Sunday, July 24, 2005
Day 59: Athens
July 24: Relaxed this morning, took my time to get into town. Tram ride is very scenic, going passed the suburbs and many beaches too. (It's very new - only finished being built a week before the 2004 Athens Olympic Games started.)
Spent most of my day at the National Archaeological Museum - the biggest collection of Greek artefacts, including statues, pottery, vases, coins, figurines, wall paintings, burial remains and more. Lots of eras and time periods covered, as well as information provided on the history itself. Very worthwhile.
Went passed Parliament to see the 'half hour' guard march outside - there is a changing of the guard ceremony each hour which I missed... the half hour one, is just the guards walking up and down around the tomb of the unknown soldier - watching them walk is very funny!
Returned back to the hotel to meet my Conitiki Tour Manager, Ben, to do a 13-day 'greek island hopping' tour... as well as my other travellers. Katie is my roommate - from Canberra, 26 yrs... and well our tour manager is only 26 too... looks very young though. 35 people on our tour, most are Aussies, USA or Canadians, with a couple from Brazil.
Relaxed with everyone over dinner, then a few drinks at the "Matrix Bar" round the corner on Metaxa Street (in Glyfada, where we are staying).
Spent most of my day at the National Archaeological Museum - the biggest collection of Greek artefacts, including statues, pottery, vases, coins, figurines, wall paintings, burial remains and more. Lots of eras and time periods covered, as well as information provided on the history itself. Very worthwhile.
Went passed Parliament to see the 'half hour' guard march outside - there is a changing of the guard ceremony each hour which I missed... the half hour one, is just the guards walking up and down around the tomb of the unknown soldier - watching them walk is very funny!
Returned back to the hotel to meet my Conitiki Tour Manager, Ben, to do a 13-day 'greek island hopping' tour... as well as my other travellers. Katie is my roommate - from Canberra, 26 yrs... and well our tour manager is only 26 too... looks very young though. 35 people on our tour, most are Aussies, USA or Canadians, with a couple from Brazil.
Relaxed with everyone over dinner, then a few drinks at the "Matrix Bar" round the corner on Metaxa Street (in Glyfada, where we are staying).
# posted by mishij @ 7:11 AM 
