Notes from Abroad: Athens, day 3

 

I'm now really having to dig in my journal to refresh my memory of our last few days of travel. The memories of the oppressive heat have mercifully faded, now that we've got moody and cool weather.  Unfortunately, so have the memories of all of our grand adventures!

We saved my most anticipated visits for our last full day in Athens.  We started the day with the Acropolis Museum, where the windows allow for beautiful lighting and superb views.  I almost like seeing the Acropolis from a distance better than seeing it up close.  Almost.  I love the calm simplicity of all the marble sculptures, and have a difficult time imagining everything painted in gaudy colors. Viewing the friezes and reliefs from the Temple of Athena Nike, I was transported back 25 years to my Senior Symposium in Classical Sculpture presentation.  Fr. G, in his element, gave the children as many talks and lectures as their brains could hold after three weeks of absorbing new experiences.   

After the Acropolis Museum, we walked to the Benaki Museum, which was my first time there!  I wish I could go back by myself to study the costumes and make sketches.  Along with gorgeous examples from our favorite regions(Ipiros, Makedonia, Thraki, Cyprus, and more) were costumes we'd never seen before, mostly from small islands and more isolated regions on the mainland.  As much as I love painting and sculpture, the fiber arts tug at my heart the most.  I marvel at the intricate hand work that makes up each garment.  Each stitch, each brushstroke, each chisel chip was done by a living person!

As we were preparing to leave the Benaki, the skies opened up and it poured torrentially!  We've never had a summer rain in Athens, but were't complaining that the shower brought relief from the heat.  We slogged home for a shower and primp session, in addition to packing up our suitcases.  

Our last dinner was to be at a nice restaurant in the Plaka, followed by a hike up to the Philopappos and then a performance by the Dora Stratou Theatre.  Dinner was delicious, and the slow hike under a leaden sky was beautiful.  BUT!  When we arrived at the entrance to the Dora Stratou, we were informed that the threat of inclement weather was enough to cancel the performance.  I'll make it next time!

We hiked sadly home, heartened only by some delicious gelato from Little M's new favorite shop.  It was delicious as she claimed!