2013
Greece Turkey Macedonia
Tour
Journal
September 26, 2013 Thursday Athens
September 27, 2013 Nophlion
Last night we took the metro to the Plaka where we had dinner. It was very easy. Our hotel was only two blocks from the Ammonias Square. 2 minutes walk took us to the metro. Then 3 stations later we were in the heart of the Plaka. We had no idea of the Athens traffic. This morning we definitely got tagged along the traffic which drives every one crazy. Personally, I think, as long as I do not have to live with it all the time, it is kind of fun to have the dynamism of a big city around me.
Our first stop was the
National Archaeological Museum of Athens. A huge building housing
innumerable breath taking remnants of life predating our time by
thousands of years.
After a brief orientation for the museum, we set up a meeting time and
place and off every one went their way to enjoy what seems like endless
record of Greek History.
Rick and Doris and I chose to follow our guide, while the others determined their own route in the museum.
There was a display of modern
art in the museum. The contrast of the aesthetics of modern versus
the stupendous ancient
made us all think twice about where art is going to. I asked the
question: Don's we now deserve better artists as they did in the
centuries before Chris.
Our next stop was the brand
new museum: The Acropolis Museum.
We were not allowed to take pictures until we got to the top floor. In a
way that was nice so we could concentrate on what we saw.
The view of the Acropolis was stunning.
The rest of the day until 5
pm was at leisure. We met at the conference hall of the hotel for
a very pleasant
presentation of Ms. Margarita on preservation of antique textile.
September 27, 2013 Nophlion
It was now time to
go back in to nature, walk out of the big city and have a couple of
relaxing days in Naphlion.
After less than a couple of hours drive, we were looking down at the
huge Salamis Island which looked like was protecting the main land from
not only the anger of Poseidon but also from the threat of the unwanted
guests. The Greeks had recorded their fist great victory here when they
protected their main land from the Persian invasion in the 6th Century
BC.
When it was time to stop
for a mid-morning coffee, the view behind the bus stop was the
Corinthian Channel. When we saw this boat sliding through the steep
walls of the channel, I wished I were in that boat and feel the power of
Men who built this man made "straight" connecting the Aegean with the
Corinthian Sea.
We drove quite a ways in the
shade of the highest acropolis of Greece and finally got to the citrus
world of Greece. The orchards were full of trees which looked like the
no longer could bear the weight of the tons of fruits hanging on their
branches. But obviously, they would have to wait for another month
before they could be relieved of this weight. Before we went to Naphlion,
we stopped at the Castle which had changed hands between the Catholic
Venetians and Muslim Ottomans until Greece was given their independence.
Naphlion is a tiny little
town by the water. The castle in the middle of the harbor looks like a
sunken ship. The streets of the city offers a variety of beauties to
meet the interest of any one ; Ottoman fountains, potters, excellent
architecture
and great food at an affordable price.
