Day 28
I wake up, rip the curtains open and see that the sun’s out. Throwing some clothes on, I race out the door to the Ancient Agora for 8am as I know the Temple of Hephaistos will be lit up with the early morning light. I’m the first one at the gate and I head to the temple first thing.
It’s one of the most preserved buildings of it’s kind in the world and truly impressive. Walking in it’s shadow, I can pretend it’s 400 BC and I’m out for my morning stroll before heading to the market. Wouldn’t it be amazing to go back in time and see Athens how it was. It must have been absolutely beautiful. And to think that this temple has lasted hundreds of years! So much rich history is tough to wrap my head around. I’m walking in the footsteps of people who were dressed in togas and leather sandals. I’ve experienced ancient history on my travels in the Middle East, but it repeatedly blows my mind. We are on this planet for such a short time in the grand scheme of things. What will people in the future say about our cities and structures? Will they be as impressed as I am standing here?
I prefer the Ancient Agora to the Acropolis for a couple of reasons. There isn’t any scaffolding around the temple, I’m free to explore, there’s less modern conveniences such as pathways and signs, I’m the only at the site for the entire hour I visit, and it’s not as polished as the Acropolis. You feel like you wandered onto an archeology dig instead of a tourist site.
I go back to the hotel to fuel up with breakfast before heading back out to visit Hadrien’s Library and the Tower of the Wind. When I purchased my ticket for the Acropolis online, I chose the multiple day/site option so that I could visit the most important sites over a three day period. I found it was the best idea as then I didn’t have to rush around and visit everything in one day, it was cheaper and I skipped the line-ups. When I walked past the Acropolis entrance this afternoon, there was a line down the street. Ugh! I detest line-ups and prefer to get up at the crack of dawn to avoid them. I have better things to do with my time.
In the afternoon, I meet up with Anabelia (our guide) and four Americans, for my food tour with Athens Walks Tours. Anabelia is originally from Argentina but she came here four years ago for a vacation and never left. She’s completely fluent in Greek and her knowledge of the city is boundless. Her enthusiasm about food is infectious and I proceed to eat my way through Athens in the next four hours.
Spanakopita, loukamades, gyros, tomato jam on toasted bread, fried feta with honey, olive oils and balsamic vinegars, and the list goes on and on. My favourite is the loukamades which are small donuts drenched in honey and cinnamon that are served warm. Heavenly! Hours later I am so full it’s taking all my willpower to shovel the last bit of gyro into my mouth. The elastic waist on my pants is stretched to the max and my stomach aches. I absolutely LOVE food tours!
I decide I need to try and walk some of the food off and waddle my way through the alleys close to the hotel that sell souvenirs. A young man yells, “Hey lady! Sixty percent off for you.” I tell him no thanks and keep walking. Thirty minutes later I walk past the same guy and he yells, “Hey lady! How about now?” I yell back a definitive, “Nope!” He laughs and says, “That answer. I think you are very sure.” “I couldn’t be more sure my friend”, and I wish him a good night.
My food baby still hasn’t dropped from the top of my stomach but I’m done with my waddle and head back to the hotel to sleep it off.
