For our last full day in Athens, Mick and I have just trekked up to the Acropolis to trample with all the other tourists over the ruins in the blinding sun. Restoration began in 1983 and there is far more scaffolding covering it now than when we were here last at the ripe old age of 21. When I was here, the gates to the Acropolis were closed for a ballet/ opera. At the time I was happy enough with the free light show turning alternating shades of yellow, red, blue, orange in time to the music over the Parthenon. But this was my first time standing underneath the Parthenon pillars looking straight up. The lines of the pillars are curved to counteract optical illusions and are so imposing you feel like as trivial as an ant. All built in 5th century AD. Did you know there was some English bugger called Lord Thomas Elgin who pinched the best surviving Parthenon Marbles and carted them back off to Mother England in 1801? Does anyone know if he still has them or not?...I picked up lots of tidbits listening in to tour groups pretending to take photos you see.
We've picked out a place for 'The Last Supper' tonight, high up on the hill in the Plaka district. Athens is as chaotic and dirty and beautiful as ever. Our little hotel is in the Monasteriki district right in the heart of everything. Down the road is the fresh food & meat/ fish markets where you can pick up a cucumber, some plump little tomatoes (like they used to be Kath!), homemade feta cheese and a couple of loaves of fresh bread. On the way home is a great little wine shop to complete the meal and voila! All for about $10. The restaurants get fairly standardised around the tourist area. Mick has picked his gyros lunch today along what we've called the "Gyros Strip". But when in Athens...
Not long now till we see youse all again and bore you with photos. Fi xx
