Issy passed on yesterdays tour of the Acropolis, which was understandable given it involved a lot of walking in the heat. I know shes not into temples but Im still determined that we not leave Athens without her seeing its biggest attraction. I thought we got here early but theres still a long queue for tickets. We make our way up the lower slopes past the Theatre of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Next stop is the human traffic jam thats the narrow main entrance to the top. I didnt think it was possible to get more crowded than it was yesterday, but I think it just might be. Issy didnt seem too keen here when we started our climb, and this pile up of humanitys turned her right off. We make a bee line for the exit. She says that they need to limit the numbers they let in here, but I guess its a bit hard when this is what everyone to Athens is itching to see... well apparently not quite everyone.
of Attalos. A stoa was a covered walkway, and this one houses the Museum of the Ancient Agora. Its a 1950s reconstruction of the original structure which is believed to have been built sometime around 150 BC. Its thought to have been in use from then until AD 267 when its were burnt during a raid by some Germanic types. Its a massive 115 metres long, with the roof supported by some impressive rows of columns.
Next stop is the Acropolis Museum. I read that there had been a museum on the Acropolis since 1874, and despite a number of expansions it seems it eventually became way too small to house all the artefacts that were being progressively unearthed. The current building was opened in 2009. Its generally regarded as one of the worlds most important museums, and according to the ever reliable Wikipedia houses every artefact found on the rock and on the surrounding slopes from the Greek Bronze Age to Roman and Byzantine Greece. It‘s certainly very impressive. Part of the motivation for building the current iteration was to assist arguments for the return of the Elgin Marbles from the British Museum. The Brits had
apparently previously argued that there wasnt much point in sending them back because the Greeks had nowhere to display them, but theres certainly more than enough room here now. Come on Brits - just do the right thing and give them back!
Issys gone back to the hotel, so I get some lunch by myself. Im lured into a streetside restaurant and offered a seat at a table for two near the front. A few minutes later luring back and asks me if Id mind moving to a table in the back corner. It seems that hes keen to free up my seat for an attractive young lady whos also by herself. Hmmm. Attractive single young women are clearly better for business than lonely looking older men . I hope luring mans not expecting a tip.
A few minutes later the heavens open. Its now getting a bit hard to hear through the din of the rain on the awnings, and the street outside‘s doing its best impersonation of a river. Issys got our only umbrella. I message her asking her to bring it here, and suggest that if things keep going the way they are
a snorkel might in handy. I start the damp hike back to the hotel. Marble footpaths might look attractive and authentic, but the rains turned them into skating rinks and its a struggle to stay upright.
Its been a long morning of walking in the heat, so we both drift off into dreamland. A few minutes later the hotel phone rings. It seems that theres a tour guide waiting for us in reception. Hang on, that tours not until tomorrow. Whoops. I think the heat might be interfering with my cognitive processes; a quick check confirms that it really is on today. We throw on some clothes and head downstairs. Its a big bus, and were the last ones to be picked up. This is not good - weve now been holding everyone up. There are only two seats left, right in the very back corner, and we feel a bus load of eyes bore into us as we make our way sheepishly down the aisle.
