Showing posts with label Greece. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greece. Show all posts

Monday, July 26, 2010

More pictures of Athens

Sharing a few more pictures of our trip -- since we started out in Athens, I'll take you on our tour there. The first evening we were there we walked around after dinner and took a few pictures. Here's one of the Acropolis, I never could get a good one at night all lit up -- but it was beautiful.



I never saw a grocery store while we were there. Markets like this with fresh fruits, vegetables and wine.



The streets are very narrow. No big trucks or SUV's, lots of smart cars, little cars and scooters. And none of them particularly pay attention to lanes on the highways or stop signs! I wouldn't want to drive there.



Here we are at the "Tower of the Winds".


A view of Athens from the Acropolis.



It was quite a walk up -- if you ever go, be sure to take good walking shoes because nothing is really level (or handicapped accessible) and a good hat! Here we are at The Parthenon.



Greek columns.



This was from the Temple of Athena.


These pretty little chapels are all over Athens and the islands too.



Sunday we went to see the changing of the guards at the tomb of the unknown soldier.


The band started off the parade. Notice the dog joined in! There were dogs all over Athens. The city takes care of them and feeds them. They all have on tags and they really do look well cared for.



Notice that two dogs had joined them on the return parade.



Next were the solders.



All lined up.



And the ceremony begins.



The new guards join with the outgoing guards.



And the guard has changed. Check out the shoes!



After the changing of the guard we went to the Acropolis museum. I couldn't take pictures inside, but as you were going in you could look down through plexiglass and see the excavation. The museum was great and they had a video of how everything looked when the Acropolis was built. Beautiful and amazing.



This pretty building was our view from our hotel.



Here we are at one of the outdoor cafes. Evening meals are late and very unhurried. To check out some pictures of some of our wonderful meals scroll back to my Foodie Friday post!



Here's a picture of other diners at the cafe.



Our traveling companions Tom and Marti. It was great traveling with them because Tom's been to Greece many times and knows how to get around - it really made our trip worry free!




In the summertime, because it's so hot -- lots of places close down in the afternoon. We found it to be a great time for returning to the hotel for a nap. Now that's a Greek tradition I could really get used to! As you can see... Mr. Mid-Atlantic got a head start.

Next time, I'll post some pictures of our island excursions.

See ya!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Churches and religious sites from Greece

Since I already shared a taste of Greece for Foodie Friday, today I thought I would share the more spiritual side of our trip.


While we were staying in Athens we took a tour bus from our hotel to Corinth. This spot is where they would gather to hear politicians and speakers of news of the day. Paul first shared the good news of the gospels here and converted many to Christianity.



More ruins of Corinth.



The Church dedicated to St. Paul.



This beautiful mosiac was outside of one of the Greek Orthodox churches in Athens.



All the islands had small chapels - some were built for the fishermen to pray and give thanks each day -- this one was in Mykonos.



This picture is from the ruins of Ephesus, Turkey. Also where Paul preached and set up a church.



More pictures of the ruins.



Above the entry of the Holy Grotto of the Apocalypse where John wrote Revelations.



Some of the shields within a cross on the Street of the Knights in Rhodes.





Ruins of an early Church in Rhodes.

It was very inspiring to walk the paths of Paul and to see where the earliest Churches were formed I'll be posting more pictures of our trip soon.

See ya!