Around Athens in April

It's always fun to go around Athens with visitors, and show them all the cool stuff.  Every time, we find things that we love to show folks, that we've never documented on the website.  Here's some more cool pictures of some of our favorite things.  These were taken during a few days while Edie's cousin Denise, who is interested in everything, was visiting.

On the first day, we took a trip up Mt. Lykabettos via the funicular railway inside the mountain.  Here are a few shots of the view outside funicular, the train itself, and the little church of St. George Lykabettos at the summit.

Thank God we don't have to walk up!

Purple flowers growing in the rock at the top of Lykabettos

Kids following the evzones, after the changing of the guard at the Bouli (Parliament)

At right, a view of the Acropolis with the Parthenon still under reconstruction, seen from below on the south side

The Odeon below the Acropolis, with a monument that some ancient rich guy built to himself, on the hill beyond

Page of booklet on the Agora (ancient market), with picture of kid in ancient potty chair, and vase representation of same    Turkish toilet above the Theater of Dionysos and Odeon -- yes, you really just squat above the foot rests!

Backgammon sets for sale in the Plaka

   Window full of souvenirs, Plaka

T-shirt for sale in the Plaka: "CCC: Comite contre les Chats". Any cat-haters in the audience?

Ancient water pipes uncovered in excavation of the Evangelismos metro station -- left in place and on exhibit

Parrot candleholders in shop window, Plaka antique store

Mosaic outside Plaka church, showing the Parthenon above

A stall in the Monisteraki flea market specializing in musical instruments -- and hookahs

Meatsellers in the Central Market

                            Olives in the Central Market

Spices at the Central Market               

Only source of decaf coffee:  the new Starbucks in Kolonaki, only three blocks from home!

Fresh Fish:  delivery motorcycle

We continue to be amused, appalled, and admiring of the Greeks' ability to park anywhere, anytime!  Here are dozens of motorcycles parked on a sidewalk downtown. 

 SmartCar wedged in between cars and garbage bins in Kolonaki

 -- Edie Folta, April 24, 2004

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