Sunday with Athena

Sunday April 26, 2009
5:00 PM

Greetings to you from Piraeus, a town of 1.2 million just outside of Athens Greece where the Noordam docked at the port. The alarm went off at 6:50 AM and we have been going ever since. But now have retired to our Veranda where it is very comfortable about 75 or 80 F cloudy but sunny. I have opened the bottle of chardonnay and am ready for the daily blog.

Our shore excursion was called “the best of Athens” and consisted of a visit to a museum, the Acropolis, a Grecian lunch and finally shopping in the Platka. Since Athens is about 40 minutes by vehicle or subway from the port area we boarded a nice touring bus at 8:40.

Our first stop after a bus ride that took us by two Olympic Stadiums, Hadrian’s Gate, the US embassy, etc was at the national archaeological museum. There were 5 buses of Holland American passengers with 45 people each and since it was Sunday quite a few other tourists so getting a private tour was problematic. We spent the most time in the Mycenaean Room which had artifacts from the Mycenaen period about 1400 BC. This was a very important period of world history as these people were the predecessors of the Ancient Greeks and were very civilized with farming, towns, economies, and education. Of course much is known from the art which was primarily the burial gifts for the richer people who were buried in tombs in the hillside which have be excavated and chronicled. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the period and passionate about it importance so it was a very fascinating hour. At the conclusion we toured the rest of the museum quickly and saw many Greek statutes which are truly life like. The climax was the one meter high statute of Athena a 1/12 size replica of the actual statute of Athena that was in the middle of the Parthenon for 800 years before being carried away by the Ottomans to Constantinople and lost. Athena was the daughter of Zeus and was the goddess of wisdom but carried a full shield and a lance.

Well the ship is now moving and it is 5:30 PM. We did leave a couple of people that Marlene talked to at lunch when they did not make the bus at 4 PM. One girl was a financial planner for Wells Fargo and the two of them (she is traveling with a female c0-worker) were also the last returning from Santorini

After the museum we took a ten minute ride in the bus to the Acropolis which is the highest part of the city and where the Ancient Greeks wanted to build a temple to Athena high close to the home of the Gods. The Parthenon built for Athena was built by the well respected, Pericles, who ruled a democracy in the Grecian golden age. It took 15 years to build between 447 and 432BC and is made of white marble. It was damaged in 427 BC when the Persians attacked. Eventually it was further destroyed in war when the Ottomans stored munitions and powder there and a bomb hit it. Many of the columns (8x 17) remained standing as the damage was more in the center and to the roof. There is restoration work going on now but slowly. From the Acropolis you get wonderful views including the Agora and the place where the senate met as well as a theater. Quite a fine ruin. The cost of entry was 25 Euros and it was very crowded this Sunday.

Both of the tour sites were brought to life with the fine commentary by our tour guide, but we agree that the cost of the Holland American excursions is too much for what you get.

We are now moving away from port people are waving and we are passing a ferry boat which is quite large but dwarfed by our ship.

From the Acropolis we had a hike to lunch on a small street in the old district of town, the Platka but it was part of the tour. It consisted of three course including appetizers, a main course of beef and rice and baklava for dessert. There was also complimentary wine but not enough that is why I am imbibing now.

After lunch we had a successful shopping experience buying some gifts as well as postcards and my playing cards. All in all a long tiring day and most of the people in the long line waiting to re-board the ship are very glad tomorrow is a sea day ……a break from break neck sight seeing.

However, the Adventure is truly fun and we are having a wonderful time. Who would have ever thought I would visit the Parthenon which was such a big topic of Mr. Gable’s lectures back at Grand Valley High School……remember them Bryan???

So it is back to sea headed for Italia…….

Now posting after dinner which was preceded by a hour long show by a violinist from Wales who I can now hear playing the second show at 9 PM because the Exploration Café where the computers are is next to the theater.