramic view of the city of Athens. It's the location associated with the Apostle Paul's sermon on Mars Hill. It is also known as the "Aeraopagus" where trials were held and people gathered to hear visitors (like Paul) sharing new ideas. As we crested the hill, we heard the words of Acts 17 ("Men of Athens, I see that you are in every way very religious...") A preacher with a British (Australian?) accent was delivering a sermon to a group of tourists likely on a "Footsteps of Paul" journey. We sat and listened for a while while taking in the amazing view and snapping photos.
We explored the historic streets of the neighborhood known as the "Plaka" and found a long walking street lined with souvenir shops (considerably less expensive that those on the Greek Islands.) As we approached a square dominiated by an Eastern Orthodox cathedral, we heard loud music and saw that a large crowd had gathered. Greek flags were everywhere, and most of the people in the square were wearing black shirts with lettering that we could not read. New groups carrying flags and marching from other directions joined the crowd. It was obviously a protest of some kind. With the economic crisis and attending political turmoil in Greece, protests are a common occurence. It looked pretty peaceful to me, but Leroy was sure we'd get hurt if we stayed so he dragged me down the street while I took photos.
In the evening, we found a beautiful, sloping plaza beneath the Acropolis where artists sold paintings and jewelry. Nearby we located Kuzina Restaurant and were able to secure a table on the roof with a stunning view of the Acropolis. We enjoyed gourmet rooftop food at bargain basement prices due to the unfortunate economic situation in Greece. As the night grew dark, the Acropolis and the nearby Temple of Theseus were lit up and provided a romantic backdrop for dinner.There is much to see and do in Athens, and today we will return to the Acropolis and visit the Parthenon!
