Europe (Athens, Greece) April/June 2010 D21-D23

Acropolis of Athens, being a Great Wonder of the World, is a major attraction to tourists from all over the world. This was the main reason I came to this far away city in Eastern Europe.

After an overnight bus trip. I arrived in Athens in the early morning. From the Eurolines bus terminal, I took a Metro (Euro$1) to Monastiraki station. In Athens, I stayed in Hostel Zeus (Euro$12 dorm) for two nights. The hostel is within walking distance to Acropolis.

I had two solid days in Athens and after the hostel check in, I made my way to Acropolis.

On the second day, while walking towards the Syntagma Square, I witnessed a demonstration march by an organized group of workers (2-3 thousands people) carrying anti-government protest banners, red communist flags, loudspeakers, marching orderly towards the Parliament building which was heavily guarded by riot police.

Expenses incurred in Athens:

Hostel - 2 x Euro$12 = Euro$24

Metro tickets -Euro$2
Entrance tickets (Acropolis & Museum) - Euro$12 + 5 = Euro$17
Food & groceries - Euro$11
Total expenses - Euro$54
Travel Highlights :

1) Acropolis - the most important ancient monument in the Western World; A Great Wonder of the World (admission fee to Acropolis Euro$12 plus 6 surrounding sites) - my dream has been fulfilled after seeing Acropolis

2) The Parthenon - the glory of ancient Greece, built in 438 BC

3) The Erechtheum - Caryatids, the six maidens (made of plaster casts, the originals are in Acropolis Museum) supporting its southern portico

4) Ancient Angora - the market place of early Athens

3) Theatre of Dionysos - an earlier theatre built in the 6th century BC, it held 17,000 people

4) Roman Angora - the wonderful Tower of the Winds was built in the 1st century BC

5) Temple of Olympian Zeus

6) Hadrian's Library

7) Hadrian's Arch - took more than 700 years to build

8) Acropolis Museum - houses major ancient artifacts & objects discovered in Acropolis (admission fee Euro$5), no photography inside the museum

9) The city of Athens, Plaka, Syntagma Square

" Acropolis of Athens is a Great Wonder of the World. The other major UNESCO sites in Greece are Mount Athos, Delphi & Mycenae. Built on the rock overlooking Athens, Acropolis is the most magnificent building of ancient Greece. Athens is a city with a glorious history, a birthplace for civilization, a host of the 2004 Olympic Game - Greece is magical ....... no wonder it had won so much admiration by thousands of tourists across the world.

The Secrets of Life : Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about "