5th June - Athens
I was happy to sleep in after the big day yesterday and since I was back in a single room and my snoring doesn't keep me awake.
Once I was up and ready to get going I flicked on the TV and noticed the Queen's Diamond Jubilee on TV. I paused for a while to watch since the end of the ceremony wasn't too far off.
Once the Queen's formalities were concluded I ventured out for the Acropolis Museum.
The Acropolis Museum has been purpose built to house, display and restore finds and sculptures from the Acropolis. It is an interesting building with many glass floors to allow you see the finds discovered below when construction started - every now and then the clear floor is a little disconcerting….
Throughout the museum you are not allowed to take photos……
East Pediment Scale Reconstruction
West Pediment Scale Reconstruction
The upper level appears to be a 1:1 scale replica of the Parthenon which allows them to display sculptures taken from the site in an accurate manner.
Sculptures - sneaky shot
Sculpture - sneaky shot
Ruins uncovered on-site now displayed in the forecourt.
After the Acropolis Museum I was happy to look around the streets a little more before finding some food in the Plaka district. Although I picked-up a take-away gyros I noticed many beautiful places to sit and enjoy dinner.
Plaka District Dining
6th June - Athens
I had taken yesterday fairly easy so today was another big one with a few things on the list.
I purchased a 24hr metro ticket and used the nearby Akropoli Station to head out to Omonia Station which is reasonably close to the National Archaeological Museum.
It would be fair to say that this is not the 'nicest' part of town based on my experience of walking past the drug dealers and drug buyers on my way to the museum.
I arrived at the museum and I didn't immediately notice the ticket booth. There was a large group of people in front of me seemingly blocking the way in. I patiently stood behind them and they started to move forward.
As I moved forward a nice woman presented me with a ticket for the museum. I thanked her and found my way inside museum after checking my bag.
Hadrian - 117AD
Emperor Augustus - Found in Aegean Sea - 29BC-14AD
Portrait Head - Found in Lake Palaestra - 1stC BC
Aphrodite, Pan and Eros - 100BC
Zeus or Poseidon - 460BC
Kore - 550 - 540BC
Kore - 550 - 540BC - Incredible Detail
Ancient Mycenae Treasures - 15thC BC
Ancient Mycenae Treasures - 15thC BC
Glass Bowl - 1stC BC
Boy - 1stC BC - Left side corroded by sea organisms, right side protected in sea bed.
Battle of Thermopylae - 480BC
Aphrodite
Aphrodite
I had spent a good couple of hours in the National Archaeological Museum and seen almost every item on display and even read a little about some of them. I headed back for the metro and caught a train to Syntagma Station, which is close to Benaki Museum.
On the way I saw some lovely, bright flowers.
And a protest of some sort.
Benaki Museum is the result of Antonis Benakis donating his collection to the Greek State in 1926. Following his initiative the private museum grew with donations of funds and also artefacts. The museum is renowned for the number of gifts by local families that help to complete various collections. The museum is housed in the original family home and has been expanded and improved over tim
Helmets
Amazing Gold
Amazing Gold
Amazing Gold
Virgin and Child - 16thC
Petite Venus Blue - 2010 - Yves Klein -
Benaki Museum has a great collection and chronologically displays the history of Greece very well. Since it spans such a long history it differs from many other museums that are based on, and therefore focus on, a shorter given period.
I went back to Athens Studios and got geared up for another bike ride. I decided it was not too late to head south to Sounion to the Temple of Poseidon.
Once out of the city it was another good ride seeing some more of the countryside.
The GPS seems to choose some very unusual and sometimes rewarding routes. On this occasion the GPS took me away from the main and direct coastal road inland to a deserted road. I only passed people out walking their dogs and I was a little concerned the road might be closed part way along.
This Greek man said he had been everywhere in the world…
He was in shipping freight and oil
Temple of Poseidon
Temple of Poseidon
Temple of Poseidon
Temple of Poseidon - thanks to the couple who took my picture after I took theirs
Temple of Poseidon - is supposed to be great at sunset.
Local bird.
Temple of Poseidon as you ride away.
Since it was my last night in Athens and I didn't think a take-away gyros was acceptable I headed for the Hilton. My mate Johnny had told me the roof of the Hilton has a great view of the Acropolis so I thought I would treat myself.
After the doorman expressed his concern over me parking my "very expensive motorcycle" with "all of your luggage on it" in such an unsafe part of Athens I used their basement parking - I had been parked on the street every night since I arrived in Athens without incident...
The view from the Hilton Hotel rooftop as the light fades
….more
…...and more
….and that's it
Bye bye Athens
Back at Athens Studios there was yet another batch of Australians and Canadians. It was already late enough so after a few beers and talking it was a late night.
The young Canadians had briefly stopped in Athens on their way to their dream Greek Island holiday.
The Australian was waiting for his sister and her friend to arrive in town. It seemed they were a little delayed. They arrived quite late and we stayed up and talked some more.