Ashore in Athens

Early Sunday morning (Mediterranean time), soon after docking in Piraeus,

 we took a bus tour to Athens that eventually led up to the Acropolis. 

I loved the drive through the city, going past the old Olympic Stadium, the

parliament building where we caught the changing of the guard - which was quite theatrical, 

the public library with it's beautiful columns and more churches.

Funny, how I always pictured the ancient ruins to be situated in a barren wilderness,

and here we took a cool walk through an area that resembled an olive grove.

We stopped at the wall of a theater.

Going up and turning on the path, saw it from the inside with 

new steps for seating on both sides.

We continued on up a cobbled path to the entrance of the Acropolis,

which holds several temples.

Our guide explained from how far away the marble had been brought and how it was erected and 

sculpted on site. The craftsmanship is beyond amazing!

Considered as the "cradle of Western civilization," Athens truly  features some treasured sites.

Pointing out historic places, such as Mars Hill, where the Apostle Paul addressed the Athenians,

made us feel like we were walking on precious history itself.

The Temple of Erectheion features statues of human figures as columns.

 Just to show we were here . . .

and because I happen to have good wifi at this moment.

The marble columned Parthenon has been the target of a lot of damage and theft,

but still standing and able to make one feel quite small.

The story behind this temple, how it lost it's roof  and more, is a lesson in history, Greek philosophy, democracy and conflicts over centuries by empires that came and went.

It was quite surreal to think that one city can hold 2500 plus years of this kind of history.

Truly a treasure site to behold!