Athens
	August 14-15
The first thing we noticed when arriving in Athens was not that we didn't understand the words, we didn't understand the letter.  Even a rudimentary knowledge of the Greek letter from Fraternity and Sorority stuff didn't help much.  (Neither of us was Greek in college anyway.)
Hotel balcony signage	It's Greek to me.  Can you figure it out?	But other signs we could fully understand
We began Steve's Birthday by touring the Acropolis complex, of which the Parthenon is the most famous building.
Acropolis	The Crowd at the Acropolis
Even though we got there early (about 930), the crowds were huge, although the line at the ticket booth was not long.  Lots of tour groups.
Sometimes we felt like this as well.	Dionysus Theatre at Acropolis	Another "Honorary Inscription" What kind of honor is this?
There were two theatres there, but unfortunately the signage didn't clearly state the name of the second, reconstructed and operating theatre.
Called an "Honorary Inscription"	Pillars of Four Ladies	The Actual Ladies are inside the museum to preserve them
Greece's Endangered Species - Greenery and Shade	Athens' only green spot	Even the bathrooms at the hotel was mostly marble
Pillar with Centaur at top	Parthenon (which is atop of Acropolis hill)	Lykavittos Hill in the background - taken atop the Acropolis
Parthenon from a government building on another hill	Our Shadows in Sygmagna Square	This Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guard impressively remained like this the entire time we were there (about 10 minutes)
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier	Mike puts his arm around the Guard	Fancy Shoes and Tassels
The New Guards March In	Switching Positions	The Previous Guards March Out
The ceremony that they use to change the guards is very elaborate.  As soon as the videos are cut down to a reasonable size, they'll be posted here.  You just can't describe it well enough in words.
Temple of Olympian Zeus as seen from the Acropolis	Olympian Zeus from the ground (note Steve in the foreground to show scale)	A fallen pillar
Olympian Zeus	Steve and the London Financial Times reading Bull	Bull and Traditional Greek Dancer
Steve atop Lykavittos Hill	Pakistani Protest Riders	Pakistani Protest Walkers