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Athens |
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August 14-15 |
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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.) |
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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. |
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Acropolis |
The Crowd at the Acropolis |
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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. |
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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. |
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Called an "Honorary Inscription" |
Pillars of Four Ladies |
The Actual Ladies are inside the museum to preserve
them |
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Greece's Endangered Species - Greenery and Shade |
Athens' only green spot |
Even the bathrooms at the hotel was mostly marble |
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Pillar with Centaur at top |
Parthenon
(which is atop of Acropolis hill) |
Lykavittos Hill in the background - taken atop the
Acropolis |
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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) |
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Tomb of the Unknown Soldier |
Mike puts his arm around the Guard |
Fancy Shoes and Tassels |
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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. |
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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 |
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Olympian Zeus |
Steve and the London Financial Times reading Bull |
Bull and Traditional Greek Dancer |
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Steve atop Lykavittos Hill |
Pakistani Protest Riders |
Pakistani Protest Walkers |
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