I have to be honest. I started writing this at the beginning of March after Boo and my trip to Athens.
Off we go!
Then COVID hit, all the World was affected and life changed.
One of the things that altered for a lot of people including myself, was foreign travel.
I was hoping to go to Poland in April to see Ewa Michalak and get some more of her wonderful brassieres.
Perfect Poland
I was also optimistic that Boo might be free for a jaunt around September time…
Now, as we come to the end of June, we are still no closer to knowing what the future brings than we did back in March.
However, it was an Instagram message from a follower who asked if I would be posting any more travel blogs, which reminded me of the fact that I had never got around to posting the end of the Greek trip.
Mainly because it would have been a bit inappropriate; almost rubbing salt in the wound.
However, the best was still to come including that walk up to the top of the Acropolis and to be honest it was a bit of a shame that I had never posted it.
So, I present to you…. Acropolis Day!
Friday was the day. The day we were attempting to walk up to the top of the Acropolis. With a gammy knee!
A Long Way Up!
Boo had booked us on a walking tour taking a slow journey from the base of the hill right up to the Parthenon and back again. The tour would then take in the Acropolis museum before it was finished.
Ancient Amphitheatre
I was really looking forward to seeing the artefacts as I had previously been to the Acropolis when I was 11 and I do love a good museum.
Can you imagine what this place has seen?
Boo and I set off early as the meeting point was at the Acropolis Museum. There were several other people waiting and everyone introduced themselves. Eventually our guide arrived and we started off.
What a Panorama!
The day was gloriously sunny and I was glad it was quite early as I thought it could get quite sweltering on the way up to the Parthenon.
About half way up….
Thankfully our guide was exceedingly knowledgeable, walked at a decent pace and was also very considerate, asking if I was okay and if the pace that we were walking at was suitable for my knee.
What has this seen?
I explained that the walking was absolutely fine, but when we stopped to look at something or he was explaining, then I would take a seat (if it was possible)
We started off at the bottom of the hill. He told me that there was a few steps along the way, but most of it was a winding hill.
Brilliant Builders
Perfect!
Perfect Place to sit
Stopping along the way to look at various burial sites, amphitheatres and columns. I was absolutely fascinated. Snapping thousands of photos, I loved every bit of it.
We wound our way up the hill, stopping periodically. It seemed like we were never going to get to the top, when all of a sudden there it was! Right in front of us.
Even more Vintage than we are used to!
It was spectacular.
The other bonus of going so early was that it wasn’t too busy and allowed us to get some great photographs.
So Beautiful
We talked about the architecture and the history behind the buildings. It was just so beautiful and yet bloody, given the battles that were fought, won and lost.
View from the Top
Obviously now we had got to the top, we needed to get back down again!
The guide mentioned (only now) that there was actually a lift that I could take. Initially I thought that it might have been nice if he had mentioned that 2 hours ago, then I saw the lift.
The ‘Lift’
Well, lift is a over exaggeration.
More like an open box held on by a motorised winch which dangles over the side of the monument/hill. To get to it, you walk along a metal plank on ancient rock and rubble.
The Famous Olive Tree
Not in this lifetime mate!
I told Boo that I would rather walk down on bleeding stumps for feet that get within an inch of that contraption. And I genuinely would have.
The Cariads
Anyway, we took a slow walk back down the opposite side of the Acropolis, bypassing different views of the same sights, which gave it an amazing perspective.
Horsing Around
Eventually we got down to the bottom and walked back to the Museum.
Amazing Acropolis
I have to admit that my knee was absolutely screaming by this point but I soldiered on a little longer.
Perfect Planning
Getting inside the museum, our guide stayed with us and told us of the artefacts and items had that had been collected over hundreds of years.
This was so up my street, it was perfect.
How old?
Except I didn’t feel I could go on any longer.
Gorgeous Carving
As soon as I saw a bench to sit on, I told Boo that I was going to stay there and she carried on with the rest of the group.
Just Beautiful
I was more than happy to sit down, with the book I had been reading on my mobile phone. It was cool, calm, quiet and the perfect place to rest my aching legs.
There was a stunning display right in front of me and the atmosphere was great. It was a lovely way to pass 90 minutes!
Amazing Artefacts
Eventually Boo returned and as it was the end of the tour, we said our thank you’s and goodbye’s to the rest of the group and left the museum.
A nice place to sit and rest
It was coming up for lunchtime and we were not too far from a little place that had been reviewed really well on the Internet. Papa Steve’s had a good range of food including vegetarian, so we made our way there. It was literally a few minutes walk and as the weather was so warm, we worked up a bit of an appetite.
Now, I would like to give Papa’s a positive report. Sadly it really was over-hyped in our opinion. The place was pretty empty, the staff very dismissive and the music was really loud.
Oh well, the food was amazing, according to reviews. So, it would make up for it, right?
Yeah. Not the case either.
Anyway, the less said about it, the better!
Just Stunning
We returned back to the hotel to get freshened up as we had a bus tour planned later in the afternoon.
The bus would be taking us to Sounion where we could visit the Temple of Poseidon.
I could carry on with the rest of the day on this post, however the Temple was so stunning, with a large amount of photographs that I am going to do a post all of its own!
Till next time,
SPSG xxx