Day 3 - Athens

Today's walking adventure of Athens started after a great breakfast at 8.30am. With our map in the hands of Noel we headed for the Acropolis. We were only led astray once by Noel's navigation and we began our climb to the top. Not as hard as climbing Lofty and as we went up the south side  not crowded. That soon changed and as we got up closer to the top the crowds began but not too bad.

The sacred rock of the Acropolis was for many years the most important religious centre of the city of Athens. With the Parthenon, Propylaea, Temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheion erected on this site it is an impressive place to visit. The weather is perfect, blue sky and around 30 degrees.

We decided after the Acropolis we needed a nescafé frappa so we sat in a park for a rest and to hydrate in an outside café. Then it was time to hit the pavement and we then walked to the National Archaeological Museum. We found this no problem so Noel was awarded a probationary Athens Tour Guide licence. This museum is the largest Archaeological museum in Greece and one of the most important museums in the world devoted to Greek art. It contains unique works of art representing the major civilisations that flourished in Greece. It had some amazing gold jewellery and terracotta figurines, bronze collections and incredible sculptures. The museum also had a display form the Antikythera Shipwreck dated to 60-50 BC. The finds from the shipwreck bear witness to the aesthetic preferences of the purchasers but also the phenomenon of the art trade in western civilisation.

Time for lunch so we headed back down the mall for a lovely fresh roll. After lunch we split up, Noel was off to the war museum, Mark was off to try and get a ticket to the soccer game tonight Olympia v Paris, Donna and I were off to shopping street.

Donna and I did some successful jewellery shopping, I got some gold earrings, Donna earrings and a ring. I also bought a dress and we both got bracelets. Happy with our purchases we stopped for a drink before our walk back to the hotel. On the way back we went passed Parliament house and it was changing of the Evzone Guards which was nifty.

Noel was happy with his trip to the war museum and Mark is like a child on Xmas morning as he has his ticket to the soccer. Mark is also now a member of the Olympia Football Club which he had to join to get the ticket to the game.

Tonight Donna, Noel and I will meet our fellow travellers and a light dinner whilst Mark is of to the soccer.

Will add some photos later.  Big day tomorrow cheers until next time J&N.