Tim & Denise Tiner Travels: 2017 Greece - Day Eight - Olympiad, Temple of Zeus & Acropolis

October 21, 2017

Today was a slow start to the day. We all slept in...around 9 AM before we actually got up and going. We did not get out the door until about 11 AM. We headed firstly to the the Olympic Stadium for the first modern day Olympic Games. It was about a mile walk there. It is a nice place, very narrow in its track design. They run a marathon race each year that starts in Marathon and concludes at this stadium. It was fun to see. We also ran into a young couple from Virginia who asked us to take a picture. I said no way, jokingly, and the guy said, what are you...Mormons? Scott had a BYU shirt on. Gives us away all the time.

We then re-traced our steps to the Temple of Zeus. A nice set of very large columns that still remain standing except on column that was blown over in an intense storm. We had been here before looking in from the gate. But we went inside this time since we bought these combo tickets.

We next walked to the Acropolis Museum to see many artifacts that have been found around this area. It is funny as they have a stone that has some engravings that you can barely tell are engravings. But underneath it, there is a complete story telling you why the engraving was done. You look at it and go...really? How did anyone today know what the sculptor was thinking and sculpting. Pretty funny.

After leaving the museum, we actually stopped at a corner cafe quite near our BNB. It was a nice little place where we got 'non-walking Gyro' and a wrap. Here you can get your Gyro as a plate. It has all the same stuff on the plate that you would get in a 'sandwich' gyro that they would make for taking on the run.

After eating lunch, we finally took the hike up the Acropolis to go see the Parthenon and many other neat, very old things. The view on the hill is awesome of Athina (Athens). We have had such nice weather here...the whole trip.

We came off the Acropolis hill at about 5:30 PM and headed into the social area (Plaka) to walk and walk and walk. No, actually, we had some ice cream at a place named Hansel and Gretzel's. We then went into their 'Flea Market'. Scott found a place for Gyros for 2 euros. Cheap. So he a had to buy one even though we were going to eat dinner fairly soon. But the big reason we were there was to find Michelle a small leather backpack purse. It took a while, but we had success. Denise, she bought some little 'evil eye' trinkets to take back to the little kids. I know she would buy more if she were not married to me. I guess I've put the fear of Tim in her. I honestly feel bad about this.

After success of buying a leather bag, we found the place the Hayden's ate at last night. We all ordered 'appetizers' and we ended up with a mountain of food...much more than we wanted. So we brought some home for tomorrow.

Well...one more day on our trip. I think we're going to try to get to church via the metro tomorrow. I hope it is via the metro as it is over 5 miles away. But, according to Denise's watch, we have walked 9 to 10 miles each day. So, I guess we could walk to church and back and call it a normal day.

Pictures....

The first modern day Olympic Stadium. I remember seeing the contestants run around it in the Amazing Race! :-)