"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. "- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Holiday Saga Part 7 (Final!)

Our boat docked back in Athens very early in the morning, and our flight was not until later in the evening, so after we dropped our bags at the airport we got to spend the day in Athens. It was Good Friday, which meant most sights did not open until noon. In the meantime, we had a really nice lunch at a Greek restaurant, and walked around a bit. Athens is really overrun by tourists, and there are a million little souvenir shops on every street. But once we made it to the sights, putting up with the sketchiness and the constant people trying to get us into their shops was well worth it.

The acropolis was beautiful, and it was such a wonderful experience getting to see all of the things I had always seen pictures of in textbooks.

We passed a little square with ancient Greek columns, an old church, and lots of cyprus trees. There are a million cyprus trees in Greece, because in Greek Orthodox tradition they symbolize the resurrection

A bathhouse just across from the acropolis, now underneath the Acropolis Museum, where they have moved much of the original artwork, statues, etc., out of fear of an earthquake

View of the acropolis from the museum

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Odeon again, and the view of the hill where the acropolis is (it is a LONG way up!)

Theatre of Dionysus

Theatre of Dionysus again. As we were looking at it, an Italian family was standing next to it. When their son, who could not have been more than three-years-old, looked at it he said "Bello" in the sweetest, most innocent voice, as if he were completely in awe of it. It was adorable!

We finally made it to the acropolis!!

View from the top

Parthenon

Erectheum

Temple of Hephaistos

Remains of an ancient Greek library

Hadrian's Gate

Temple of Zeus

The wonderful gelato I got as a final indulgence before heading back to reality

We barely made it to our flight, and it was sad to have to come back to reality, and I am now buried under a mountain of work to do for my exams. But the holiday was very much needed, and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am so glad to have been able to go and see all these places I have always dreamed of seeing.

I was also so glad to spend time with Rachel. She was a most wonderful travel companion, and an incredible friend. We had such a nice time together, got along great, and never ran out of things to talk about. The trip would not have been nearly as incredible without her.