Athens

 Apologies for being behind in our blogging.  We have visited the Acropolis and Parthenon. 

It was a slog to get up there.  The tour description said 78 stairs and yes there were 78 stairs, but there was also long uphill path that was kicking the entire tour’s butt.  Happy to report my hip did really well and we weren’t the last to make it up the hill. 

Something interesting we learned this is not the only Acropolis - every city had one, but this one is the most well known.

This is the remains of the Temple of Athena

After this visit was over, we were again Forced Marched to a restaurant.  Shan and I made it, about 5 others got left in the dust.  Our guide had to go back and find them. 

It was a nice lunch - various Greek types of food.  Outside of it was a lovely small square

Doing the blog on the ship has been difficult as it takes FOREVER to upload photos.  So I am going to pause until we get to our hotel in Istanbul to catch up

1. The rest of Athens

2. Santorini

3. Rhodes

4. Kusadasi

After lunch we went to the Archeological Museum. We only had about 1/2 hour - so didn’t get to take it all in.  But this statue was amazing

We then made our way back to the port - but did pass this

It is the Panathenaic Stadium.  The world’s only stadium built entirely of marble.  It is where the 1st modern Olympics were held in 1896 and remains the location where the Olympic flame starts and ends. 

The original structure was built around 330 BC, but during the Roman rule of Athens it was renovated and rebuilt with white marble.  

Are you twins?  6