K: Kalimera: Greek yoghurt with Greek šÆ š
H: Kalimera š. Hearty breakfast consumed. Ready for the acropolisš
K: yep. just need to change my shoes and get some sun cream. ā wonder where J’s got to?
J: Sorry, I got waylaid in the most wonderful, albeit the seediest part of Athens but I did have great time. I met and danced with Zorba, all night long, as we are a similar vintage….the 60s dear girl and most definitely not the 70s, is my era (you forget that I`m old and am now officially deemed` vulnerable`!!)….I`m now woozy on ouzo and olives, not to mention Zorba and don`t feel in the least vulnerable.
We walked up through Plaka, very vibrant with twisty lanes, and then through Anafiotika, lots of lovely spring flowers adorn the paths, small yards and houses with blue doors and maroon shutters. Cats desperate for sausage were left a little hungry!
Our main goal for the morning, the Acropolis, a must do if in Athens. Lots of lovely ancient ruins on a limestone plateau. Glad we carried lots of water, sun cream and remembered our hats and parasols.
The must sees, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the delightful proportions of the Temple of Athena Nike (neek-ee) in its Ionic style, the prestigious Erechtheion and the Parthenon, a Doric temple that served the cult of Virgin Athena.
Feeling a bit peckish, but we decide to nip into the Ancient Agora (a public space) before a late lunch, nothing more than a bag of ruins really with some 1950’s reconstruction! Though it was in the Archaic and Classical period (600 – 100BC) the heart of government and the judiciary. The Athenian Agora, as opposed to anyone else’s Agora, served 2 functions, that of a centre for politics and as a market place. The Temple of Hephaitos is well preserved with a decorated frieze, some panels are unfinished, or maybe not even started.
H: That looks scrummy š. Acropolis was huge š. Will need to have a greek mountain tea tooš
K: Greek Mountain tea.. reads a bit like chamomile.. yuk.. hay bales..
H: Do wonder what is does to u š. I’ll stick to a black tea and save the mountain one for the last day!
K: maybe go first day and get it over and done with š„µ
K: see we have a free afternoon. fancy going down to kerameikos for a wander and then onto gazi.
- H: I fancy a souvlaki for tea š
- K: Well with the temperature set to soar as the trip goes on I might start, on cooler days, with stifado. š
- H: I can see us eating and drinking a lot on this tripš
- K: definitely, haven’t even got to desert yet.. baklava is only the start.. Good job I love honey šÆ
- H: Wonder how many of those we will consume over the holsš . How can people go to greece and want English fish & chips
- K: yuk.. well Greek style fish and chips.. but not our fatty yukky fish and chips.. and full English.. š
- K: this bar you’ve chosen for tonight is playing some real funk tunes.. š¶
- H: ššŗš¾ your choice tomorrow in Nafplion š
- K: May need a rest.. š“
- H: Maybe a quiet coastal bar š
- K: mmm that sounds nice, somewhere to dip my toes in the water..
K: C, just off to bed after a tiring day spent wandering at the acropolis, kerameikos and gazi where H had us go and spend the evening in a groovy jazz funk bar. xx
J: You’re being extremely mean in your endeavours to make C decidedly envious of we three enjoying such a fabulous trip. I`m still suffering a hangover in the wake of all my nocturnal revelling with Zorba, hotly followed by boozing in the jazz bar. H, you really are leading both K and me astray when we are both usually such staid, tee-total with bangers and mash being as exciting as our food fare ever gets, stay-at-homes. xxx A hair of the dog may be the solution.
Zorbas Explorers in the Peloponissos 