May 9-12, 2015:
This part of our trip to Greece in 2015 was spent in Athens and Hydra, an island separated from the Peloponnese Region by a narrow strip of water.
ATHENS:
Athens is the capital of Greece. It was also at the heart of Ancient Greece, a powerful civilization and empire. The city is still dominated by 5th-century BC landmarks, including the Acropolis, a hilltop citadel topped with ancient buildings like the colonnaded Parthenon temple.
Athens at Night:
We made it safely to our downtown hotel (though 3 men unsuccessfully tried to grab/open Nancy’s purse on the Metro).
Athens at night
National Archaeological Museum, Athens:
The National Archaeological Museum in Athens houses some of the most important artifacts from a variety of archaeological locations around Greece from prehistory to late antiquity. It contains the richest collection of Greek Antiquity artifacts worldwide.
National Archaeological Museum
Churches and Monasteries in Athens:
There are a variety of churches and monasteries in Athens.
Churches and Monasteries in Athens
Walking around Athens:
We did a self-guided walking tour of Athens…
Self-Guided Walking Tour of Athens
Cow puppet playing the piano
Street Musicians
Street Art in Athens
Greek gyros and beer in Athens
Athenian Agora:
The Agora was in ancient times the business, political, and legal center of Athens, bringing together citizens and foreigners, litigants and jurors, and merchants and philosophers.
Athenian Agora
Athens Acropolis:
The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city of Athens, Greece, and contains the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historical significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. The word Acropolis is from the Greek words ἄκρον (akron, “highest point, extremity”) and πόλις (polis, “city”).
Lots of scaffolding and renovation, it was hard to get good pictures…
Athens Acropolis
Acropolis Museum:
The Acropolis Museum is an archaeological museum focused on the findings of the archaeological site of the Acropolis of Athens.
Acropolis Museum
HYDRA:
Hydra, or Ydra or Idra, and in antiquity Hydrea, is one of the Saronic Islands of Greece, located in the Aegean Sea between the Myrtoan Sea and the Argolic Gulf.
Hydra
Monastery (Church) of the Dormition, Hydra:
The Church of Dormition, also called the “Monastery”, is located to the middle of the quayside, and was built in the middle of the 17th century.
Monastery (Church) of the Dormition
Lazaros Koundouriotis Historical Mansion, Hydra:
The Lazaros Kountouriotis Mansion was built in 1780 by the largest shipowner of Hydra and the Mediterranean. Lazaros Kountouriotis (1769-1852) was also the largest financier of the Greek War of Independence in 1821.
Lazaros Koundouriotis Historical Mansion
Kodylenia’s Taverna, Hydra:
Enjoying our last meal of great Greek food. We fly home from Athens tomorrow…
Kodylenia’s Taverna, Hydra
ATHENS:
Not so fast! The Athens Metro was closed down (the workers just went on strike the morning of our flight out)! Of course we had pre-bought our metro tickets to the airport the previous day. We had to find an ATM (and exchange our Euros) and then take a taxi to the airport.
Athens Airport McDonalds
This concludes Part 2 of our 2015 trip to Greece.