Lees in France

Athens, Prison of Socrates, Anafiotika, Acropolis and the Parthenon

16 October 

Day 2 of things we have learned while traveling:

• Greek coffee is small, a double cappuccino is the perfect American size.
• Weekend vendors sell everything and anything

• Let’s get to the nitty gritty of why day 1 and day 1.5 were so hard on many levels…
• City hustle and bustle is not for everyone.
• Our kids informed us that our family vacations have never really been about man made structures.
• When in Athens, visit famous man made marble structures even if you do not want to.
• https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/caves-of-filopappou-hill listed land turtles reside here so the kids had something to look for as we hiked.  We did not find any TODAY!

On the slopes of Filopappou Hill, follow the path to this warren of rooms carved into bedrock. It’s said to have been the place Socrates was imprisoned in before his trial in 399 BC.  this was also found online…

More recently, artifacts from the Acropolis and National Archaeological Museum were hidden here to protect them from Nazi looting during WWII.

Either way it was a fun excursion which led us to the top of the hill with amazing views of the city and the Parthenon.

• Athens has marble hiking paths with marble stairs.

• Anafiotika was a refreshing change of pace and scenery.
• The Anafiotika district is named from the island of Anafi, located in the Cyclades archipelago. In the mid-19th century, Anafi stonemasons came to Athens to rebuild the partially destroyed city during the War of Independence and King Otto’s palace. The stonemasons settled and reproduced the typical architecture of the Cyclades for themselves.
• This area contains about 40 houses and less than 100 inhabitants. Small,very narrow streets and stairs, whitewashed houses, cats running through the streets, green plants and flowers, and wooden panels indicating the direction of the Acropolis characterize this district. It has the feel of a Greek Island. – Paraphrased from https://vivreathenes.com

• Graffiti and marble are everywhere in Athens. This area is not immune.

• We entered the Acropolis on the western side going past Ωδείο Ηρώδου του Αττικού…Herod Atticus Odeon (a building for musical performances) erected by Herod Atticus between 161-174 AD, remembering his late wife Regina.
• We also saw the Theatre of Dionysus built in the 6th century B.C. Dionysus/Bacchus (in Roman mythology) is the god of wine and pleasure.
• Our kids felt a little like the apostle Paul when he visited the highly educated Greek people with temples to gods like Zeus, Dionysus, or Athena..they did not like nor understood why people would honor them.

• Acropolis is the hill that the Parthenon building is located.

• The Parthenon is an active construction and repair site you will not find on instagram.
• Modern style Lego blocks are created to secure the headers of this ancient building.
• While we were visiting, Uncle Greg and Aunt Sarah sent a picture, to the kids, of themselves at the Parthenon. We decided it would be fun to copy and give the kids something to enjoy.