Greece - Athens, Agora

 

After leaving the Acropolis we walked into the Plaka, which is the old area of Athens, narrow pedestrian streets, small tile roofed houses.

Hungry, we stopped at the first restaurant we found. It spilled out of it's little patio on to the surrounding streets and stairs. Photo by Rick.

At 5 Euro, Rick's most expensive beer yet.

We shared a cheese pie and a spinach pie

with the Acropolis behind

and lemon trees in front.

Revitalized we set off, past the Roman Agora (they couldn't, of course, use the Greek one, had to build their own)

and Hadrian's library,

through an obstacle course of shops and restaurants and

across the subway tracks (there are ancient ruins lying on both sides of the tracks here)

and into the Greek Agora (Central Public Space) and the first stop was the Stoa a large building that was restored in the 1950s.

This housed

artifacts from the Agora

The area is not very well signed and although you can see outlines of buildings and rows of pillar bases there is also a lot of stone lying around with no particular organization.

Some

inhabitants.

We walked through the middle Agora and past an area labelled Civic Offices and saw the Great Drain (Sewage removal)

Just as we had seen the Agora from the Acropolis

we had great views of the Acropolis from the Agora.

Staff started blowing their whistles for closing time just as we were headed for the Temple of Hephaestus (Patron God of metalworking, craftsmen and fire). They gave us 5 minutes.

We climbed up and had a quick look

and another view of the Stoa and the Acropolis.

Back out along the street of restaurants and I realized there was a Hard Rock Cafe (Picture for Christine)

We caught the subway home, put our feet up, had a glass of wine and headed out for dinner.

Seafood restaurant this time. Both of us had shrimp (though to call these shrimp is a gross understatement, they are huge, 6, grilled, and I was full)

Not too full though as we went looking for dessert. We got a little freaked out with the prices but the guy behind the counter explained that it was per kilogram and then weighed my little cake and it was 1.20Euro.

Rick's selection was custom built for him, first custard, then a custard filled profiterole

then his choice of mousse (milk chocolate) and topped with chocolate sprinkles.

Part of an art display in a mall

Just the name of the piece, no artist listed,

Heavily Guarded

Then home, pleasantly exhausted after a truly great day.