Finally, we were given all of 15 minutes to explore the Acropolis on our own before racing back down the hill to meet the bus. I do not recall now how I managed to do as much as I did in that brief amount of time!

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At the west end of the Erechtheion I found Athena's sacred olive (said to be sprung from the original tree).


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Our first day with the rest of the tour group!

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The Acropolis is Athena's, but also shared. Most of the restored Acropolis is hers, but there were also altars, statues, shrines, temples to Pytho (Persuasion), Artemis, and Poseidon.


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At length I found my way to the... Stoa of Attalos!


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Athens.

At the floor-length window of a tiny room, I sit late in the night in the glow of the Acropolis. The fireworks that sprinkled the city are over. Gunfire and the sound of Greek Orthodox hymns have died away. The city is very quiet, although I still hear a few glad voices, the swish of a car below, and the soft squeak of bats ( Read more... )