I
actually won something
wonderful! While years’ of
contests and drawings had
previously yielded only junky little
things, this time the prize was
something that was high on my
bucket list! A trip for two to Athens
and the islands of Mykonos and
Santorini. The package, provided by
Trafalgar Tours, was called the
Greek Island Hopper and included
several days in Athens, three days in
Mykonos and three days in Santorini.
Perfect. Best of all it included
transfers, baggage handling and all
the annoying details that detract
from the pleasures of travel.
After the usual red-eye flights, my
daughter and I were met at the
Athens airport by our Trafalgar tour
director, who delivered us to the
Metropolitan Hotel, where welcome
included ouzo, cheese and olives.
After a brief rest we took the
complimentary shuttle provided by
the hotel into the heart of Athens,
feasted on a late breakfast/brunch
at an inviting restaurant and gave
ourselves up to a few hours of
picture-taking and window-shopping.
The shopping in Athens is amazing:
outstanding leather goods, eye-popping jewelry in 18 karat gold and
trendy furs, priced far less than
they would be at home.
The next day was for serious
sightseeing. By coach we traveled to
the Panathinaiko Stadium, home to
the first modern Olympics in 1896,
to the temple of Olympian Zeus, past
Hadrian’s Arch, the National Gardens
and other sites.
and Pythagoras among others –
walked and talked and discussed
philosophy and politics and the issues
of the day. On this day, armies of
tourists from all over the world were
present, to contemplate the grandeur
of this ancient civilization – and to
take photographs from every
imaginable angle.
The highlight involved serious
climbing: The Acropolis, the ancient
citadel high above the city, the place
where democracy was born and
where the remains of age-old
buildings remain.
After descending from the Acropolis,
the husband of one of our American
companions (he had refused to make
the climb, saying it was too much
work) asked: “Well, was there
The most important structure on the
Acropolis is the Parthenon, built in
the 5th century B.C. and dedicated
to the goddess Athena. Much of the
Parthenon survived the ravages of
time -- until it was used as a
munitions depot during the Turkish
occupation of Greece. In 1687,
during a battle with the Venetians,
an explosion tore off the roof and
inflicted other damage. Still standing
were the stately 46 columns and
artistic carvings. (The Acropolis
Restoration Project is constantly
working to reverse the damage
caused by centuries of pollution
and destruction.)
anything to see up there?” I didn’t
wait to hear the answer. What was
the point?
Later, we visited the contemporary
New Acropolis Museum, built to
house thousands of antiquities
removed over the centuries during
various archeological digs on
the Acropolis.
Our favorite museum – and there are
several – was one of the world’s
greatest, the National Archaeological
Museum, home to important artifacts
Fresh seafood
served with this
view. What could be
better?
It was amazing to stand on this hill,
where so many great scholars and
writers – Plato, Aristotle, Archimedes
A cozy corner for
lounging at the El
Greco Hotel.
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