Touring Athens then off to Hydra

It’s quite hot out.  33 degrees so we go to the National Gardens which are beautiful and shady.

Entrance to the National Garden.

We found a fish pond while looking for the duck pond.  We are tired from walking so decide to head out of the park.

The Parliament Building.

Just in time for changing of the guard.  Their uniform is interesting and historic.  Their skirt or kilt is pleated and each soldier is responsible for ironing the pleats.  These soldiers originally were up in the hills fighting for Greece when the Turks were in power.

Later we go to a favourite restaurant in the lane beside our hotel.  The servers are so funny. 

 It’s more of a bar/party place after 9:30 but we go around 8:30 and have an entertaining meal close to home.

We are heading to the island of Hydra today by ferry out of Piraeus.  There are no cars on this island.

The donkeys/mules are well looked after due to animal protection.  These tents to give them shade were not in place a few years ago.





The donkeys and carts are the only way to move goods around the island.  We were told that someone who built a home up the hill spent 1.2 million just in transport costs.  

We finish with a lovely lunch at Miato Restaurant which was recommended to us by a fellow I met on the ferry coming over.  He and his sister were coming over from Athens for his mother’s 87th birthday.  His brother owned the restaurant and his mother cooks.  The food and service were great!

Back to Athens

It’s time to say goodbye to Paros and catch our ferry back to Athens.  This ferry will take four hours.  Luckily the sea is calm so it should be an enjoyable trip.

Athens is densely populated.

Monastiraki Square is the metro stop that we get off at as it is closest to our hotel.  It’s a very busy square as a social meeting place and market.  There are also ruins here which you see all over Athens.  You can see the Acropolis in the background on the hill.

The narrow lane ways are bustling with tourists and shops.

Magnificent cathedral from 1842.

So many great places to eat in Plaka.

We decide this morning we will go to the Acropolis.  It’s hot out so we get an early start.  In the 6th century BC the Sanctuary of Dionysos Eleuthereus was founded on the south slope.

The Theatre of Dionysos.

The view from the top is amazing and you can see the Ancient Agora below (long red roof)

We leave the Acropolis and hop on the Hop On Hop Off bus.  We pass this statue in town.  I think it was made of glass. 

We drive by the Olympic Stadium that is completely made of marble.  It has a capacity of 50,000.  

We then go to the National Archaeological Museum which is rated one of the best in the world.

Gold was hammered to make cups.  They used gold a lot.

Very interesting article on the major discovery that provided a lot of the objects found in this museum.

We then have lunch in the cafe at the museum which is in a pretty shaded garden.  Resting up before we move on in the heat of the day.

Bus to Drios

We start with a lovely breakfast at our hotel and then walk 45 minutes in to town and catch the 10:15 bus to Lefkes.  We started off thinking of going to Lefkes which is a traditional village in the mountains but when we pass through we decide to stay on the bus and get off at Pisa Livadi which is a picturesque village on the water.

Antiparos

Today is a day we want to relax a little.  We sleep in and have breakfast at the hotel which is lovely.  We then catch a taxi into town to catch the bus to Antiparos.

Heading onto the ferry going to Antiparos.  It’s just a quick 15 min. ride.