Another hot and sunny day in Athens.
After another leisurely and conversational breakfast, we went our separate ways. My intention was to avoid shopping areas like the plague, but the best laid plans of mice and men…
Things started well, with a stroll down to Hadrian’s Gate.
That cloudless blue sky is a portent of the heat to come.
Not far from Hadrian’s Gate is the temple of Zeus. I just took a peek from outside, as we will see more on the tour.
By now the heat was getting to me. Officially 33C, but no breeze, and feels a lot hotter in the direct sun. Fortunately I found a lovely little park in which to take a breather.
It came complete with an especially shady seat, but I fear it would be a bit hard on the posterior.
And no park in Athens is complete without a statue (this one appears to be Lord Byron plus a friend), and some archeological remains.
Finally finding an exit from my lovely park, I continue up the road, the heat really getting to me now. True to Athens tradition, the footpath is impeded by yet another archeological in progress. Apparently this one was discovered during construction of a ventilation shaft for the Metro. It is a well preserved bath complex.
Just past this was a pop-up book fair. Went for a browse through it, but it was all Greek to me.
It did however lead me into the Athens Memorial Gardens, and this is where my troubles began.
The gardens were beautiful and I followed many a winding path through them.
Trouble is, at the end I had no idea where I was. So as usual I followed my finely tuned sense of direction and wandered through a labyrinth of little lanes and emerged at the Cathedral.
Crossed over the road, and walked down another lane and WHAMMO!!! I was right in the middle of the shopping area. Saw a nice tourist policeman and asked him for the quickest way out of there and back to the hotel. He suggested ‘Get the metro – it’s just up the road.’ Just up the road!!! Another long slog uphill in the heat. At the top of the road I asked a street sweeper where the station was. In the square he said. Crossed the busy road and looked around – I could see a fountain and people, but no station. Asked a lady at the info booth, who nonchalantly waved her hand – over there. Finally found it buried beside the steps leading to Parliament House. Then I realised I was right back where I witnessed the changing of the guard.
Down the steps I go, and get confronted by this:
Just like the tunnels at Central.
Finally find the ticket office, and a queue of six people take 15 minutes to buy tickets.
I ask someone the platform for the Acropolis is. They point it out to me. Absolutely slumming it compared to Sydney Stations.
On the train I try to ask one of the passengers if this stop is for the Acropolis. After studiously avoiding eye contact, he finally relents, and says ‘No Acropolis’. Then he points out the diagram and tells me I have to change lines, just as the door closes. Get off at the next stop, and find there are a heap of different platforms. The first person tells me ‘Not this platform’. Thanks – narrowed it a bit. Finally after a couple of shrugs, a guy with 2 little kids, points me in the right direction, and indicates three stops. 10 minutes later I am finally back on familiar territory.