Day 25: Athens

07.01.2018 - 07.01.2018
View Greece trip, 2018 on baixing's travel map.

Day 25: Today was the big free day at all the archaeological sites. So holy crap I went to the city of the gods! I remember learning about greek and roman gods in elementary school, so this was kind of big for me. Haha. Ascending the steps, it's easy to imagine yourself dressed in a toga, carrying an offering to your favourite immortal being. I was up there at about 8:30 a.m. so it was pretty empty. I really enjoyed the peaceful stroll around the ruins.

On the way down, I stopped at Zeus' temple. It was built by Hadrian and the enormous columns are still standing. As I walked around the park, I started imagining I was Hadrian and admiring the handiwork of my architects. I can't stop myself.

Two more stops on the free tour today, and those were the Ancient Agora, which may have even been my favourite, because it was the gathering place of the politicians and the first site of democracy.

Then I went to the Roman Agora, which was built when the Ancient Agora got too small. There was a cool tower there, which people used for a sundial and weather station and all kinds of things.

On my way out, I walked by this poor old painter selling small paintings taped up to the fence. I don't think he sold anything all day and I thought his art was great. It was a little different. I bought a little landscape of the Acropolis for 8 Euros and he told me to "Have a nice life"