Athens, Greece (May 2009)
Day 1:
This is actually Day 13 of my Turkey-Greece trip. I took a late morning flight back to Istanbul from Nevsehir Airport in Cappadocia. After a short wait in Istanbul I connected to another Turkish Airlines flight to Athens, where I would spend the next three nights. In-flight services were superb: They served a great snack even though this was only a 1.5 hr. flight.
Because the train to the city wasn't running, I took a taxi from the airport to Electra Palace Hotel in the Plaka District, which was very close to all the ancient sites that I was interested in visiting. I had reserved a room with a balcony with a great view of the Acropolis:
By the time I got settled in, it was already getting dark. So, I walked over to one of the streets lined with shops and restaurants in Plaka, and I enjoyed a simple but tasty supper at one of the side-walk restaurants. However, everything on the menu was overpriced in my opinion. Afterwards, I walked around a bit, checking out the route to the Acropolis that I would take the following morning. (I wanted to make certain to get there early before it became too crowded.)
Day 2:
I woke up early and enjoyed a great buffet breakfast at the hotel, and then set off toward the Acropolis, navigating through maze-like streets of Plaka. I purchased a set of tickets that allows entry into, I think, five archaeological sites at a significant discount. On the way up to the Acropolis, I stopped by the Theater of Dionysus which was dedicated to Dionysus. Festivals were held here in the 6th century B.C., and later (4th century B.C.) Greek tragedies were performed here.
The next prominent structure I noticed was the Odeum of Herodes. This theater, built in 160 A.D., has been restored, and it is now used to hold performances. Original circular stage has been converted to a semicircular orchestra pit.
This is actually Day 13 of my Turkey-Greece trip. I took a late morning flight back to Istanbul from Nevsehir Airport in Cappadocia. After a short wait in Istanbul I connected to another Turkish Airlines flight to Athens, where I would spend the next three nights. In-flight services were superb: They served a great snack even though this was only a 1.5 hr. flight.
Because the train to the city wasn't running, I took a taxi from the airport to Electra Palace Hotel in the Plaka District, which was very close to all the ancient sites that I was interested in visiting. I had reserved a room with a balcony with a great view of the Acropolis:
By the time I got settled in, it was already getting dark. So, I walked over to one of the streets lined with shops and restaurants in Plaka, and I enjoyed a simple but tasty supper at one of the side-walk restaurants. However, everything on the menu was overpriced in my opinion. Afterwards, I walked around a bit, checking out the route to the Acropolis that I would take the following morning. (I wanted to make certain to get there early before it became too crowded.)
Day 2:
I woke up early and enjoyed a great buffet breakfast at the hotel, and then set off toward the Acropolis, navigating through maze-like streets of Plaka. I purchased a set of tickets that allows entry into, I think, five archaeological sites at a significant discount. On the way up to the Acropolis, I stopped by the Theater of Dionysus which was dedicated to Dionysus. Festivals were held here in the 6th century B.C., and later (4th century B.C.) Greek tragedies were performed here.
The next prominent structure I noticed was the Odeum of Herodes. This theater, built in 160 A.D., has been restored, and it is now used to hold performances. Original circular stage has been converted to a semicircular orchestra pit.
I reached the Propylaea early, but there were many tour groups milling about. This structure, conceived by Pericles and built by Mnesicles, was meant to mark the boundary between the temporal world and the spiritual world.
Unfortunately the Temple of Athena Nike was under restoration. So, I proceeded to view the Parthenon. Luckily, most of the crowd seemed to remain milling about the Propylaea, and I could take in the sights in peace. Parthenon was also under restoration and there were scaffoldings and a large crane, but they didn't keep me from taking in the magnificence of the Doric style building.
I walked around the Parthenon, viewing it from various angles and also noting various depictions on the friezes. A frieze is the decorated section above the columns (below the cornice), and it consists of metopes separated by triglyphs. A triglyph is a set of three vertical lines. Here is a section of the frieze on the south side. The metope in the photo depicts a battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs:
Next to the Parthenon is the Erechtheion. In contrast to the Parthenon (which has the stout look of Doric architecture), it is more graceful and delicate because of its Ionic order. This elegant temple was completed in 406 B.C., and it sits on the most sacred site of the Acropolis where Poseidon and Athena had their contest over who would be the Patron of the city. The Porch of the Caryatids, supported by six maidens (caryatids) on the south side of the temple is very elegant.
Unfortunately the Temple of Athena Nike was under restoration. So, I proceeded to view the Parthenon. Luckily, most of the crowd seemed to remain milling about the Propylaea, and I could take in the sights in peace. Parthenon was also under restoration and there were scaffoldings and a large crane, but they didn't keep me from taking in the magnificence of the Doric style building.
I walked around the Parthenon, viewing it from various angles and also noting various depictions on the friezes. A frieze is the decorated section above the columns (below the cornice), and it consists of metopes separated by triglyphs. A triglyph is a set of three vertical lines. Here is a section of the frieze on the south side. The metope in the photo depicts a battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs:
Next to the Parthenon is the Erechtheion. In contrast to the Parthenon (which has the stout look of Doric architecture), it is more graceful and delicate because of its Ionic order. This elegant temple was completed in 406 B.C., and it sits on the most sacred site of the Acropolis where Poseidon and Athena had their contest over who would be the Patron of the city. The Porch of the Caryatids, supported by six maidens (caryatids) on the south side of the temple is very elegant.
