The Traveling Martens

A day in Athens and flight to Barcelona

Our high speed ferry was much smoother than a few days ago, and we arrived in Athens mid-afternoon, figured out the Athens train system (the airport and all the transportation here is much nicer since the Olympics) and checked in to our hotel. In fact, Athens put in some new underground rail lines for the Olympics and had to dig them more than 50 feet deep to avoid destroying too many unknown potential ancient sites. Nevertheless, they discovered many new excavation sites, and the homes, pottery, even ancient kids´ toys are now in displays all along the rail stations where they were found. We then headed for one of the several long, wide pedestrian streets which spread out from downtown and all meet at the base of the Acropolis, high on its hill. You can even see the Parthenon and some of the other temples on the Acropolis from the streets below. Even the first view from far away explains why these were temples of gods.

We walked around the streets, which are full of modern clothing stores and cafes, and then you suddenly turn a corner and there is a park full of ancient columns and ruins- fascinating! We ate dinner at a street cafe, and then had a bottle of wine waiting for the sunset. After dark, we walked to the base of the Acropolis and took in one of the coolest views. There are floodlights at the base of the hill which illuminate the sides, shining up to the white marble monuments on top which are also light up. Everything looks like it is floating in the sky with the dark backdrop of night.

We got up early the next morning, put on our walking shoes, and headed out to see the actual monuments in the sky. Even walking around the base, you come across incredible ruins, including two old theatres, one of which has been restored and is still used by the Athens orchestra (which we imagine would be an incredible setting). Even the theatre which hasn´t been restored still has amazing marble chairs set in a giant half circle around the stage, and the columns at the top are still there. Marble, marble, everywhere! Buildings, sidewalks, steps, the airport, entire bathrooms, benches, etc. Walking up the steps on one side of the hill you see the first of several temples immediately, it forms the entrance to the top of the Acropolis. There is a lot of restoration work going on everywhere, but it doesn´t detract from the awe the temples inspire upon seeing them. The Parthenon itself is incredible, and the view shows all of Athens at your feet and the sea out in the distance.

After another gyro, we headed for the new Athens airport on the rail we had used a lot already. However, on the way there, we happened to get a ticket and fined by some very friendly Greek cops on the rail. Unfortunately, we accidentally bought a rail ticket which wouldn´t take us as far as the airport. Oops! At least we didn´t need to get a lawyer! At the airport, we saw someone wearing a Steamboat Springs, CO t-shirt, and by coincidence, Stacy was wearing her Steamboat t-shirt too.

It was a nice flight on Iberia, with some great Spanish red wine with dinner (Greek wine is nice, but it´s not one of Greece´s strengths, even though we had plenty). The sun was going down when we walked out of Barcelona´s airport, so we got another great sunset. It took us a few hours on the metro to get to the city and we checked into our hostel here. Lacking a few things like AC and a private bathroom, we are looking today for someplace a little nicer and to see the Barcelona we have heard good things about. It´s nice and sunny, more later.

posted by Mel and Stacy Marten @ 5:15 AM