We made it to the mainland of Greece, and were not greeted by rioting masses.  However, compared to relatively wealthy Turkey, with their 1000 miles of roadside roses, well, we weren't in Turkey anymore...


But there are flashy billboards, and a bustling big city, and more little shrubs, trying really hard.


At the Parthenon, our morning excursion, we waded not only through the people, but the stray dogs.  Probably a dozen large dogs lounging on the marble steps, more or less oblivious to the crowd.




And, of course, we always warn everyone not to pet the dogs in foreign countries, because they probably haven't had shots, and may be grumpy, etc.  But here--no!  Our guide told us that because so many dogs clustered in this people place, and there was always concern for tourists who can't resist petting Greek-Rover, the tour guide association collects money from its members, has the dogs given regular vet care, and fed, on site.  The only issue is to not stumble over them. !

Through the crowds and the broiling walk to the top of hill--the hill itself is the Acropolis--and there it is, that world-known icon, the Parthenon.  With scaffolding, enduring some ongoing restoration.


Great views, out over Athens...

With a little more shade and an urn of red wine, I could have been a philosopher here, back when: "Yep, have him drink that there hemlock.  He never smiles.  Brings the whole city down.  Seen any good cyclops plays lately?"

Here, Beth and Amy being not shy...


A different view, and then the Greek flag, over a back corner...




Over on the north side of the hill is another famous structure, the Erechtheion, with its famous Caryatids...

(Though there are supposed to be six of these column/statues--these 5 are replicas, but they didn't put up the sixth, in protest for the one held hostage in--um, is it London or Berlin this time?  London, I think.  Another detail of that diplomatic exchange--much, much of the art and stonework from this hill was, um, 'liberated,' 'looted,' 'saved' by the British, who have refused, these last couple hundred years to return stuff, because the Greek musuem facilities were "inadequate."  The Greeks now have a state of the art, not full, museum just down the hill.  Still waiting. We did, meanwhile, get Keats' poems, "On Seeing the Elgin Marbles," and "Ode on a Grecian Urn" from Keats getting to view the artifacts in London.  But gosh, that was 1819...) 


And here the (representative, probably not original) olive tree that Athena gifted the city with, winning her competition with Poseidon for the city's patronage.




And here, a woman who must have been very dedicated/intrigued by this site--there are no accessibilty features to this hill that I could see...

And then, time to go back down, through the stable columns,


and always, signs of life.


And on we go...

later, bob