Athens Day 41. May 19th.

I really don't  know how the days and experiences can just keep getting better. Got up and had a nice breaky at our hotel. Reminds me of the little boutique  ones in Paris, right down to the tiny lifts! Then off we headed to our meeting place for our bike ride around Athens. I led today and found our bike place. Nice bikes but no ebikes!! Demetrius was our guide and he was fantastic. Early and not too many people around, also cool.

Up past the Acropolis  and around to good viewing spots, past Roman ruins aswell as Greek ones. Incredible history and again fact mixed with mythology.

On past the largest Greek Orthodox church. Their priests  can marry and have children and have no relationship with the Pope.  Past the Presidents palace and the guards were dressed in their special  Sunday outfits today. Then through the gardens to the palace of Zeus and Hadrians arch.

Before Zeus we saw the Olympic stadium and the Zappion building, that housed the athletes  for the first modern day Olympics.  The bottom pic shows what was discovered when digging for the subway..... Roman bathes!!
We then had Demetrius recommendation  for lunch... a delicious souvlaki. Then headed back to our hotel for a breather.
After recovering we walked back to the Acropolis.  It was cooler and the crowds had thinned out. We visited the Museum first where many of the statues etc from the Acropolis  are stored. Replicas stay out in the weather. The poor Parthenon has withstood, human destruction, fire, gunpowder explosion  and general weathering.  I don't  remember  climbing up 40 years ago. A long climb but so worth it.

Unbelievable  to be again standing near the Parthenon on top of the Acropolis.

Exhausted we walked  back to our hotel to sit for a spell. We decided to go out for dinner very nearby. Met Stavros who suggested a place and took us there. I decided we were all too old for the white slave market. Up more stairs but the views were incredible  of the Acropolis.  Food was good too.

A great way to finish off our time together. Farewells to Bonnie and Julie. I'll  probably see Linda and Susan tomorrow for breaky before they move to a new hotel. So a sleep in and then I intend to do the hopon/off bus all day!!