Our first full day in Athens began with breakfast from the buffet ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190232 along with orange juice ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190233 as Ben (who had decided to give up the incognito bit) ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190234 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190235 Suzanne ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190236 Sarah ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190237 and I ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190238 enjoyed the views of the Acropolis at all resolutions knowing that this would be today's destination. ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190239 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190240 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190241 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190242 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190243 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190244

We walked through the public gardens ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190245 before stopping at the conference center for a break ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190246 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190247 and then moving on to this hero ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190248 before stopping at the baths ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190249 that were dug up during the subway construction ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190250 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190251 and made some in our party feel like they'd like to be in a cool bath ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190252 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190253 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190254 rather than continuing the journey past Hadrian's Arch ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190255 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190256 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190257 which could be viewed from the side ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190258 before we saw the sign giving our destination ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190259 and began the walk ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190260 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190261 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190262 pausing to look back ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190263 while proceeding ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190264 taking the obligatory phone booth picture ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190265 and noting the Church of the Metamorphosis ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190266 while continuing to keep our eye on the rock ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190267 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190268 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190269 and sometimes the barely visible (and possibly not captured) moon in the blue sky ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190270 as we passed the theater of Herod Atticus ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190271 as we made our way up ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190272 to the steps ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190273 that led to the splendor ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190274 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190275 as Ben and Suzanne took a break ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190276 before we entered the temples that were ancient Athens ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190277 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190278 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190279 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190280 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190281 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190282 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190283 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190284 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190285 until Sarah and Suzanne broke away from tour groups ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190286 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190287 and I could focus on taking many pictures of the parthenon at varying levels of detail ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190288 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190289 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190290 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190291 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190292 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190293 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190294 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190295 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190296 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190297 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190298 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190299 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190300 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190301 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190302 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190303 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190304 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190305 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190306 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190307 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190308 before we looked out at the hill where we were living ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190309 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190310 and then Sarah ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190311 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190312 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190313 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190314 and led us through the other temples ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190315 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190316 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190317 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190318 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190319 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190320 pausing occasionally for family photos ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190321 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190322 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190323 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190324 from which point we could watch the reconstruction of the Parthenon ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190325 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190326 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190327 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190328 leading to a block being lowered in place ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190329 even as we wandered past the next temple not yet realizing how much a pillar cost ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190330 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190331 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190332 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190333 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190334 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190335 and we were careful to follow the signs (and so didn't touch the marble even if Lord Elgin had) ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190336 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190337 as we made our way down ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190338 and got our first view of the Agora ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190339 and the remarkable temple of Hephastos ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190340 and then climbed the rocks ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190341 to get a better view of the agora ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190342 though we couldn't read this sign ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190343 while this sign sent us in the right direction ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190344 and so we climbed the very slippery rocks ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190345 to get back to views of the acropolis ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190346 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190347 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190348 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190349 and the agora ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190350 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190351 before heading down to the Agora ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190352 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190353 and obeying the instructions ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190354 before entering the Panathenic Way ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190355 and the Ancient Stoa ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190356 where we posed with many of the people who were memorialized there ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190357 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190358 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190359 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190360 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190361 including this elegant photo of Suzanne and her counterpart (my 2 goddesses) ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190362 and this capital ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190363 while meanwhile we looked out at a fire brewing in the hills around Athens ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190364 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190365 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190366 which wasn't going to affect the current view ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190367 but the fire kept raging ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190368 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190369 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190370 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190371 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190372 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190373 even as we admired the temple of Hephastos (perhaps he needed the fire for his forge) ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190374 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190375 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190376 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190377 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190378 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190379 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190380 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190381 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190382 which was described as follows ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190383 and then we said good bye to Hadrian ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190384 and admired the Brazilian pepper tree ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190385 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190386 before heading to lunch at savvas in the Plaka where this was the menu ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190387 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190388 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190389 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190390 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190391 as Ben ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190392 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190393 Suzanne ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190394 me ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190395 and Sarah ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190396 enjoyed our Greek salad ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190397 tsatsiki ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190398 fried cheese ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190399 and pita ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190400 as the souvlakis came ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190401 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190402 and then we began the walk back past this Greek Orthodox church ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190403 with its founder ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190404 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190405 and then back at the hotel, I took some picture of the room ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190406 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190407 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190408 and of Ben reading ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190409 until the battery died and the day ended. ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190410 ../../../Sabbat/2008/06.24-07.03.08Greece/06.25.08VisitngTheAcropolis//P1190411