Athens

Check out Zach's professional photos of the J-term Turkey trip: http://homepage.mac.com/zacharyteicher/turkey2006/Menu5.html

Athens:
I did not have any problem meeting my dad at the metro station, thankfully, after all my trouble with traveling. The weather was beautiful yesterday (60s) and the forecast rain so we decided to climb Mount Lycavittos to watch the picturesque sunset right away. Better than the view was the Despina bakery on the way down - thank you Elizabeth - it was to die for! Then took a 13 hour nap - so much for an early start. Traveling is tiring.

Our view from the Hotel Cecil is the famous Acropolis but the morning clouds and drizzle were a bit disappointing. The ancient Greek Agora was impressive compared to many of the sights in Asia Minor because there is more effort and money in the reconstruction, namely the Stoa of Attalos, which houses a museum. Overlooking the Agora is the famous Haphasesteion, the best preserved classical temple in the ancient world. I am impressed that democracy started here (marked by another bouletereion, a theater-like structure for the council procedings). Later we visited the Roman Market place, the Temple of Olympian Zeus and Hadrian's Arch, and the original 1896 olympic stadium, nestled into the hillside, also known as Killimarmaro.

The rain picked up so we headed to the National Archaelogical Museum, the home of many of the most classical statues and artifacts in greek history. The statues were incredible and they were set up chronologically. My favorite statues were of the infant Eros, son of Aphrodite. My dad preferred the bronze Poseidon throwing his trident (admiring his own physique from his younger days :). Then we wandered down to Syndagma square and the Parliament building where we were entertained by the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - soldiers in colorful shirts, white skirts, and tasseled heels marching around. We spent the rest of the afternoon in the hotel, learning that if we wanted heat, we have to ask the front desk to turn it on - no wonder we were freezing last night!

Tomorrow we will rent a car, drive up to the Acropolis, then drive to the Monastary of St Loukas and stay the night in Arachova. Tuesday we will explore Delphi all day and then ski on Wednesday at Mt. Parnassos. Take care!

Katie and John