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According to Greek Mythology, the city of Athens is named after the Goddess, Athena, who produced an olive tree, the symbol of peace and prosperity, to the gods of Olympus. They considered this the most valuable of gifts that could be given to mortals and, thereby, named this great city after her. Athens was once one of the most powerful Greek city states. During the "Golden Period" (5th Century B.C.) Athens enriched the world with great theater, art, architecture and philosophy. It was during this period that the Parthenon was built by Pericles, Oedipus the King was written by Sophocles and Socrates preached philosophy. Today, Athens still aims to please with its beautiful people, cosmopolitan lifestyle and historical architecture. We arrived in Athens, Greece on June 23, following a 21 hour bus-ride from Istanbul, Turkey. We spent the morning exploring Athens, before taking a bus to the Athens Airport to meet our good friends from Atlanta, Andrea and Lou Cataland. The four of us were greeted at the airport by Dimitri, Lou's cousin who lives in Athens, whereupon we piled (with our bulky backpacks and bags) into his vehicle for the ride to his parent's home (where we would be staying during our time in Athens).
Although wearied by jet-lag, Lou and Andrea gamely carried on with the traditional Greek experience of late-night dining. This dinner on the very day of their arrival did not end until well after midnight, at which time the restaurant (in the fashionable Plaka district beneath the flood-lit Acropolis) was even more lively and packed than when we arrived.
Dimitri and his daughter, Luisa.
The National Archaeological Museum in Athens was a treat with its impressive collection. Our favorites were the statuary--particularly, the large bronzes, like the larger than life bronze of the Greek God, Poseidon (or is it Zeus?) seen here.
Another bronze statue--this one, as with the one prior, was recovered from the sea.
Greek food has been a real highlight of our travels through this country. There are so many Greek specialties, and they all are so wonderful. Here are just two of them: stuffed vine leaves and Greek Salad. Yum!
Although the Parthenon is undergoing massive restoration (so as to put its best face froward for the 2004 Summer Olympics), and scaffolding was everywhere, it is still quite a site.
Andrea, Lou and Rich with the columns of the Parthenon in the background.
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Of course, no visit to Athens would be complete without a
visit to the Acropolis, the hilltop site which overlooks the city of Athens, and
its massive, yet graceful, Parthenon. Acropolis means "City of
Rock". Standing 90 meters above the rest of Athens, the rock provided
protection to the inhabitants of Athena. Later it served as a religious
center. The main temple of the Acropolis is the Parthenon. Built
between 447 BC and 432 BC, the Parthenon is dedicated to the Virgin Goddess,
Athena. 
