All my life I’ve wanted to visit Greece and indulge my passion for ancient history, archaeology and mythology.
When my husband first broached the subject of marking our 40th anniversary (in 2013) with a vacation, it came to mind immediately.
Thus, we embarked on the trip of a lifetime! Come along for the ride, will you?
This is a continuing series. See other chapters HERE.
Part VII: Athens and Cape Sounion (Attica)
Sept. 14 & 15, 2013
Here we were, back where it all started. The Classical Land Tour had been by turns, exhilarating, exhausting, fascinating, incredible; everything I had dreamt of and more! The next two days were spent exploring Athens and Cape Sounion in the Attica region.
Except as noted, photos ©Debbie D. & The Doglady’s Den
Sept 14: Athens sightseeing tour including new museum of the Acropolis
This tour gives you an opportunity to observe the striking contrasts that make Athens such a fascinating city. Our expert guides will take you to see the Panathenaic Stadium where the first Olympic Games of modern times were held in 1896 (short stop).
Continue and pass by the Prime Minister’s residence (ex Royal Palace) guarded by the Euzones in their colorful uniform, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Hadrian’s Arch, the Parliament and the memorial to the Unknown Soldier, the Academy, the University, the National Library, the Constitution Square (Syntagma).
On the Acropolis visit the Architectural Masterpieces of the Golden Age of Athens: The Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Erechtheion and finally “the harmony between material and spirit”, the monument that “puts order in the mind”, the Parthenon.
Continue and visit the place where at last the statues found their home and admire the wonders of the classical era: The new Acropolis museum.
Modern Athens:
[click on images to enlarge]
~~~~~~~~
The Acropolis:
Pinnacle of my lifetime dream come true!
.jpg)
The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a rocky outcrop above the city and contains the remains of several buildings of architectural and historic significance, especially the Parthenon.
The Parthenon was completed in 438 BC and is the most important surviving building of Classical Greece. It is regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy and Western civilization.
To those who built it, the Parthenon and other Periclean monuments of the Acropolis were seen as a celebration of Hellenic victory over the Persian invaders and as a thanksgiving to the gods for that victory.
The Greek Ministry of Culture is currently carrying out a program of selective restoration and reconstruction to ensure the stability of the partially ruined structure.
[click on images to enlarge]
(links open in new window)
There are open viewing areas outdoors and glass-bottomed floors indoors to display these ruins.
Sept 15: Cape Sounion afternoon tour
Drive along the scenic coastal road through the wonderful beach resort areas of Glyfada, Vouliagmeni and Varkiza, arriving at the southern point of Attica, Cape Sounion, where the white marble pillars of the Temple of Poseidon still stand.
This is a photographer’ s delight so bring your camera! Early evening return to hotel.
Attica Coast and Cape Sounion
The Attic Peninsula is lovely, with the rich Aegean Sea ranging from deep blue to almost turquoise. At the southernmost point is Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, one of the major monuments of the Golden Age of Athens.
Constructed between 444–440 BC, its remains are perched on the headland, surrounded on three sides by water, 60m (200ft) above sea level. Before the 20th century, these ruins were not roped off and anyone could touch them.
Many went so far as to carve their names into the pillars, including English nobleman and poet Lord Byron.
[click on images to enlarge]
~~~~~~~~
Next, on May 10:
Part VIII – Aegean Cruise;
First stop, Mykonos Island
And then, come on back for these:
(I’m on a roll! 😉 )
May 15th
Battle of the Bands
A Neil Young classic!
~~~~~~~~
May 21st
A guest post by author
Guilie Castillo-Oriard!
And More!
~~~~~~~~
Do you like ancient history and exploring ruins?
What’s your idea of the perfect vacation?
What’s the most interesting place you have visited?
Looking forward to your comments!
THE ENTIRE GREEK ODYSSEY SERIES:
Follow THE DOGLADY’S DEN on WordPress.com
Discover more from The Doglady's Den
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Dog Mom and (retired) Canine Innkeeper in suburban Toronto, Canada, known as The Doglady. Former corporate workaholic. Writer, photographer, digital creator. Animal lover, music fanatic, inveterate traveller. Eternal hippie/rockchick. History, literature and cinema buff. Hockey and soccer fan. Dedicated night owl. German/Canadian binational, multilingual. Let me entertain you!
