Watch Your Step in Athens!
Marching through this ancient city of gods and goddesses and more, I’ve got to reveal that marching/walking/strolling can take a toll on the legs and feet. I’m not kidding. Despite having a great day inside due to morning/afternoon rains, I hoofed it up to the National Archaeological Museum before the rain set in. However, since it is the first of the month, many museums in Europe are free, including this one. Upon arriveal, I was met with a 30 minute wait time to get in. Moments later the skies opened and I was ready!
Alas, it’s all because I had bought “insurance” in the disguise as an umbrella should the need arise while in Greece. I never pack one, ever. This trip threatened rain almost every day, so I finally broke down while in Aegina and bought one. I’ve been lucky so far not needing it, but today, I packed it in my bag and had it when I needed it most - standing in a long line when the skies cut lose and the raindrops falling on my head…
In a second I’ll get to those doggone sidewalks (got pics too), but the National Archaeological Museum in Athens is one of the finest museums in the world when it comes to their extraordinary collection of Ancient Greek sculptures, Bronze Age treasures, exquisite pottery (some dating back to 2000 BC!), and other artifacts to please just about anyone passing through the front doors. This baby has over 11, 000 exhibits and artifacts - an exceptional colletion of human history. I was duly impressed!
Getting there…ahem…was not too pleasant. The crumbling and uneven sidewalks did not help. Firstly, my map app took me through the roughest part of town - graffiti everywhere, cheap stores, a slew of off-brand burner and cheap phones etc., and the buying a selling of drugs…on Sunday morning! Yikes! Thank goodness no one bothered me and I cruised through the streets like I was on a mission (I was, right?).
Secondly, there were many times on my journey that I had to start and stop to get around cracked areas, puddles, and lots of debris scattered all over the place. Nothing stopped me, but I thought I should have gone another route. For sure, I told myself, I’ll be going back a much cleaner and safer route, with a side trip to Syntagma Square to see the Changing of the Guards at the Old Royal Palace - now the Hellenic Parliament Building. Basically, I did another ring around the city.
I can’t say the streets/sidewalks were any better on the route back, except for the beautiful white marble sidewalks in front of the Parliament Building, but I felt way more comfortable and safer marching though the ancient streets once again.
It would be nice if some of the tourism dollars could go to some of the infrastructure needs around this wickedly poplular world city.
bSoleille!
Terri
Photos: 1) National Archaelogical Museum, 2, 3, 4) beat up sidewalks, 5) Changing of the Guards at Syntagma Square, 6) in line for the museum with my new blue umbrella!
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