Hi everyone!
The last two days have been a lot of fun. We got into Athens early Monday morning and immediately went sightseeing. Athens and Greece in general is in the middle of a major economic crisis. 47% of the country is unemployed and the people are furious with their politicians. The tour guide took us on a bus tour of Athens and then we toured the Acropolis.
Most of the Acropolis structures were abandoned after the Trojan War, except for the Athens structure. Among the temples on the Acropolis, there is a temple dedicated to Nike, goddess of victory. There is actually a statue of her from the Acropolis in the Louvre that I saw last summer. The other major structure is the legendary Parthenon, which is under major reconstruction to preserve the area. I found the tour to be interesting and informative. The guide definitely gave me a taste of Greek culture and opinions. After the tour, we went for a walk in the old town of Athens, which is lovely. In the afternoon, we went back to the hotel and went for a swim on the beach. So great!
Today, our group went on a one-day cruise of the Greek Isles that are near Athens. We visited the islands of Hydra, Poros, and Aegina. Hydra was definitely my favorite. The island doesn't allow cars and the war there is gorgeous. Tara, Greg, and I went for a swim in the Mediterranean that was awesome! The water was almost crystal clear and so refreshing. The scenery was amazing and one of the best experiences of the trip. On the other islands, we had limited time and mostly walked around and talked to locals. Tara and I bought fruit from a very nice Greek woman. We are now covered in strawberries and cherries, which are in season in Greece.
All in all, a fabulous couple days! Tomorrow, we have the morning free in Athens. After that, on to Delphi!
Hydra
Tara, Greg and I
Poros
Aegina
Olympic Center-Athens
Parthenon
Until next time,
AL
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