For some reason Greece had never been top of our ‘must-see’ list … which is strange because, on paper at least, Greece seemed to have all the things we most enjoyed – ancient history, delicious food, natural beauty, great people.

Of course now that we’re here, we’re wondering why it took us so long to get what everyone else already knew – that Greece is one of the world’s great countries.

 

Our Greek odyssey began in Athens
Our Greek odyssey began in Athens
We were based just around the corner from Hadrian's Arch, close to the main sights
We were based just around the corner from Hadrian's Arch, close to the main sights
Such as Syntagma Square in the centre of Athens
Such as Syntagma Square in the centre of Athens
The Greek Parliament building and, below it, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The Greek Parliament building and, below it, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
The tomb is guarded by the Evzones, the elite soldiers of the Greek army
The tomb is guarded by the Evzones, the elite soldiers of the Greek army
The wisdom of the great Greek philosophers - now available on key rings, coffee mugs and cushions :)
The wisdom of the great Greek philosophers - now available on key rings, coffee mugs and cushions 🙂
The impacts of the Greek economic crisis of a decade ago are still being felt; unemployment here is running at 18.5% (and for young people it's 40%)
The impacts of the Greek economic crisis of a decade ago are still being felt; unemployment here is running at 18.5% (and for young people it's 40%)
While there's still a long way to go, there are signs of recovery - and the tourism industry is an important part of that
While there's still a long way to go, there are signs of recovery - and the tourism industry is an important part of that
More than 30 million people a year come to Greece
More than 30 million people a year come to Greece
7 million of those visit the Acropolis in Athens and its most famous temple, the Parthenon
7 million of those visit the Acropolis in Athens and its most famous temple, the Parthenon
Greek culture and knowledge has enhanced so many aspects of our lives - architecture, literature, maths, medicine, astronomy - the list goes on
Greek culture and knowledge has enhanced so many aspects of our lives - architecture, literature, maths, medicine, astronomy - the list goes on
The Theatre of Dionysus, considered to be the birthplace of theatre and where the great tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides were first performed
The Theatre of Dionysus, considered to be the birthplace of theatre and where the great tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides were first performed
And that's Mars Hill where Paul the Apostle is said to have preached
And that's Mars Hill where Paul the Apostle is said to have preached
Immediately below the Acropolis is the museum purpose-built to house the treasures of the ancient site
Immediately below the Acropolis is the museum purpose-built to house the treasures of the ancient site
The museum's top floor is exactly aligned with the Parthenon and copies its structure
The museum's top floor is exactly aligned with the Parthenon and copies its structure
The gallery replicates the location of every surviving panel of the Parthenon's marble sculptures - the magnificent frieze that adorned each side of the building, the metropes that sat above the columns, and the pediments on the building's east and west facades
The gallery replicates the location of every surviving panel of the Parthenon's marble sculptures - the magnificent frieze that adorned each side of the building, the metropes that sat above the columns, and the pediments on the building's east and west facades
It's an extraordinary collection that also highlights the ongoing tensions between Greece and Great Britain around 'Elgin's Marbles'
It's an extraordinary collection that also highlights the ongoing tensions between Greece and Great Britain around 'Elgin's Marbles'
In the early 1800s Lord Elgin had about half of the Parthenon's remaining marble sculptures removed and carried off to England (where they're still on display in the British Museum); while the Acropolis Museum awaits their return, the missing sculptures are represented by white plaster replicas
In the early 1800s Lord Elgin had about half of the Parthenon's remaining marble sculptures removed and carried off to England (where they're still on display in the British Museum); while the Acropolis Museum awaits their return, the missing sculptures are represented by white plaster replicas
Another key archaeological site in the city is the Ancient Agora on the Acropolis' northwest slope
Another key archaeological site in the city is the Ancient Agora on the Acropolis' northwest slope
The Agora - the 'marketplace' or 'gathering place' - was the centre of life in ancient Athens
The Agora - the 'marketplace' or 'gathering place' - was the centre of life in ancient Athens
It was the commercial, social and administrative hub of the city
It was the commercial, social and administrative hub of the city
An early voting machine, the kleroterion, enabled the random selection of citizens to public office; the bronze tokens were inserted into the slots and a mechanism involving the release of coloured dice determined those who were selected; the klerterion was in use in the 5th century BC - imagine life in the Agora at that time!
An early voting machine, the kleroterion, enabled the random selection of citizens to public office; the bronze tokens were inserted into the slots and a mechanism involving the release of coloured dice determined those who were selected; the klerterion was in use in the 5th century BC - imagine life in the Agora at that time!
Intermission. Just time for a bit of birthday pampering before the sightseeing program continued
Intermission. Just time for a bit of birthday pampering before the sightseeing program continued
The collection in Athens' National Archaeological Museum is one of the world's most important
The collection in Athens' National Archaeological Museum is one of the world's most important
The Roman-era statue, Varvakeion Athena (c 250 AD) is a small replica of the Greek original that stood in the Parthenon; the lost Athena, made from gold and ivory, stood more than 11 metres high
The Roman-era statue, Varvakeion Athena (c 250 AD) is a small replica of the Greek original that stood in the Parthenon; the lost Athena, made from gold and ivory, stood more than 11 metres high
Bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon (460 BC), found in the Aegean Sea in the 1920s
Bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon (460 BC), found in the Aegean Sea in the 1920s
A 2000 year-old bronze statue of the Roman emperor Augustus
A 2000 year-old bronze statue of the Roman emperor Augustus
Aphrodite, Pan and Eros (c 100 BC)
Aphrodite, Pan and Eros (c 100 BC)
And the Mycenaean Warrior Vase (12th century BC); the soldiers on this vase look like contemporary caricatures
And the Mycenaean Warrior Vase (12th century BC); the soldiers on this vase look like contemporary caricatures
Our last stop on the history tour, Athens' Panathenaic Stadium; the ancient stadium was restored and refurbished with gleaming white marble to host the first Olympics of the modern era in 1896
Our last stop on the history tour, Athens' Panathenaic Stadium; the ancient stadium was restored and refurbished with gleaming white marble to host the first Olympics of the modern era in 1896
That year 50,000 people packed the stadium to see Greek runner Spyridon Louis win the first Olympic marathon
That year 50,000 people packed the stadium to see Greek runner Spyridon Louis win the first Olympic marathon
On the day of our visit, plenty of tourists (not us) were taking a slow jog around the track, though this athlete was in full training mode
On the day of our visit, plenty of tourists (not us) were taking a slow jog around the track, though this athlete was in full training mode
Olympic posters through the years, including those for Melbourne (1956) and Syd-en-y (2000)
Olympic posters through the years, including those for Melbourne (1956) and Syd-en-y (2000)
The poster for those first modern Olympic Games in 1896
The poster for those first modern Olympic Games in 1896
Athens is such a remarkable city, it's impossible not to be impressed
Athens is such a remarkable city, it's impossible not to be impressed