GREECE, WHERE EVERY SALAD IS A GREEK SALAD
october 18 to 22, 2015
Greece is one place I will definitetly have to go back to one day. There was no way in my 60 day trip that'd I be able to see everything in Greece I'd like to see, nor did I have enough money to do so. The little that I was able to see in Greece though was amazing! Thessaloniki and Athens lived up to everything I could hope for. With a country who's history is so well known and so powerful, it was surreal to begin to see places that I had known the name of since a child and to be close to the buildings, history, and mythology that has almost become common knowledge even halfway around the world.
Greece was one of the more expensive countries during this trip, and a bit of a splurge in comparison to the last few countries I'd travelled. Many people believe travelling there right now would be very inexpensive because the economy is struggling but, this is not the case. The tourism prices still remain the same it seems or at least close enough to their previous price that it was hard for me to notice receiving any reduction for hostels, attractions, and restaurants. The struggle could maybe be seen a bit at the grocery store or at small shops, but hardly so.
Greece was one of the more expensive countries during this trip, and a bit of a splurge in comparison to the last few countries I'd travelled. Many people believe travelling there right now would be very inexpensive because the economy is struggling but, this is not the case. The tourism prices still remain the same it seems or at least close enough to their previous price that it was hard for me to notice receiving any reduction for hostels, attractions, and restaurants. The struggle could maybe be seen a bit at the grocery store or at small shops, but hardly so.
Thessaloniki
October 18 to 20, 2015
Thessaloniki is a seaside, port city in Greece with a lot of history. Evidence of the more difficult financial times can be seen here, but sparsely. It has a fairly busy center of town by the water with a great mix of upscale and middle level restaurants, bars and shops. As well, the walk up to the fortress over the city is a fun adventure and offers a great view. Thessaloniki, over Athens, had much more of a mixed history in its looks including many visible signs of Byzantines, Ottomans, and Romans.
Athens
October 20 to 22, 2015
At this point in my life I have seen many, many sights and places that are famous, that have arguably changed the world, or that are first, biggest, best, etc. Still, there is something about Athens that makes me feel like none of those other places could hold a candle to this one. It is Ancient Greece. It is the center of Greek Mythology. Its Athens for crying out loud!!
The temple of olympian zeus and the panathenaic stadium
The Temple of Olympian Zeus was a cool place to visit. The sight itself is small but you can walk amongst all the pillars, standing and fallen, and it feels very classically Greek. It was started being built in 174 BCE and wasn't complete for centuries. Its dedicated to the Greek god Zeus.
The Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro, hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble. In the area that surrounds it there are a number of statues portraying different traditional Olympic events. You can enter the stadium for a fee or see it from outside as we did.
The Panathenaic Stadium, also known as Kallimarmaro, hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and is the only stadium in the world built entirely of marble. In the area that surrounds it there are a number of statues portraying different traditional Olympic events. You can enter the stadium for a fee or see it from outside as we did.
Even the Subway stations in Athens offer a trip to the past
Theatre of Dionysus, The Odeon of Herodes Atticus & The Roman Agora
Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus was built for the god Dionysus, the god of plays and wine. It was built of marble in the 6th century BCE. Surrounding the theatre is a collection of statues that were once apart of it. You can explore the theatre and surrounding area. The Acropolis overlooks the theatre.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a large stone theatre built on a southern slope of the Acropolis. It was built in 161 AD and had a capacity of 5000 people.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a large stone theatre built on a southern slope of the Acropolis. It was built in 161 AD and had a capacity of 5000 people.
THe Acropolis of athens
The word Acropolis in Ancient Greek means the highest point, and the Acropolis of Athens appears to be such. It looks out over the city from a rocky hill and contains many buildings of major importance. The most well know of these buildings in the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, for whom the city of Athens is named. The Acropolis of Athens and the Parthenon specifically have endured a lot of destruction over the years including having an Ottoman ammunitions cache kept inside and exploded.
There is evidence the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth century BCE but the major buildings of the Acopolis were built around 495-429 BCE. Other buildings of importance on the hillside include the Propylaia, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike.
Many statues, stones, and more, during Ottoman rule, were sold to the British Museum by Earl Elgin in 1800, the collection is known as the Elgin Marbles and the Greek government is currently trying to get these artifacts back and add them to their already impressive Museum of the Acropolis.
There is evidence the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth century BCE but the major buildings of the Acopolis were built around 495-429 BCE. Other buildings of importance on the hillside include the Propylaia, the Erechtheion, and the Temple of Athena Nike.
Many statues, stones, and more, during Ottoman rule, were sold to the British Museum by Earl Elgin in 1800, the collection is known as the Elgin Marbles and the Greek government is currently trying to get these artifacts back and add them to their already impressive Museum of the Acropolis.
The ancient agora of athens
The Ancient Agora was a center for banking and trade. The word Agora means Meeting or Gathering place and that is exactly what this sight acted at. The area was covered in stoaes, covered walkways, included places for political discussion, and also the mint. It was the center of the city. Much of the sight is now in ruins but with a little imagination, you can walk where many of what we've learnt about in school happened and was decided.
Country Summary
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