Christine in Athens, Greece

Greece is a mythical place you should visit at some point in your life.  Colleen and Marcie, my sisters, visited Europe for a couple weeks and Colleen wanted to see Greece.  So we traveled to Athens.  I figured I should get the city out of the way so that one day I can go back and hang out on the beaches.  Marcie and Colleen asked to guest blog about this trip.  I have patiently waited for their post.  Since it must be lost in the mail, I will write up the trip.

We took the early morning train from Stuttgart to Munchen (Munich) and then the S Bahn to the Munchen airport.  There I tried to get my sister's into the international lounge with me.  (Traveling a million times to the US, well 4 times last year, will get you gold status--a great luxury when you travel internationally.)  They would only let me and a guest in.  Even after I told them that sisters were interchangable.  I asked if one of them wanted to come in with me.  They said no.  Finally, the good rule following German attendant asked another lady whether they could go in the lounge instead of me.  They agreed that Colleen and Marcie could go in without me.  And my sisters ran, easily leaving me behind.  You can tell who they thinks important.  But back to Greece.

The Acropolis is said to be the most important ancient site in the Western World.  It sits above the city and can be viewed nearly from anywhere.  The structures were built around 400 BC, well a little before then.  Within the Acropolis, the Parthenon is the most famous structure.

The Acropolis Museum is in the foothills of the Acropolis.  The museums top floor, Parthenon Gallery, is built in alignment with the temple, and a virtual replica of the cella of the Parthenon.  This is part of the Parthenon the Greeks moved to the museum to keep it safe (the head was lost at some point so that's an addition).  It was not yet moved up on the wall, so you cold really see it and get a great picture.  And no, I did not touch it for the record, even if I was very tempted.

The Temple of Athena Nike, built between 427 and 424 BC, is next to the Parthenon.  It has imitation statutes as the real ones are located at the museum, done the hill from the Acropolis.  This is to keep them from deteriorating.  (Really?  Cause you know they stood for thousands years.)

The Greeks began building the Temple of Olympian Zeus in 6 BC and took more than 700 years to build.  Most of the columns are gone now, but it had 104 at one time.  This is not located at the Acropolis.

Some facts on the columns.  They are actually pieces, you can kinda see each piece if you look closely.  So each column is not a single structures.  This Corinthian column, at the Temple of Olympian Zeus, was blown down in a gale in 1852.  

The National Archaeology Museum is another must see.  The bronze statue of Artemission Poseidon, from 5 BC is a perfectly balanced body of an athlete about to launch his trident.  Or it is Zeus about to throw a thunderbolt.  Apparently there is some disagreement on what the statue is.  For the record, the museum is not sure either.  The statue was found in the sea.  Looking back, I could have probably took a better picture from a different angle.

I enjoyed the Greek food.  Probably my favorite was a little place that sold, for 2 Euro, these:

And yes, the Greeks like to protest lately:

Don't let anyone tell you it's not hot in Greece.  We went early September.  It was so hot, easily 90s each day, I had to take breaks from walking around the sites.  I never take breaks.  My advise:  go in December or January.  You may not melt then.

Christine

Christine in Romania

Romania is a beautiful place to visit for a couple days (I went the end of August, beginning of September).  First, I went to Constanta, at the Black Sea.  Wonder food there, if someone gives you tips.  I had mussels, seafood risotto, and steak.  Like American steak.  So good.  (Have I mentioned that I miss steak?  And hamburgers.  And Mexican while we are at it.  But back to Romania.)   

The Black Sea

After Constanta, I traveled to Bucharest, the capital of Romania.  Do you know what's in Bucharest?  The largest Parliament building in the world.  From what I understand, half of it is closed off, you know keep heating/cooling costs down.

I find formal communist countries the most interesting to visit, as you can see the change between communist and capitalist.  It is a slow process, as the wall fell in 1989.  It's like going back in time sorta.  Many buildings are in disarray.

Moving on though.  Do you know what Romania's famous for?  Transylvania and Bran's castle, also known as Dracula's castle.  Interestingly enough, there is no known record of Vlad the Impaler actually visiting there.

However, Bran Castle is not the most visited castle (I'm not sure how that is).  Peles Castle is.  This castle used timber (not generally found on castles.)

Next to this castle is Pelisor Castle.

I kinda wish I owned a castle.  Though the heating bills would bankrupt anyone.

Christine