Athens

Hi Everyone hope you are all enjoying Australia in July. Since the last blog we have been in Athens and are now in Paris.
First, Athens - it was ok but we weren't rapped in Athens but we did manage to do the usual touristy trip. We went with a guided tour around Athens passing and stopping at many places eg. the Panathenaic Stadium which was first built in the 4th Century BC and refurbished in 1896 for the first modern day Olympics. The major part of this tour was the Acropolis and the Parthenon at which point we managed to lose the tour and the guide. After running all over the place, in 200 degree heat, we finally found them at the last stop which was the new Acropolis Museum. This building was unbelievable in its design and was well worth going on tour. There is one positive about us getting lost just about every day no matter where we are and that is we end up walking miles out of our way great for the weight seeing the food os is a trifle fattening.
We also did the usual flea market every place in the world has one of these - bought a few things so watch out here come the keyrings, magnets etc. Caught a tram to the Athens southern coast very hot and not very pleasant, I am going to be a broken record but we have the best beaches, you actually had to pay to walk on the sand in some of the Athens' beaches.
Two fun things that we did - we went to an open air cinema in the middle of Athens on a roof top. We were told to get there early to get a seat and ended up with the best seat in the place a balcony for two. We saw some little known movie called 'Oranges and Sunshine' it was lovely sitting in the warmth under the stars with the Acropolis in the background. The other was the changing of the Eyzones. They are the guards that look after the tomb of the unknown soldier outside The House of Parliament. They wear very elaborate uniforms and have to stand completely still for four 1 hour shifts every day. We had front row position as they paraded past on Sunday morning, marching in perfectly straight lines in perfect time.
We left Athens on Monday morning only to get stuck in a massive traffic jam as the taxi drivers were on strike and had parked themselves in the middle lanes of all major roads in and out of the city.

The House of parliament and steps down to Syntagma Square where all the rioting/demonstrations occurred most nights we were there.

Amphitheatre where the famous still sing today- beautiful

Us being tourists in front of one of the smaller temples of Athena, hard to see in the picture but the columns are women holding it all together, they did it back in those days as well.

Mez waiting patiently for the movie to start if you look closely you might be abke to see we were the only ones there but it was packed by start of movie

Us with the guard I think Mez thought she had better stand at attention herself.

All around Athens there are street dogs that lie and sleep most of the day. The government vaccinates them and this one in the picture is always there when ever the marching band starts to play and walks along side the band. I put this in for you Cath.

The Eyzones at the march past in their Sunday uniform of white but normally they are in a cream heavier material.

Goodbye Athens it has been an experience but I don't think I will be back.