We slept a bit later than usual for us, but were up in time for breakfast in the hotel. The restaurant is on the seventh floor with a view across to the Acropolis—beautiful view. The hotel is in a wonderful location on Syntagma Square. We can see the changing of the guard outside the Parliament building from our room window.

With only one day to see the sights of Athens and with that day being the first after a long journey, we decided to concentrate on just two things—seeing the Acropolis and the new Acropolis Museum. When we were last in Athens, it was a cold day with rain and sleet, and we wanted to see the Acropolis in better weather. It was nicer this time, but cloudy, a bit windy, and just a bit cooler than usual for the end of October. However, we walked all over it this time and up to the very top where the Greek flag is planted. Although, I really loved the small museum that used to be right behind the Parthenon, it has been replaced with a much bigger museum kind of across the street from the side entrance of the Acropolis. The new museum is magnificent with wonderfully created displays. It's an improvement in the sense that it is much larger and can showcase more at a time, but it has lost a bit of the intimate charm of the old one.

With the walk to the Acropolis, all around the grounds, then over to the museum and back to the hotel, we easily got in well over our ten thousand steps before our late lunch. After sightseeing, we went next door to lunch at the sister hotel of the King George, the Hotel Grande Bretagne, since one lunch was included in the price of the stay as an amenity from Virtuoso. Although we weren’t aware of it before we went for lunch, Seabourn was using the Hotel Grande Bretagne for their pre-cruise packages. Two of the Seabourn representatives were there greeting their guests. I spoke with one of the reps, and she advised us on what time to leave the hotel tomorrow to get to the seaport at the right time to check in. As it turned out and luckily for us, she suggested leaving the hotel at the very same time that we had already arranged to be picked up by the car service.

After lunch we rested for a while, then walked over to the Parliament building to watch the changing of the guard up close. And you can get up very close to the action. The new guards along with one other leader walked right through the throng of tourists waiting for the show. The whole thing took about ten minutes with the two new guards replacing the two who were there when we arrived. The change takes place hourly so there are many opportunities to see it. About forty other people were watching when we were there. The guards, Evzones, members of the presidential guard in traditional costume, are there to protect the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which is in front of the western face of the building.

While we waited for the show to start, tourists were taking their photos with the guards. It is okay to stand right beside them as long as you do not touch them. There was another guard wearing Army fatigues guarding the guards who made sure the tourists behaved. When one young man went up and stood by a guard for his friend to take his photo, he made a double thumbs-up sign. The guard he was standing by slammed the butt of his rifle on the ground, and the guards’ guard came over and told the tourist to put his arms down. He had to put his arms straight down and stiff with clenched fists. We think that the signal for the guards’ guard to come over was the pound of the rifle on the ground. The guards on duty cannot speak, acknowledge anyone, or move once they are in position.

For dinner, we ate in our hotel with the night view of the Acropolis out the window. Both food and service were fine. Then we made an early night of it still adjusting to the time change.