ACROPOLIS
Today was another clear, sunny, beautiful day in the 70’s, cool in the morning but hot on the way up the Acropolis hill.
Our breakfast was marvelous and we are becoming convinced that the food in Athens is the best there could be, and inexpensive, and served by extremely friendly people, all of whom speak perfect English (in addition to perfect Greek, which appears to be very difficult and is an undeserved gift to us. First we walked around and shopped, then arrived at the foot of the Acropolis hill and entered a long line in the hot sun and then toiled up the hill with thousands of others.
I made the trek by myself two years ago with no ill effects, but this time I was bushed before I started and ached all the way to the top. I confess that my interest in ancient Greek culture and the remnants of that culture, jumbled piles of rocks, was already waning in the first hundred yards. The thousands of tourists toiling beside us speaking many languages and taking selfies at every corner, of whom I was certainly one, began to irritate me.
Tom and Caroline were astonished by the buildings and the Parthenon itself. Notice how the old is combined with the new as the columns are being restored.
I failed to be delighted and just wanted to sit down in the shade and drink water with electrolytes. I was happy to be walking down again, a failure, and really enjoyed the vine covered restaurant where we had lunch in at the bottom of the hill. Then we walked the few blocks to our airbnb and I fell into a deep sleep for two hours.
This account is that of an old man who is good for about two hours of activity a day, two miles, and anything more and I drop into a shambling coma. So it is a jaundiced view of Athens. Actually, the stores are electric, the streets are lined with wonderful restaurants, the weight of history is around every corner and everyone else, including the children dancing along with their parents, were having a wonderful time on a beautiful day.
BILLYBABA’S WANDERING 