Edited in Canva
“It takes a lifetime to discover Greece, but it only takes an instant to fall in love with her.” - Henry Miller
It was July of 2017 when I, along with the 23 students I coached, went to Athens for five days of debate, writing, quiz bee, and socializing at the World Scholar’s Cup Global Round. It was a packed five days of competition and tours around the city, and nearby historical towns in Greece.
On our first day, we toured around the Acropolis Hill where the famous Parthenon stands. It was quite a hike up in the hills before we got to the famed temple of Athena. The Parthenon is home to Athena and Artemis, who are known to be virgin goddesses. It’s just unfortunate that portions of it were off limits to visitors for restoration and repair.
The six female figures that serve as the porch columns of the Parthenon are known as the Karyatids of the Erechtheion. It is a depiction of how young women dance in honor of Artemis.
We also saw Athena’s alleged Olive Tree. (It’s alleged because it’s not for certain whether it’s the from the actual olive Athena had sown or not.) It was said that in the ancient days Poseidon and Athena competed to be accepted by the people. Poseidon created a spring, while Athena planted an olive. Since the people valued the olive more, they chose Athena and honored her by naming the town Athens, and made the olive their national symbol for peace.
After going around the Parthenon, we rested for a bit atop a cliff overlooking the city. The view of the city was impressive. Various architectural styles stand out, whether the building is old or new. It just shows the innate artistry of the Greeks.
On the way down, we went a different route to see the theater of Dionysus, the god of wine and theater. The formation is that of an amphitheater wherein the performance is at the lowest level so the sounds echo off to the audience.
It was a marvelous experience being in the very place I only see in books. The intricate architecture that is the inspiration to numerous classic and modern designs is quite unfathomable—how the ancient Greeks have thought of that? It’s all a mystery.
After the tour, we went on our way around the Agora where we ate souvlaki (Greek dish made with grilled chicken, tomatoes, and fries) and strolled around for souvenirs. I was amazed at how there’s a gelato stand at almost every corner but I tried my best to resist temptation. My favorite were the nut vendors. They don’t just sell peanuts but various kinds of nuts! Walking around the cobblestones of the Agora, I felt like I could get lost in Athens and not feel lost at all.
Bonus pic: It's Fun in Greece! Lol.
This is just day 1, folks. I'll post next time the other tours we went to. Cheers!
[//]:# ([//]:# (!worldmappin 37.97153 lat 23.72575 long The Parthenon d3scr))
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STOPOMG, Athens! That's one of my dream places. 😍
Yes, and it's my dream to go back there someday!
Wow it's nice to be here...Athens was one of the great historical places during ancient times.Surely you will the most unforgettable experience during your visit here in this place
It is! The people are nice and beautiful. I would love to go back there soon!
Very nice close-up photos feels like in the Biblical era in the New Testament times, thanks for sharing 😍
Thank you! It's really a marvelous place.
Hiya, @ybanezkim26 here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Travel Digest #2741.
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What an honor! I thought my post won't be noticed at all. Thank you so much for including me. It means a lot for this newbie hiver ♥️