Greece Day 1, Athens - Acropolis Area

Greece - Athens & Patras Trip Index

Day 1: Athens - Acropolis Area
Day 1: Athens - Agora Area
Day 2: Athens - Kerameikos
Day 2: Athens - National Archaeological Museum
Day 2: Athens - Temple of Olympian Zeus & Nightfall
Day 3: Athens to Patras & around Patras
Day 4 to 6: Patras - Around & St. Andrews Basilica
Day 7 to 8: Athens & Home - Lycabettus Hill

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I embarked for a trip to Greece about a fortnight ago to attend the 19th IEEE International Conference on Tools with Artificial Intelligence (ICTAI '07) to be held in Patras, Greece. Ironically I have just been to Turkey a few months ago. I guess this trip completes my coverage of south eastern Europe. At first I was rather worried about getting around but surprisingly, Athens turned out to be a great place to visit on my own.

Boarding my flight at 1:00am in the morning, off I was to Athen International Airport. It has been a long time since I flown SIA, and it is really great. As far as I can remember, somehow the food seems to have gotten better.

Flight food is great! Wine is Great!

26 Oct 2007

I finally arrived at Athens at about almost 7am in the morning. Quickly I collected my bags and went to look for the bus to get to my hotel. They have an interesting way of handling bus tickets here. You get your ticket from a booth. Then the ticket has to be validated on a machine in the bus when you board. It says that you will be fined if you do not do so. However I have never seen anyone conducting checks. Off I was on the bus to Syntagma Square.

A church. I still think circles are better than triangles.


Get your Chakra here!

Upon reaching my hotel in the Plaka district of Athens, that is supposed to be the ancient part of the city, I was early. Hence I decided to take a look around before checking in. Now I planned to visit the Acropolis the next day but I had accidentally stumbled into the Southern Slope of the Acropolis after paying 12 Euros for a ticket to 5 places. I learnt later from a friend that it was free for students! Oh well, I guess I have done my part in preserving the relics of the world. So here I was staring at the ancient Theatre of Dionysus at the Southern Slope of the Acropolis without any water.

Some chairs at the Theatre of Dionysus


It is a small place.


Walls of the Acropolis from the Southern Slope


Retaining wall for the Theatre of Dionysus


Greek writing on stone. Isn't it nice to be able to read something written a few thousand years ago?


Odeon of Herodes Atticus, shows are still performed here today.

After looking at the sites in the southern slope I was the least bit impressed since I had rather high expectations after visiting other ancient sites like Ephesus (see it here) in Turkey. Next, I proceeded up the path towards the entrance of the Acropolis itself.

Beule Gate, named after a french man that found it.


The majestic entrance to the Acropolis -- Propylaia. What a crowded day!


View of Athens and the Ancient Agora (city center)


Most of the marble here is off limits to touch. Officers like this lady ensure that everyone keeps off the marble except themselves.


The pillars are big but they lack patterns.


The base of one of those huge pillars.


The pillars look corroded. Apparently acid rain here is a problem.


Walking through the Propylaia.


Odeon of Herodes Atticus from the top.


Athens and Filopappou hill on the right. The monument on the hill was built to commemorate a large donation by a Roman in ancient times. This is where the word Philanthropist comes from.


The small Theatre of Dionysus


Write-up of the Parthenon


The Parthenon, built in around 440BC. The columns are supposed to be specially shaped to give the impression that they are straight.


Top of those pillars.


Massive restoration works taking place.


Originally the Parthenon had a wooden roof. Now only the marble is left.


Close-up of a corner of the front arch.


Marble. Many of the artefacts in this site are in the Acropolis Museum which is currently closed for relocation. And of course many of them are in the British Museum as well and they refuse to return them to the Greeks.


Rear Arch of Parthenon (left to right) part A


Rear Arch of Parthenon part B


Rear Arch of Parthenon part C


Rear Arch of the Parthenon part D


Rear Arch of the Parthenon part E (would someone be so kind as to join them up for me? =D)


Series of columns. Note the part where the columns have fallen.

The most anachronistic item found here. A cannon complete with a cannon ball. A few hundred years ago when the Ottomans took over this place, they stored their gunpowder in the Parthenon (why they did it when it has no roof is puzzling). During a war, the Venetians (Italians from the Republic of Venice) opened fire on it and the gunpowder exploded. This blew out some of the columns that were fallen till this day. Or so I over-heard from some tour group's guide.

Rear of the Parthenon


The Parthenon and the Erechtheion on the right


Write-up of Erechtheion



Erechtheion and Porch of Caryatids, I heard that these were not really Greek women.


Statues of Women (Kores) used as pillars


The women statues


The Erechtheion, it has a strange design that is not symmetric. Probably because it is dedicated to a few gods and goddesses like Athena and Poseidon.


Top of a column of the Erechtheion


The other side of the Erechtheion


It is a long way down from this side of the Acropolis.


View of Athens and Lycabettus Hill in a distance where I will visit on my last day.


Write-up about restoring the Propylaia on my way out.




Out of the Propylaia, it is still so crowded.


View of bottom, the right is the rock where St Paul addressed the Athenians. I think there was a temple dedicated to an unknown god and St Paul came and told them who the unknown god is.


On my way out I discovered something! Ancient LEGO!


Back at the Southern Slope, the Acropolis on top.


Maple leaves. It is winter they say. But it still feels quite warm.


A horse-drawn cart.


Walking to the Odeon of Herodes Atticus


Odeon with the Parthenon in the background and Stoa of Eumenes at the right side


Stoa of Eumenes, where theatre-goers waited before entering the Odeon. More of the Odeon below.






Rock where St Paul addressed the Athenians


Climbing up the rock


The view of the Ancient Agora(city center) of Athens from the rock


Ancient Agora from the rock, the main feature is the Stoa of Attalos (built around 150BC, reconstructed in 1940s)



View of the Propylaia from the rock. It really must have been majestic.


The National Observatory (Dark Blue Roof) and Churches


Pharmacy


Back to my hotel for check-in.


My hotel for 2 nights.


Finally a bit of rest before my first Greek lunch.

Thus ends my first morning in Athens with lunch at place right next to my hotel. The first day has been more tiring than expected since originally I was supposed to visit these places tomorrow. Lunch was beef with potatoes and its great, wine is so common they use normal glasses. While enjoying lunch I decided to visit the Ancient Agora next.

Read all about the next post here.