Graffiti Garden

It's everywhere you look. In every corner, on every wall and object. Some of it is simple and some of it could rival better known art masterpieces. It somehow adds to the beauty and character of Athens in an ugly way. Nothing is safe from it.

It reminds me of weeds in a garden. The garden of Athens with its glorious ancients ruins and sights, plagued with weeds of graffiti in every corner. I'm sure if an attempt was made to remove the weeds of graffiti they would only quickly return to cripple the garden of its beauty.

 

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No poetry needed

By Sarita

My inner monologue .. you know - the version of your voice that speaks in a poetic rhythmic way - is not needed here. The little island of Thia, we walked/ drove from beautiful cliff (lighthouse) to cliff (white church) sings its own kind of poetry, a mix of sounds and smells from ocean, goats, yellow flowers, to small tangled webs of wine grapes, has a rhythm that requires no extra words.

We visited three beaches today - red, black, and white - each so close but so vastly different. Red volcanic sand, black pebble beach, and white sand, begging us for attention and abandoned in the wintertime, home to well-fed and entertaining local dogs and cats.

Cliffs + beach = paradise

 

We visited 5000 year old ruins, Akrotiri, well preserved like Pompeii, and the best part of our road trip...

 

I made Alex pull over to a local market and careful picked out a bag of local oranges and tomatoes. I mentally did the math .45€ per kilo. Wait, how much is in a kilo again?

 

The total? Wait for it amid pictures of my favorite views...

 

 

63 cents!

 

Alex keeps asking me and no, I would not live here. Too remote. I do love those houses, but this place is for one visit.

 

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The Hard Labor of Santorini

This morning we captured some donkeys carrying construction supplies through Santorini. Donkeys are well suited to travel the stairs and walkways throughout the town.

You can also hire a donkey for 5€ to give you a ride from the docks up to the town of Santorini.

However, what the donkeys can't carry, people must. Yes, that's a hot tube!

 

 

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Beauty from Disaster

The beauty of Santorini is hard to describe. It's amazing so much beauty could result from something as catastrophic as a volcanic explosion.

Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic eruption that destroyed its accident Minoan civilization and created the present day geological landscape some 3600 years ago. The eruption left behind a 400m deep caldera and lagoon surrounded by 980ft high cliffs.

I was so drawn to it this morning that I had to sit outside while enjoying a hot drink and take it all in. The view is truly breathtaking!!

 

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Panathenaic Olympic Stadium

Yesterday we toured the Panathenaic Stadium. It was built in the fourth century B.C. to host the Panathenaic games. It's also referred to as the Roman Stadium, because its was rebuilt by the great Roman benefactor Herodes Atticus in the second century A.D. using the same marble used in the Parthenon.

The first modern Olympic Games were held there in 1896, then 2004 when it provided the grand finish for the marathon.

We got in on the Olympic action too!

Tunnel Exit to the Stadium

First place, gold finish!

Sarah finished third...

...but she tried to steal 1st.

 

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Wet start to Santorini

This morning we were woken by thunder. It sounded like falling shells that rattled the windows. I haven't heard thunder this loud since I was a little boy in Puerto Rico.

Our itinerary this morning involved picking up, packing and heading to the metro, back to the airport for our flight to Santorini. It had been raining nonstop all night and morning and we were both concerned because we had accidentally left our umbrella behind the day prior and we would have to now face the morning rain.

It was a torrential downpour as we stepped out!! Small rivers flowed down the city streets. We were almost instantly soaked. Eventually I waived down a cab when I couldn't take it anymore. A 4€ ride took us the rest of the way.

Now we're at the airport. Delayed due to bad weather and drying out from our morning trip. Hopefully we'll make it to Santorini today.

 

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Two Wheels in Athens

It seems the preferred method of transportation for the locals in the city are motorcycles. They are everywhere! They even ride them on the sidewalks. You can find them parked on the streets, sidewalks and alleys. It makes me want to ride one around Athens.

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Acropolis

Today we checked out Acropolis. It's an amazing sight. A long winding stone and marble road takes you to the top where you can see an impressive view of Athens and the Saronic Golf.

Acropolis is an amazing place with a lot of history. It has endured war, lotting, bomb damage and the ravages of time.

Parthenon!

Oden theater, built in A.D. 161.

The Propylaea, entrance to the Parthenon.

On our way out we stopped for some sun and coffee.

 

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