Saturday, April 21, 2012

Greece Day 3: Acropolis, Parthenon, and Plaka

Lots of stuff done during this day. We started very early and walked from the hotel to the Acropolis (easy walk, about 45 minutes stopping at every opportunity we had to watch something along the way).


The Acroplis only has one way in. The entrance fee is €12 and gives you access to 4 or 5 historic sites.


Parthenon at night
Parthenon at night

Parthenon
Parthenon
View of Athens from Acropolis
View of Athens from Acropolis




The ticket also includes a map of the area with nearby places to visit. Take your time at the Parthenon visit. It's simply breathtaking. 


Entrance to Parthenon
Entrance to Parthenon

Entrance to Parthenon
Entrance to Parthenon






Parthenon
Parthenon

Erechtheum - Acropolis
Erechtheum - Acropolis

Erechtheum - Acropolis
Erechtheum - Acropolis

Erechtheum - Acropolis
Erechtheum - Acropolis






After the Parthenon, we visited the roman and greek theaters on its side.


Roman Theatre Herodes Atticus - Acropolis
Roman Theatre Herodes Atticus - Acropolis








The Acropolis Museum is another must go place. It lies across the Theater of Dionysus Eleuthereu.  


Acropolis Museum
Acropolis Museum

Acropolis Museum
Acropolis Museum

Acropolis Museum
Acropolis Museum

Acropolis Museum
Acropolis Museum




This is a new museum, that was started on the 70s, and recently completed. It's built on top of an old excavated town. Parts of the museum floor is transparent and it lets watch the old town, including building and streets. It's a must see.



The temple of Zeus is a short walk from Acropolis. Before getting there, we stopped for a lunch (3 a sandwich). 

Hadrian's Gate
Hadrian's Gate

Temple of Zeus
Temple of Zeus

Temple of Zeus
Temple of Zeus

This temple took hundreds of years to complete, and only a fraction of it remains. But at some point, it was bigger than the Parthenon itself!



Remember, that those interesting sites close at 3pm. Start your day early!

The rest of the day, we spent the time around the Plaka area.

Church in Plaka
Church in Plaka

Plaka
Plaka

Plaka
Plaka

Plaka
Plaka

Plaka
Plaka

Tango from Argentina in many places Athens
Tango from Argentina in Athens


At 6pm, we stopped to watch the change of ward again:

       

Some other views of Plaka:




On the flea market, I spotted some guys bidding on a three shell game (scam considered by many). I got to film a few seconds, before one of them got pissed of and asked me to turn of the recording:


There are lots of old and small nice churches in Athens. Several of them from Bizzantine times, in Plaka:



At night, we had dinner at a nice restaurant with live music and view to the Acropolis.




 By going a few blocks away from the main square in Plaka, we found not only lower price (just a couple of Euro, not much) but also the great view!
My phone did a bad job recording the next movie, it looks pretty dark.. but at least we can still hear some of the music and see some lights from the Acropolis.




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