After spending time on the big bus and getting glimpses of the Acropolis from a number of different angles, we were keen to get there. But first a visit to the museum was recommended by our friend Ros, and so we waited patiently in the line for about 45 minutes, happily talking to a couple of very interesting Californians from Sacramento. It passed the time!

The museum was full of statues and friezes, as well as many pottery items from the archaelogical digs. A lot of the statues had very small original pieces, and quite a bit of new plaster to complete them. I was amazed how the conservators could work out exactly where each piece belonged!

There were hundreds of people in the museum, so we didn’t really spend as much time as we would have liked. It’s just not pleasant jostling with lots of people who are all trying to take selfies!

The following day we walked to the Plaka area, where the Acropolis is located. You had to buy tickets for certain time slots, so we had plenty of time to wander around before we were admitted.

The walk up is mostly in the sun, so avoiding the middle of the day is advisable. We were both walking slowly over the slippery uneven path, not wanting to have another fall. There are other temple ruins and a large amphitheatre along the way. Once you reach the entrance, the size of the columns on the temple are surprising, huge marble sections placed on top of each other, impressive.

Finally we catch sight of the Parthenon, the end is covered in scaffolding, which Lionel recalls is the way it was 47 years ago! There are tourists everywhere, but it doesn’t matter…I am gazing at something I have seen as a symbol of Greece for most of my life and it’s wonderful.

The Erechtheum is also photo-worthy. The statues are beautiful, the sculptors created female forms in marble that are perfect.

We caught the big bus back, that had been enough walking for the day. After dinner we sat up on the roof with a bottle of wine, the Parthenon lit up the night sky. What a great day!