Athens

We disembarked at 8:30am in Athens to meet a car and driver we hired for the day. “Bill” met us at 9:00 and took us right to the Acropolis. We toured both the museum and the Acropolis grounds including the Parthenon.  It’s a little bit of an uphill hike to the Parthenon … we got our exercise in today. The 360° views were worth it. 

This whole trip was really planned around visiting Athens. In addition to it being someplace none of us have ever been, was high on everyone’s bucket list and something that Mary Lou definitely wanted to see. 

After touring the Acropolis we headed to have lunch and do some shopping. 

Marylou had a Greek salad. 

Jim had moussaka. 

Kristi had kabob. 

After we had lunch, we did a little shopping in Monastiraki Square flea market, and then we took a drive over to the Greek parliament building where we got to see the changing of the guard at their tomb of the unknown soldier. 

But on the way we had a coffee and sweet treat …

We were back on board by 4:00pm for a 5:00 departure.  We all crashed for a while until it was time for the evening show and then dinner. 

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Keys facts courtesy of ChatGPT:

The Acropolis and the Parthenon are closely connected but distinct entities:

The Acropolis

• The Acropolis is a large rocky hill that rises about 150 meters (490 feet) above the city of Athens, Greece. The word “acropolis” comes from the Greek words akron (highest point) and polis (city), meaning “high city.”

• It served as a fortress, religious center, and cultural hub throughout ancient Greek history.

• The Acropolis is home to several important ancient structures, including:

• The Parthenon

• The Erechtheion

• The Temple of Athena Nike

• The Propylaea (the monumental gateway to the Acropolis)

The Parthenon

• The Parthenon is the most famous building on the Acropolis. It was a temple dedicated to Athena, the patron goddess of Athens, built between 447 and 432 BCE during the height of the Athenian Empire.

• Architectural Style: It is a Doric temple, known for its majestic columns and perfect proportions.

• Purpose: Originally, the Parthenon housed a massive statue of Athena Parthenos (Athena the Virgin), crafted by the sculptor Phidias. It also served as a treasury.

• Over time, the Parthenon was repurposed as a church, a mosque, and even a gunpowder storage facility, which led to significant damage during the 17th century.

Key Difference

• The Acropolis is the entire hill and complex of structures, while the Parthenon is one specific building on it.

Both are iconic symbols of ancient Greek civilization, representing its achievements in art, architecture, and democracy.