Athens

We had to spend one night in Naxos before geting to Athens from Koufonissia and had a much nicer room in the same hotel. We headed to Pireaus (the port of Athens) the next day.

Athens. What is there left to be said, that hasn't been said in the last 3000 years – except that it’ll look great when they finish it. The place people come to see the monuments of a civilization but the ancient monuments appear to still be undergoing "renovation". Even the place across the road from our hotel, which is neither ancient nor a monument, appears to be in a state of either repair or demolition (bit hard to tell which). Yes the old Parthenon and the temple of what’s his name in the Agora is rather cool, but compared to the experience of Ephesus where you get to walk along the same roads, and into the same temples, libraries and houses as the original occupants, the monuments of Athens appear a little sterile with barriers, ropes and people with whistles stopping you from getting too close. Still, the museums were rather impressive, even without Lord Elgin’s booty.



Naxos on the returne journey


View from the room, over the Aegean Sea


Last view of the Islands from the ferry in Naxos. How about that for a sailing ship!


The not so salubriuos view from the balcony of our room in Athens! We suspect the white blobs on the walls are toilet paper "bombs" thrown by Liverpool FC supporters at last week's Champion's Cup final.


The restored stoa, part of the Acient Agora


Temple of the god of metal workers. Name ?? it was only today you would think we would remember!


Ben and another photo of a monument!


Acropolis at night from the terrace of the hotel


Parthenon at about 9:00am (note number of tourists)


Same shot, an hour later


The view of the ancient agora from the acropolis


Jessica after a hard day’s walk around the sites of Athens


Last dinner in Greece.