Sep 30 2004
got up 8am to catch long distance bus ad 10:30am.
took bus-24. the station was not far from Attiki.
Called Beijing on cell.
Heading to Delphi. Had a break. got to town 1:30pm. Good lunch.
walked 1km. tour the site and museum.
the stadium was surprisingly huge.
heading home 6pm. got to Athens. had dinner at McDonalds after blocks and blocks of cafe-bar-gyro stops.
Sep 29 2004
Called TI to find out para olympics already closed. Marching to the Acropolis. Narrow and slippery path ways with too many people. Many disabled from diff. countries.
Visited surrounding sites near Acropolis. Other than American restored stoa, impressive, most others are almost like digged up relics on Crete (e.g. Pnyx). Read history of Acropolis and when and how it was destructed.
Finally back to Acropolis. Cannot reentry. Like taking away his inheritance. The restoration is to take apart every stone, polish and put them back as a demolished temple (often shuffle stone locations based on “new discoveries”. Project far from completed as stated in the tour book.
Decided to visit again during sunset. Best decision made. Took many pictures.
Concert in the ancient theater. Cannot get in.
Visited the famed “plaka” district. Just another tourist trap. Overpriced and terrible food.
Sep 28 2004
Landlord: a sharp enterprising lady. Very helpful.
Visited National Archeological Museum. Excellent selection of articrafts from Cycladic, neolithic and, most importantly, Mycenean civilizations. Better displayed and documented than the one in Heraklion. Extra clean glass cases, very good lightings. Complements the Minoan display on Crete, very educational.
Seeing the info kiosks on the streets closing down. didn’t realize missing the para olympics.
Again couldn’t find restaurant on the streets. Had Italian instead.
Did laundry