Athens

I have loved Athens every time I have visited, and that was true yet again. My only complaint this visit? Not enough time here.

Athens has changed. It is bigger, busier, and everything seems shinier than last time. There are certain sites that I just don’t imagine ever seeking out again – I’ve been to the Acropolis and the Agora, and I’m guessing that the only changes there would be the volume of visitors. But the museums are wonderful, and I would have liked at least a day or two just to explore the Plaka properly. We did wander through, and I was amazed at how modern it had become (which I did think was a bit of a pity as my memories were of quaint tavernas, tiny shops, and old men sitting at cafes drinking coffee and playing chess, instead of the wider lanes and newer buildings), but time was against us.

We did tour the Archaeological Museum and Miss Mayhew would be pleased to know just how much I remembered from high school, and from previous visits. I saw kouroi & korai, doric & ionic columns, Greek gods & Cycladic sculptures; and I remembered them all. I even asked a reasonably intelligent question about the statue of Poseidon (or maybe Zeus – they’re not sure). Clearly some of what I learned in high school stuck.

I can’t wait to come back.

11 October, 2023