After breakfast today we gathered together to ride the metro to the National Archaeological Museum, a veritable treasure trove of Greek artifacts. Our guide Faye was awaiting us, ready to guide us through the museum & help us decipher the many thousands of years of history represented.
After a couple of hours we bade farewell to Faye then enjoyed time to peruse the collections at leisure or simply relax over a coffee.
Our next stop was Syntagma Square, the bustling center of Athens & home to the Greek Parliament & the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. We arrived in perfect time to witness the 'evzone' soldiers changing guard, resplendent in their traditional costume including pom-poms on their clogs!
The rest of the afternoon was free so the group split into couples or smaller groups - some continued their sightseeing in one or other of Athens' museums, such as the Byzantine Museum, others visited another archaeological site, such as the Ancient Agora, & others shopped in various Athenian neighborhoods.
Later we regrouped to walk & ride a funicular (cog railway) to the top of the city's highest hill, Lycabettus Hill, for spectacular sunset views over the city - we could spot many of the sights we've seen including the Acropolis, Syntagma Square & the Parthenon, the Panathenaic Stadium, & all the way to Piraeus on the Saronic Gulf!
This evening was free to enjoy dinner in Athens at leisure at the end of another great day.
After a couple of hours we bade farewell to Faye then enjoyed time to peruse the collections at leisure or simply relax over a coffee.
Our next stop was Syntagma Square, the bustling center of Athens & home to the Greek Parliament & the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. We arrived in perfect time to witness the 'evzone' soldiers changing guard, resplendent in their traditional costume including pom-poms on their clogs!
The rest of the afternoon was free so the group split into couples or smaller groups - some continued their sightseeing in one or other of Athens' museums, such as the Byzantine Museum, others visited another archaeological site, such as the Ancient Agora, & others shopped in various Athenian neighborhoods.
Later we regrouped to walk & ride a funicular (cog railway) to the top of the city's highest hill, Lycabettus Hill, for spectacular sunset views over the city - we could spot many of the sights we've seen including the Acropolis, Syntagma Square & the Parthenon, the Panathenaic Stadium, & all the way to Piraeus on the Saronic Gulf!
This evening was free to enjoy dinner in Athens at leisure at the end of another great day.
Riding the Athens metro
The 'So-Called' Mask of Agamemnon, from Mycenae
Mycenean gold
Touring the National Museum with Faye
Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, beneath the Parliament
The Temple of Hephaestus
Lycabettus Hill & the Acropolis, viewed from the Ancient Agora
Riding the Lycabettus Hill funicular
Athens & the Saronic Gulf
Lowering of the flag
Athenian sunset
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