Athens is amazing.
Had a sleep in this morning til 9am.
I was so tired.
The bus trip to see Poseidon's Temple yesterday was a very long return journey .... they were dropping people off at various hotels through Athens on the way back...and I was the very last.....so I was a bit worn out.
I had booked to go on a full day tour to Delphi by bus today....8am to about 8pm...but I decided not to do it....just wanted to wander Athens..and after yesterday, didn't want to be trapped on another bus tour.
Anyway, rang the Trafalgar rep here in Athens...at 8.15pm.....no problem...they would ring and cancel for me....and there would be a full refund. The service is absolutely amazing.
So, after the best breakfast ever....off on the Hoho bus round Athens.
My first stop was The Acropolis Museum where they have finally housed all they have salvaged from the Acropolis in one museum.
( Not the Elgin Marbles though.... But don't get them started on that!
I heard several guides saying how Lord Elgin stole the marbles.
Don't think that's how England quite sees it.
But, if I was Greek, I would have declared war by now! )
This museum is quite new and absolutely amazing.
Marble figures everywhere.
Films showing the history.
Wall and walls and walls of marbles.
It was absolutely fascinating.
Loved it.
Spent 3 hours there....could have spent 6.
Then, I walked round a corner, still studying statues, and there is an enormous wall of glass in front of me...and there is the Acropolis!
Right there.
In plain sight....way up high above the museum
Perfect position.
And, just like Paris....I didn't know it was there.
My mouth dropped open.
Just unbelievable.
So I went outside to the terrace and outdoor cafe that looks up to the Acropolis and just gazed.
This terrace overlooks several apartment buildings....and one of the rooftop gardens has a sculpture....and I am sure it is there in self defence.....see the photo.

'Are you looking at me?!'

So then back to the Hoho bus.
This time to Zeus' Temple.
I loved this.
Not much there just these enormous columns ...really enormous columns.
We couldn't walk amongst them as it was roped off....same as most of the others I have seen, with perhaps the exception of Pompeii.....(Mind you, the beds in the brothel were roped off there....'Reserved', I s'pose....someone had rung ahead. )

One enormous column at Zeus' Temple fell in the last earthquake....and it just lying as it fell.
THAT makes you realise how big they are.

It is very hot and very dusty...but these things have been there since 449BC.
Just incredible to wander round, gaze up....and try to take a good photo.
There were bits of marble lying everywhere....evidence to how big this structure must have been.

Continued on the bus....then back to the hotel for several swims.
Came up with a great idea for getting my washing dry.
Would go up to the pool in one wet t-shirt and shorts....have a swim....they'd be dry...
Go back to my room, put on another set....same thing.
Not game enough to do it with my underwear though.
( I can hear you saying....thank god for that.)

On the bus...there were sites where they were going to build new railway stations...but found ruins instead so these have been partitioned off and can be viewed as you walk along the street.
And the Acropolis Museum has glass floors and is built sort of on stilts....so you can see the ruins below the ground floor.

So...writing this early today....
Off to dinner on the rooftop tonight at my 'Reserved' table....
That's mine for 3 nights!

Planning on having just Entree and seeing if I can fit the ice cream in.
If not, tomorrow night, it'll just be the ice cream!

Tomorrow off the the Archaeological Museum just down the street here.
Want to see the 'first' computer....!!!!!!
The Antikythera Mechanism ..... And it is dated 2nd century BC!
I am actually going to see this in person....
Don't think I will be the one to tell them how the gears work though....but I will see it!

Oh .... And the Greek plumbing system is not designed to have 'rubbish' put in it.... So you are not allowed to throw the toilet paper into the bowl. You have to put it in a bin beside the toilet.
I cannot begin to tell you how hard that is to remember.

Back from dinner now.
Sunset was beautiful.
The ice cream beat me again.

It was great to talk to you yesterday, Emily and hear all the news. Love you lots xxx

Having an early night and a little sleep in.