I am so behind in posting about our travels but I wanted to share a few photographs from our brief time in Athens (with a bonus layover in Amsterdam)! This was all the way back in February and I wanted to do one post of the entire trip but as soon as I took a look at our photos I knew that I needed more editing time. So this will be part I (part II will feature the gorgeous lands of Tuscany).
Despite it being one of the coldest months in Athens, our few days in February actually turned out quite lovely weather-wise. It ended up being in the low 70’s and with all the walking we did that temperature was perfect. But given that almost everything on the islands was shut down we skipped Santorini and Crete to stay in and around Athens – with the compromise that we would definitely someday soon make a trip to those gorgeous islands.
Our hotel was right next to Acropolis hill so we woke up a wonderful view. The above is actually taken from the top of Mount Lycabettus which offered a remarkable view of the city. Of course the very first thing we did in Athens was eat some delicious pita and tzatziki (delicious) and then the next morning we walked up to the Acropolis. I am sure most of you know this but the Acropolis refers to the actual settlement on the hill, not any of the buildings and includes multiple ruins, most notably the Parthenon.
Stairs leading up to the Propylaea – the gateway/entrance.
Above is the Temple of Athena Nike – built around 426-421 BC to honor Athena Nike, the goddess of victory.
Erechtheion- 421-206 BC and dedicated to Athena and Poseidon. On the side there you can see six Ionic columns, and on the south, the famous “Porch of the Maidens”, with six draped female figures (caryatids). Those are actually replicas and 5 of the original caryatids and now in the Acropolis Museum at the base of the site. However, one remaining caryatid is at the British Museum in London, yet to be returned from when Lord Elgin stole it in the 1800s. Which, don’t get me started on that. Everything that they took should be returned to the Acropolis Museum so that anyone who travels all the way to Athens can see the columns and friezes.