Published Thursday November 18th, 2004

Well.. I'm in my hotel room after another long and very tiring day filled with stuff happening. It's a cosy 27 degrees Celsius in here according to the somewhat questionable Thermometer on my mobile phone. Throughout the day it was around 30-35 degrees Celsius in the shade.. But I never really felt hot when I was in the shade.

The day started at 09.15 to my phones alarm-clock. After getting dressed and nibbling on some bread for breakfast served on the 1st etage of the hotel, I started of into Athens again. Walking through Monastiraki, I soon made my way to the Ancient Agora. Mostly rubble and ruins requiring great imagination to restore the scene. My admission was free like it has been everywhere because I claim to be a student and flash my old, expired ACHS student I.D. card. How glad I am that I have it in my wallet. Ive saved a substantial amount of money in the last two days with all my free admissions. If one ever goes anywhere museum-like and one has a student I.D.. bring it!

Athens had considerably increased in the already busy activity, hustle and bustle of the city of the weekend. Those who work in shops and about the streets were running around. The one-way alley-streets jammed and packed, grid-locked with cars. There were/are almost more motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds about than cars. The exhaust was almost unbearable. The smoke and exhaust stung in my nose. There were also many unarmed police patrolling the streets.

I spent about 3-4 hours wandering about the Roman and Ancient Athenian Agora. Walking about the ruins, reading placards and signs, trying to visualise the scene from 2,000 years ago. There were only two buildings still standing. One completely restored Stoa of Attalus (also now a museum of artifacts), and the Thesseion Temple of Hephaestus. As I wandered, I came across a turtle racing across the ruins.

I learnt new vocabulary from a placard.. I nominate and select G. Bush for ostracism. Heh, sorry.. just really wanted to use that word; it's a cool word!

Around 14.00 I left the Ancient Agora and had a chicken sandwich for lunch on the Apostolou Paulou promenade in Thissio. (Another section of Athens, Northwest of the Acropolis.)

After finishing my sandwich and having rested my legs a bit, I continued onwards, walking north. I wandered through some streets until I reached Keramikos. I went there instead of up a hill as I had decided the day before.. because.. I just felt like it. There were very few people in Keramikos, which in antiquity used to be the main entrance into the Agora and to the Acropolis which were surrounded by a city-wall with about 13 other entrances. Keramikos was also a large burial site, or a cemetery. I visited a museum there filled with art and pottery from misc burial sites.

As I wandered about the ruins, I noticed more turtles around.. I must have seen 20-30 turtles wandering about in the ruins no larger in size than 1/2 a football (soccer) stadium.

I wished, as I looked about and thought of all the ruins I had seen, that they were more than just ruins.. I wished to travel 2,000 years back in time to see the Ancient Agora and the Acropolis living, thriving.. In reality.. as large, majestic structures and civilisation, the birthplace of Democracy..

At around 16.30, I left Keramikos, walking south, down Apostolou Paulou promenade. Had a watermelon flavoured Bacardi Breezer, and then walked down the Dionissiou Areopagitou promenade which forms a semi-circle around the Agora and the Acropolis to the west and south. I took a little break and sat on a rock wall staring up at the Acropolis, and down at 2 turtles fighting, then mating (or.. just matting.. or just fighting..)

I continued on, across Amalias street to Handrians Arch and the Temple of the Olympian Zeus. I stayed here until sunset at which point I crossed back over Amalias street into the Plaka where I had pork and chicken Gyros for dinner.

Exhausted, tired, I walked back to my hotel, completing a full circle for the second time around the Acropolis at Monastiraki. I took a shower, and here I am, an hour after starting this entry..

The Plaka is great. Tight, small, one-way streets, packed with miscellaneous stores varying from OEM hardware to liquor, t-shirts, jewelry, souvenirs and restaurants.

I've never seen so many males with long hair as I have here. If it wasn't for my tripod and camera bag, I would fit right in. Speaking of camera, looking like a somewhat professional photographer has some just discovered disadvantages: Supervisors at archaeological sites and museums or monuments like to invite one to not take professional photographs for commercial use.. I even had to leave my tripod behind at the entrance of Keramikos.. Ha ha.

I've noticed that there are many, what would appear to be stray dogs were it not for their collar-tags. Each very similar and exact in shape, colour and size. A lot of these dogs seem to patrol the archaeological and monument sites.. It's sort of weird.. They walk by you, very well mannered, or trained, check you out with a short glimpse never stopping their trot as they walk past you, their examination completed.. Oppressed by dogs, or so I occasionally felt in their presence. The dogs also seem to roam the streets of the Plaka at their leisure. They just walk about, or lay around not acknowledging your presence at all.. Certainly unique.

Heh.. I like how the light constantly flickers in this room. I'm somewhat nervous about tomorrow morning.. I hope everything went through correctly for my pick-up with a tour agency.. But anyways.. tired, and my body very physically exhausted and in pain, I believe I shall now go sleep.

Note that photos in this entry have not been altered and could possibly use some white-balancing, contrast, brightness, saturation, and hue adjustments among other touch-ups.