Acropolis, at last

I looked at a postcard of Athens today, with 12 places that scream "Athens" and we didn't recognize one place. Good progress, right?

I will be leaving in 15 days, but I've seen everything in Athens already!

We explored 4 cities yesterday, driving such distances that your legs and head hurt, but this post shall be dedicated to The Acropolis.

If you've been reading, you know the Acropolis is trying to escape us- with the weather up to 39 last week, it was a bit ridiculous to try to venture up the giantess mountain. Today, the high was 27 ( not bad!) and it was beautifully windy.

After walking for what seems like hours in the New Archeological Museum ( this is the largest museum of my life, i promise you it is bigger than some of the castles you will visit in Hedeilberg or Warsaw) Massive and ( as much as I love history, ancient civilizations and pots) this was a bit redundant. One room held beautiful ancient vases, pots and some jewelry and there there was a room titled "vase collection" an as I walked in, I was sure I had been in there, but I had not already. It was ridiculous and I love me my museums.

So after that, my legs threatening to give out with pain already ( I bypassed two rooms of the giant museum due to pain and sat down, staring thoughtfully at the "Mask of Agamemnon") we had planned to visit the elusive Acropolis.

Ow was the first thing that came to mind, then a lot of "WOW"

then a photo snapped of the sign that read "DO NOT TOUCH THE MARBLE"

Of course on my way out, I merely poked one column near the entrance into the Acropolis, not the Parthenon, don't worry.

It was beautiful, windy ( I almost lost my hat to the city of Athens) panoramic views= of Athens every way you turn. I turned on a video and spun in a circle, capturing Athens and the Parthenon.

All sorts of amazing, and I can't even describe why. A bunch of columns- ancient ones. But it demonstrates the height of Athens, the beauty of sculpture and how amazingly skilled the Greeks were at building structures to last this long.

I bet when they were building it, two men sat around and said.

1: imagine how long this building will last!

2: not that long, probably be eroded in a few centuries.

1: I bet it will last until the tenth century!

Alright, so I'm not an ancient greek man. But could you just imagine being someone who helped put that together, they could never imagine what the world will be like or how long it would last!

What Wonders will survive our generation to be put on display, charged to see and bring people from around the world to see?

Seriously though, it was beautiful, captivating and worth the climb and the 6 euro I did not have to pay ( she didn't believe my claims that I was studying in Bologna on exchange)

I don't blame her- I can hardly believe it.

To put in context though- almost every place we've gone ( save for two- Hadrian's Arc and the Acropolis) my UBC student card and a mention of "I'm studying in Italy, in Bologna" has bypassed the payment for many, many attractions.

I'm not bitter about paying, but it is a fact that the EU students get in free or lowered discounts- and I, even though it sounds like a lie still, am going to be an EU student frighteningly soon, so I'd prefer to save my Euros for the glorious trips, souvenirs and cuisine of this magical place. That, is a fact.