24 thoughts on “ATHENS & CAPE SOUNION (ATTICA): GREEK ODYSSEY PART VII”
Hi Debbie!
It certainly was a trip of a lifetime! Your pictures are fabulous. In fact, the entire post is quite impressive. I love history and find it fascinating that they’ve unearthed more beneath the new museum!
Hi diedre; I’m glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂 It’s “only” taking five years to document this trip. 😛 I thought I should finish it before the next trip starts in Sept. LOL
Thanks for checking it out!
This was so beautiful. I would love to visit Greece some day.
I’m glad you enjoyed this, Rachna. I hope your wish to visit Greece comes true. It’s an incredible country! ♥ Thanks for visiting The Den. 🙂
That shoreline appears treacherous, yet appealing.
So many impacting pictures here, Debbie… Thanks!
It was roped off, but yes, I wouldn’t get too close! 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the photos, Myke. Thanks for coming by!
Oh my gosh, love the pictures, Debbie! Looks like an exciting place to visit and soak in a lot of beauty and history. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
B
Hi Bren! I’m so glad you enjoyed this travelogue. 🙂 I figured, after starting it five years ago, I should finish the damn thing, since we’re taking another trip this fall. That might take me 10 years to complete. LOL Greece is truly a magical place. ♥ Thanks for coming by.
Debbie,
What a magical place to vacation, especially for someone such as yourself who dreamed about this destination! Although, I would like to see these places first hand I know that one we’ll never afford such a trip and two my fear of flying will never allow it. So, I’m content to enjoy others’ sharing these distant faraway lands through photographs. You captured some amazing images! The museum with the glass floor sounds very cool! I love seeing city ruins and sunken ships. It’s incredible! At the moment, I can’t think of any placed we visited that falls into this kind of interesting but you know how I feel about the northeast, especially Maine. I love vacationing there but we’ll never move there like DD#2. lol Thanks for sharing.
Curious as a Cathy
5-Get2KnowMe Questions, A2ZReflections, & BoTB Results
Hi Cathy; One of the greatest things about the internet is the ability to armchair travel, anywhere in the world. You’re right, it’s incredibly expensive to go abroad, which is why these trips are few and far between. We were both born in Europe and are drawn back there, plus hubby’s immediate family still lives in Italy. The glass museum floor was pretty amazing, but unfortunately, not good for pictures, due to the reflection. That’s why I only shared the outdoor ones. Maine sounds like a lovely place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to be there in the winter. Much colder even than where we are in Canada! Maybe DD#2 can come visit you for Christmas, instead. 😉 Thanks for checking out my travelogue. Another one coming on Thursday. I want to finish this series before we go on our next trip. I started writing these five years ago. 😛
Glad to be part of your Grecian holiday…..
Thanks for checking it out. More to come, soon! 🙂
What a wonderful trip. I haven’t been to Greece yet but would love to go. On the bucket list.
Welcome to The Den, Rebecca! 🙂 Greece is truly magical and I hope you do get there. It was my lifetime dream come true! ♥ Thanks for coming by.
WOW! Sounds and looks like truly a trip of a lifetime.
Welcome to The Den, Haralee. It was my lifetime dream come true and I could hardly believe it was happening! ♥ Thanks for dropping in.
So glad that you are continuing this series, Debbie. For some of us this might be the only ‘visit’ to Greece we will have!
I’m glad you enjoy it, Corinne. 🙂 It’s also good for me, as a permanent record, so I can relive the memories. Will be making a few more this Fall. Hope it doesn’t take me five years to finish those travelogues!
oh I am sooo envious! What a delightful trip! I minored in Philosophy in college and Greece is on my bucket list!
It was my lifetime dream come true to visit Greece. 😀 I never thought it would happen, but it finally did! I wish you the same. Thanks for dropping in.
Oh, this is lovely. I am blogging about my 1969 trip to Europe and sometime in June I will get to Athens. Thanks for sharing your pics.
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Denise. 🙂 Looking forward to your Athens post, as well.
I would love to visit Greece someday. I’ve always had a fascination for it ever since I can remember. Thanks for sharing your fab pictures.
I hope you get there, Suzy! It’s a magical place. ♥ Thanks for dropping in.