Athens – Continued

Acropolis Museum - Originals of the copies on the Erechtheion adjacent to the Parthenon

We have spent the last three days exploring Athens – catching up on things we missed in 2010. Tonight is dinner with three other couples who are on the cruise.  We leave for the port in the morning and the start of our 26 days on the Zuiderdam.  Although we have enjoyed our time in Athens, the thought of unpacking for good until Florida has its appeal – as well as someone else doing the cooking, cleaning, bed-making, laundry, and “driving.” 

Our second full day in Athens was on Sunday.  Jet lag was still an issue so we did not get a start until about noon.  We walked the short distance to the Acropolis Museum which is just around the corner from the apartment we rented.  The weather was threatening and a museum seemed like a good bet – of course, everyone else had the same idea.  It was also Sunday so many Athenians and their families seemed to also be there.

We started with lunch in the Restaurant that has a stunning view of the Acropolis Hill.  While eating, we watched lightening make its way across the City but it remained dry on the outside terrace in front of us….for a while!  The outside diners’ luck did not hold out.  The heavens opened and we witnessed a downpour of epic proportions.  We have not seen such a rainstorm in a long time. 

The Museum Building itself is one of the stars besides the art from the Acropolis and Parthenon.  The glass and steel building was designed by a Swiss born New York based architect – Bernard Tschumi. The light in the structure is perfect for the displays and even worked on the less than sunny day we were there. 

With the opening of the Museum in 2009, the Greeks hoped to eliminate one of the objections of returning the art work pillaged by Lord Elgin now housed in the British Museum.  So far…no luck.  Reportedly, the British are afraid that other countries will want their stolen art back too!

Displays have thorough explanations in both Greek and English.  There is a well-produced video on the Acropolis Hill and Parthenon that rotates in Greek and English – with subtitles for both.  The sculpture is amazing – too many things to go into detail – Here is the link to the Museum’s collection. 

One of the highlights on the Third Level is a replica of the original frieze that went around the Parthenon – it is in a gallery that wraps around the top floor.  The Museum only has 32 feet of the 525 foot frieze.  Lord Elgin did not steal the ones that were damaged.

The next day was the National Archaeological Museum.  We thoroughly enjoyed this museum. It is considered one of the world’s finest for ancient Greek art.  It traces Greek art from 7000 BC to 500 AD.  Displayed in roughly chronological order, you go through various civilizations from the Minoans to the Roman period.  The displays have excellent English explanations in spacious well-lit rooms. 

Today was the hop on hop off bus.  It had excellent narration but the traffic in Athens is very bad so it took a long time to get anywhere.  We got off early near the Ancient Agora, had lunch, and then wandered through the Plaka.  We are now packing to get ready for joining the Zuiderdam tomorrow for the next leg of the trip.  OPA!