texans on the autobahn: February 2006

This small whitewashed chapel of Agios Georgios crowns the top of the hill. Built in the 19th century it was dedicated to two saints.

The view from Lykavittos Hill. This hill reaches 910 feet above the city and is its highest hill. We took the funicular or cable car to the top but walked down.

Keremeikos is an ancient cemetery from the 12th century. Most of the graves remaining today are along the Street of the Tombs. Sculptures were excavated in the early 1900s and are in museums today;plaster copies remain at the site.

On the site of the Ancient Agora.

The Agora, or marketplace, formed the political heart of ancient Athens from 600 BC. Socrates was indicted and jailed at the site. Theatres, schools and stoas filled with shops made this the centre of social and commercial life.

The Haphaisteion is a temple in the Ancient Agora and is the best preserved and well known ancient building. It was built circa 449-440 BC.

Time for a late afternoon lunch al fresco. . .the weather was so nice, in the low to mid 60's! It was so nice to be out of the freezing temps of Munich!

OK, it was time for a toilet break, and here we try out the pay toilets on the street. .. .

Kallimarmaro Stadium is a huge marble structure that sits of the original site of stadium built in 330-339 BC constructed for gladiator fights. In 1895 it was restored in time for the start of the first modern Olympic Games.

Sam and Joe goof around and try posing like this statue.

All that remains of the Temple of Olympian Zeus are 15 of the original 104 Corinthian columns. You can imagine the enormous size by looking at this photo of some of the remaining columns.

Theatre of Herodes Atticus

Hadrian's Arch, next to the Temple of Olympian Zeus.

Pynx Hill were the disciple Paul preached to hundreds of Greeks but only managed to convert 2. The Greeks were a tough crowd!

another view of the Parthenon. . .

The Temple of Athena Nike built in 426-421 BC.

An amazingly huge structure. ..

A family photo. . .

The Parthenon. . most of what remains of the Parthenon is not original. After the Turks bombed most of the Acropolis area, it was rebuilt but it was done so with poorly constructed concrete. Today, marble is replacing the concrete that was used.

Our Greek tour guide Athena.

Preparing to complete our walk to the top of the holy rock, the Acropolis, in front of the Theatre of Herodes Attitus. This theatre was originally built in AD 161 and restored 1955 and is used today for outdoor concerts.

Greek flags and soccer scarves for sale.

Famous singers such as Pavarotti have sung concerts in this Theatre of Herodes Atticus.

Walking through the Plaka area where visitors are welcomed to the famous Athen's flea market full of tourist shops as well as antique furniture.

Here I am accosted by a lovely and persistent Greek lady who is determined to sell me this table cloth. . .she lost. . I walked away without it.

texans on the autobahn

Friday, February 24, 2006

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