GREECE18_ATHENS
DAY 5 | Athens
DAY 5 | September 3, 18
Today we got up at 6 A.M. ready to visit a few historical landmarks including the Parthenon, Acropolis, New Acropolis Museum, Temple of Zeus, and the Olympic Stadium.
We headed down to the PYTHAGORIAN Hotel where we were picked up and driven to the meeting spot of Key Tours. After almost remaining on the wrong bus and going for a day trip to Delphi, we found our proper bus and continued on the tour. Our guide Costas (Constantinos) was amazing; he was so informative and took us around the City of Athens pointing out the Temple of Zeus, (which was the largest temple and only pillars remain), the Olympic Stadium (still used today by the locals and was the official stadium until 2004 when they had to build a larger one.)
Next we got to see the Acropolis where we saw the remains of the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike. These buildings were constructed in 5th Century B.C. They were badly damaged during the siege of the Venetians during the Morean war. Apparently gun power that was stored in the Parthenon was hit by a cannonball and exploded.
It blows my mind to think that these structures have existed for centuries; that they have seen generations of humans come and go. There are parts of the Parthenon that are missing or have been stolen, which is unfortunate; I know they are trying to restore the buildings. There is something otherworldly about being able to walk the footsteps of those thousands of years before me; in some ways it’s almost a sort of spiritual experience. I like to imagine in my mind a comparison between the current (present) and the old; what would it have been like to be a modern day citizen standing in front of these buildings at the height of their glory?
I also learned that when looking at the now ruins, the stone/marble that is more white is the new and more restored parts; the older more yellow/cream colored are the originals, which was helpful when observing the different structures and differentiating between the old and the new.
Lastly I got to visit and stand upon Mars Hill. The history there is that it was the hill Paul the Apostle preached his sermon upon to the Greeks; Acts 17:22-31. It is here that Paul preached to the people about one God instead of many. For many of the aforementioned reasons, you leave this spot feeling both humbled and in awe of the history that once transpired here. Visiting the area leaves you with both inspiration and a new appreciation and understanding of the history and stories you read about; it’s crazy to imagine this scene unfolding.
Lastly we got to visit the New Acropolis Museum. Constantinos, our amazing guide, explained various parts of the Museum. One fact I thought was particularly interesting was that the Museum was designed to mimic the actual Parthenon. It has four floors and you would enter the same way you would in the actual monument. The last floor, floor four, was built according to scale with 17 pillars. Inside they put the art where it would have actually existed inside the real Parthenon; the viewer is able to get a glimpse and a small taste of what the actual realistic experience may had been like. The museum also has a glass floor on some levels where you can look down to ground level and see the actual restoration of the ancient monuments; just don’t wear dresses.
One exhibition I particularly liked was the sisters. The artist was faced with the challenge of making beautiful and feminine statues, especially in the neck, the most delicate part, but also had to be able to withstand the weight of an entire concrete roof. This challenge was solved by creating thick hair and long drapes.
Later that day Rachel and I strolled around Athens city center and got intentionally got lost, exploring the streets, stores, and sights until evening. Along the way we stumbled across a gorgeous church from 1842; the detail in this building was incredible. After taking a few minutes to check the church out we figured we’d look for a cool dinner spot. A friend and coworker back home had his cousins recommend a few places; to our pleasant surprise we came across one on the list called, Sushimou, however as we got closer we realized it was closed. Luckily for us another recommendation was just next door, Nolan, an amazing little restaurant that had really good seafood.
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Thought from Rachel: I met a shop owner who previously lived in San Diego for a short amount of time. We each bought wooden sunglasses from her. I also bought some of my favorite earrings I think ever, from a shop owner named Debbie. I love how friendly most Greeks are - a hand extended ... a kiss given on either cheek. The time given to invest and get to know me. I feel as if this trip has provided a lot of time for me to reflect on the fact that I do not always take the time to get to know and invest in people. I often times find myself rushing through the motions or constantly worrying about the things in this world that affect solely me, but in reality have no great purpose or need to be worried about.
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Sermon on Mars Hill
So Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I observe that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” -Acts 17:16-34
