- First ever long haul flight for Julie, and first one I’d done for ten years. So that was a ‘novelty’. We got to our hotel in Athens about 15:00 local time. It was on Mitropoleos square opposite the cathedral. One of the attractions was a rooftop terrace with uninterrupted views of the Acropolis. We’d both seen so many images of the Acropolis in our lifetimes. Our first reaction was ‘it’s really looks like that’.
- Did the classic Athens World Heritage wander on our first full day. Walked up to the Acropolis from the north side and looked down on the Theatre of Herodicus Atticus. Then walked through the Propylaea (monumental gateway) and around the Parthenon, and the Erecthion with its porch of Caryatids (sculpted female figures). Then headed around the south side of the Acropolis to the Theatre of Dionysos. Powered on past the Monument of Lysicrates and on to the Agora (central public space), finishing up at the Kerameikos (ancient cemetery). We found it exhilarating.
- Spent much of the next day at the National Archaeological Museum. Thought we’d school ourselves in Greek history before setting off. Visited Hadrian’s Arch, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Olympic Stadium in the late afternoon.
- It’s fair to say we hit the ground running on this trip.
