9:30
I leave the house on time for the 9:50 Pride to Rhodes. The cats and kittens are very surprised to have their breakfast that early and are treated to chicken in gravy with biscuits for pudding.
10:00
I'm on the Pride sitting at the front with my dose of Red Bull in hand and new Alkistis on my iPod. The catamaran is not very busy this time of year with mainly locals on board and few tourists going away for winter.
10:45
A walk along Colonna Harbour in Rhodes towards Mandraki and the taxi rank. Symi is clearly visible on the horizon.
11:20
Checked-in for my Athens flight and only have a few minutes for a tiropita and a quick read of today's papers before the 12:05 departure.
13:15
I like Athens airport... lively, always busy, great shops and cafes, free internet... no time for any of that today though. I want to catch the 13:30 metro to the centre.
14:15
I get off at Monastiraki station. At this point I usually change to another train for the short remaining journey to my Athens flat. I am only going to be in Athens for 24 hours so I decide to do a little detour and walk around for a bit. The weather is warm (20-21 degrees) but there is a strange white cloud covering the whole city colouring it with a pale tinge.
14:20
I choose a quiet walk away from too many people and shops and head towards the Acropolis. Monastiraki is in the heart of old Athens at the foot of the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis with ancient temples, restored neoclassical houses, a plethora of cafes and tavernas, and beautiful views across the city.
I leave the house on time for the 9:50 Pride to Rhodes. The cats and kittens are very surprised to have their breakfast that early and are treated to chicken in gravy with biscuits for pudding.
10:00
I'm on the Pride sitting at the front with my dose of Red Bull in hand and new Alkistis on my iPod. The catamaran is not very busy this time of year with mainly locals on board and few tourists going away for winter.
10:45
A walk along Colonna Harbour in Rhodes towards Mandraki and the taxi rank. Symi is clearly visible on the horizon.
11:20
Checked-in for my Athens flight and only have a few minutes for a tiropita and a quick read of today's papers before the 12:05 departure.
13:15
I like Athens airport... lively, always busy, great shops and cafes, free internet... no time for any of that today though. I want to catch the 13:30 metro to the centre.
14:15
I get off at Monastiraki station. At this point I usually change to another train for the short remaining journey to my Athens flat. I am only going to be in Athens for 24 hours so I decide to do a little detour and walk around for a bit. The weather is warm (20-21 degrees) but there is a strange white cloud covering the whole city colouring it with a pale tinge.
14:20
I choose a quiet walk away from too many people and shops and head towards the Acropolis. Monastiraki is in the heart of old Athens at the foot of the Sacred Rock of the Acropolis with ancient temples, restored neoclassical houses, a plethora of cafes and tavernas, and beautiful views across the city.
)
)
)
)
)
)
14:40
I pass by Klepsidra, my favourite cafe in Athens, and take the steps up towards the newly opened side entrance to the Acropolis, clicking away as I look around...
I pass by Klepsidra, my favourite cafe in Athens, and take the steps up towards the newly opened side entrance to the Acropolis, clicking away as I look around...
)
)
)
)
)
)
14:55
I join the path up to the main pedestrian promenade on the other side of the Acropolis, passing the Roman Agora, the temple of Hephaestus and the hill of Pnyka on the left.
I join the path up to the main pedestrian promenade on the other side of the Acropolis, passing the Roman Agora, the temple of Hephaestus and the hill of Pnyka on the left.
)
)
)
15:15
This main promenade serves as a "ring-path" around the Acropolis and only a few years ago was one of the major and busiest roads of Athens. One of the dreams of Melina Merkouri was to unite the major ancient monuments around Athens with a single walk and this dream is almost complete (more work is still underway in the periphery of the Acropolis). Walking down you can see the Parthenon on top of the Rock, and the theatres of Herodus Atticus and Dionysus to the right.
This main promenade serves as a "ring-path" around the Acropolis and only a few years ago was one of the major and busiest roads of Athens. One of the dreams of Melina Merkouri was to unite the major ancient monuments around Athens with a single walk and this dream is almost complete (more work is still underway in the periphery of the Acropolis). Walking down you can see the Parthenon on top of the Rock, and the theatres of Herodus Atticus and Dionysus to the right.
)
)
)
15:35
Towards the end of the promenade I can see the three massive cranes used to move the antiquities from the old Acropolis Museum next to the Parthenon to the new museum at the bottom of the hill. This is the other of Melina's dreams... the new Acropolis Museum. It's not complete yet but it looks spectacular already!
Towards the end of the promenade I can see the three massive cranes used to move the antiquities from the old Acropolis Museum next to the Parthenon to the new museum at the bottom of the hill. This is the other of Melina's dreams... the new Acropolis Museum. It's not complete yet but it looks spectacular already!
)
)
)
15:40
The top-floor glass gallery will be the new home for the Parthenon Sculptures with reserved space for the missing ones held captive in the British Museum after being kidnapped by Elgin.
The top-floor glass gallery will be the new home for the Parthenon Sculptures with reserved space for the missing ones held captive in the British Museum after being kidnapped by Elgin.
)
)
)
15:55
I can't resist turning left by the Museum to have a 10-minutes glimpse of Plaka (the other main "region" of old Athens) before heading for the flat.
I can't resist turning left by the Museum to have a 10-minutes glimpse of Plaka (the other main "region" of old Athens) before heading for the flat.
)
)
)
16:10
Instead of taking the shorter trolley-bus ride to my flat, I decide to catch the metro at the Acropolis station so I can take some photos from inside the station. Each metro station in Athens is like being inside an art gallery and the Acropolis station is no exception... complete with a big poster of Melina in front of the Parthenon...
Instead of taking the shorter trolley-bus ride to my flat, I decide to catch the metro at the Acropolis station so I can take some photos from inside the station. Each metro station in Athens is like being inside an art gallery and the Acropolis station is no exception... complete with a big poster of Melina in front of the Parthenon...
)
)
)
)
)
)
I know I'm a bit biased as I was born and grew up in Athens, but it's a captivating city. It may not be Symi, but it's a wonderful place to spend some time on your way to Symi.
...
20:30 (next day)
I'm now back on my Symi... tired but happy to be home!
p.s. You can click on each photo in this blog to see a larger version, or click here to view all 33 photos in full size.
...
20:30 (next day)
I'm now back on my Symi... tired but happy to be home!
p.s. You can click on each photo in this blog to see a larger version, or click here to view all 33 photos in full size.
(0)
Comments