Hi Everyone,
Today I got up early and went to the Acropolis. My strategy to get there early helped me beat the heat, and the crowds; thank you Google for listing popular times for things! Also, Rick Steves App for the win today, his Acropolis tour was the perfect companion as I walked around the Parthenon,
The Erechtheion with it's famous statues of the Caryatids, more on them later,
and saw an amazing view of Athens.
Then I went to Syntagma Square to watch the changing of the guard at Greece's tomb of the unknown soldier
I decided to change up my plans and go to the Acropolis museum so I could be inside during the hottest part of the day. I appreciate a well thought out museum, and this one might be the best yet. The museum looks very modern.
The museum is built over an archaeological excavation site, in order to protect and accommodate the continuing work. There are glass floor panels that allow you to see the excavation site below.
You'll notice the top floor is a different size and orientation than the others. That's because the top floor is built to the same exact size, shape, and orientation of the Parthenon behind it. That floor houses all the statues, and marble carvings that decorated the Parthenon, in the correct locations.
Half of the collection is a the British Museum in London, so those items are included as white "castings". Oh, and did I mention the benches that run the entire length of the top floor? After 3 weeks of standing and walking, I'm grateful for a chance to sit and reflect on what I'm seeing.
So back to the Caryatids, the one's atop the Acropolis are copies, the originals were cleaned, restored, and are displayed in the museum. I though the back of the statues was more interesting that the front, maybe because in all the photos I've seen, you never see that side of them.
This evening I went to a Greek Folk dance show. The dances are from different areas of Greece, and I got to see some unusual musical instruments, Now I'm really looking forward to the Greek Folk Musical instrument museum tomorrow.
Harold was a little tired today and preferred to nap in my purse, but here's his Parthenon selfie to tide you over until tomorrow.
Today I got up early and went to the Acropolis. My strategy to get there early helped me beat the heat, and the crowds; thank you Google for listing popular times for things! Also, Rick Steves App for the win today, his Acropolis tour was the perfect companion as I walked around the Parthenon,
The Erechtheion with it's famous statues of the Caryatids, more on them later,
and saw an amazing view of Athens.
Then I went to Syntagma Square to watch the changing of the guard at Greece's tomb of the unknown soldier
I decided to change up my plans and go to the Acropolis museum so I could be inside during the hottest part of the day. I appreciate a well thought out museum, and this one might be the best yet. The museum looks very modern.
The museum is built over an archaeological excavation site, in order to protect and accommodate the continuing work. There are glass floor panels that allow you to see the excavation site below.
You'll notice the top floor is a different size and orientation than the others. That's because the top floor is built to the same exact size, shape, and orientation of the Parthenon behind it. That floor houses all the statues, and marble carvings that decorated the Parthenon, in the correct locations.
Half of the collection is a the British Museum in London, so those items are included as white "castings". Oh, and did I mention the benches that run the entire length of the top floor? After 3 weeks of standing and walking, I'm grateful for a chance to sit and reflect on what I'm seeing.
So back to the Caryatids, the one's atop the Acropolis are copies, the originals were cleaned, restored, and are displayed in the museum. I though the back of the statues was more interesting that the front, maybe because in all the photos I've seen, you never see that side of them.
This evening I went to a Greek Folk dance show. The dances are from different areas of Greece, and I got to see some unusual musical instruments, Now I'm really looking forward to the Greek Folk Musical instrument museum tomorrow.
Harold was a little tired today and preferred to nap in my purse, but here's his Parthenon selfie to tide you over until tomorrow.
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