Day 46: The Acropolis...and so much more!

I've had the chance to spend a little bit more time in Athens and I have to stand by my earlier statement- the city is wonderful! I honestly have NO idea what other people are talking about! I wish I could stay here longer I am having such a good time! (Update: Just talked to the girl at the front desk. She says there is an area of town that has really cheap but really nice hotels so many people stay there....unfortunately its a really sketchy neighbourhood! So maybe THAT'S where people are getting their bad impression of Athens!)

I set my alarm for 8am this morning because I knew I had a busy day of sightseeing ahead of me. (PS. My dorm bed/pillow were the most comfortable things I have slept on this whole trip! Another reason why I don't want to leave!) I visited the Roman Agora, then headed up to the Acropolis. Luckily I went when I did because it was packed! Unfortunately a lot of it was under restoration but it was still incredible to see- and great views from way up there! After that I checked out even more sights: the Theatre of Dionysos, Andrianou's Gate and the Ancient Agora. It still amazes me how all these things are still around after so many years. Especially such fragile things like pottery that they've managed to piece back together- incredible! All these places (Rome, Pompeii and here in Athens) makes me think how cool an archeologist's job must be. Imagine the feeling of discovering something buried beneath the ground, cleaning it off, figuring out its purpose, how old it is, etc- must be exhilerating! I don't know, maybe if the radio thing doesn't work out I could do that instead! Ha Ha! I have to admit- I think I enjoyed the ruins here better than Rome! But maybe that's just because I have been to Rome before and I didn't have very high expectations of Athens. Either way, its definitely worth checking out!

After grabbing a quick lunch at the hostel I headed back out again- I saw Hadrian's Library, the Acropolis Museum (they have so many artifacts its ridiculous!) and I also did a little shopping! I swear, its the last thing I will buy! (It has to be because I have no room for anything else!) I found a cute pair of sandals for 15 euro- a lot cheaper than the 40 euro ones I've been seeing! I then headed home just in time to catch the sunset on the rooftop patio- beautiful! (I apologize, I've been using the words beautiful, amazing and incredible way too much in my blog posts- but thats the only way to describe everything!) As much as I would love to stick around Athens a little bit longer, my overnight gerry to Crete leaves at 9pm. And I have heard many great things about the island so I don't think I will be sad for too long!




Love, Dianna