Wednesday 11^th August – Athens trip:  Messolonghi - Athens

37:58.120N 23:43.774E

We were up early and off to the bus station to catch the coach to Athens, a 3½ hour trip (in a nice air conditioned coach).  Once at the main bus station in Athens, we looked for a bus to take us into the centre.  We found it at the same bus stop where we normally get the bus out to the airport.

The bus dropped us at Omonia in the centre and we decided to take the Metro to our hotel near the Acropolis.  As we walked down the road to the Metro station I saw a temperature sign on the side of a shop and it showed the outside temperature at 42°C; getting into the relative cool of the Metro was a relief.  The Metro is very modern and clean.

We found our hotel easily, just a short distance from the station, and checked in, unpacked and basked in the air conditioning for a while. 

Athens:  Omonia district

Athens:  Metro

Then, it was time to go sight seeing.  We started off with a walk round the corner to the entrance of the Theatre of Dionysis just below the Acropolis and purchased the combination ticket that allows us entry into the Acropolis and the 6 other main archaeological sites ready for the morning.

Just across from the entrance was the New Acropolis Museum so we went over to have a look.  The whole of the surrounding area is built over ancient ruins and the museum has been constructed on columns above archaeological excavations.  Outside the museum, the excavations are visible with glass walkways and viewing areas.

Athens:  New Acropolis Museum

Temple of Olympian Zeus

We then headed off towards Syntagma (Constitution) Square to watch the changing of the guard at the Parliament building.  Realising how central we were, and with time in hand before the changing of the guard which happens every hour, we crossed the main road to Hadrian’s Gate and the Temple of Olympian Zeus (the Olypieion).  Just after we presented our ticket, we realised that we didn't have enough stubs on the tickets for all the sites.  After a slight delay, while they went through all their stubs to return the ones we had just handed in so that we could go back to the ticket office and sort it out, we were allowed in anyway.  So we went around the Temple of Zeus, an area the size of a football field with the remains of the temple at the centre, standing out rather impressively.  We then went back to the ticket office where the mistake was sorted out without any problem.

Athens:  Hadrian’s Gate and Temple of Olympian Zeus

Likavittos Hill

At this point we had just missed the changing of the guard, so we decided to head on to Likavittos, the highest hill in Athens, which offers good views over the city.  We caught the Metro part way and walked up the side streets towards the funicular railway which goes to the top, in places there were flights of steps between the roads.  As it turns out the funicular railway is quite short, going only the last part of the way.  We had walked up a parallel street to it from the Metro, past the side of the hospital, and when we cut across to it we found we were already above it.

Well, since we were virtually there, we decided not to climb back down, and we carried on up the path which wound its way up the last part of the hill – we must be mad.  Nevertheless, we had fabulous, if hazy, views from the top.  The Athens suburbs form a vast sprawl of low rise concrete buildings within the surrounding hills and down to the sea.

Athens:  Likavittos Hill and surrounding views

Syntagma Square

Afterwards, we climbed back down and caught the Metro back to the Parliament building at Syntagma just in time to see the changing of the guard at 7pm, third time lucky.  The guards are formed by the elite Evzones   who parade with their traditional outfit complete with pom-pom shoes.

Athens:  Evzones, Syntagma Square

We then headed back to the hotel to change for dinner as it was getting late.  We went to a restaurant in Plaka that I found in the Lonely Planet guide – it said it was a 'locals' no frills restaurant and to get there early before the locals and obviously we were a bit late.  Unfortunately the restaurant was full, not of locals however, but full of people just like us, clutching their various 'Guides'.  We waited for half an hour for a table and ended up eating what was left on the menu, really late.  Still, the food was very good and the restaurant was very friendly with good service.

We arrived back at the hotel at midnight, totally worn out after a very long day.

Athens:  Plaka at night

© Pyxis 2010