Everyplace in Athens has a spectacular view of the Acropolis. We began early in the morning to 
take in all that is “Ancient Athens.” Our tour guide looked like a cross between the mean, age battered history teacher from high school and a caricature of a stop “smoking campaign.” Her sun scarred countenance, gravely voice and rail thin frame seemed paradoxical when she mentioned the voluptuous and stunningly beautiful goddesses like Hera, Aphrodite and Athena. It took a while but Pearse said “Is she speaking 2 languages?” After every explanation in English she’d follow with another rendition in Italian. We felt like folks on the TV show American Bandstand “Rate a record” where you vote “Liked it or hated it.” Pearse hated the explanations in Italian. A couple weeks ago he didn’t seem to mind folks speaking Italian but then again there was a snowboard attached to his small feet.
The new 130 million euro Acropolis Museum is simply stunning. The glass floor seemed like you peeled back a book jacket to see into the novel and ancient world of Greece. Below your feet you can see marble and stone columns that date 1000’s of years and red and black decorated pottery still sitting in its B.C. earthen cocoon. How appropriate that the National Acropolis Museum ran into issues requiring preservation, “further study” and documentation before they could dig or build. I wonder how many residential and commercial builders chuckled with glee when the federal government complained that this “discovery” would increase the price and make the project “over budget!” I am not sure if there is a Greek god for “building” but if there was he is laughing like hell all the way from the Parthenon.
We saw the preserved city ruins in Ephesus, Turkey less than a week ago and they were awe inspiring to say the least but as you make you way up the marble dimpled steps to the ancient Acropolis you almost feel like someone should be selling wings so your feet don’t ruin this treasure for others. The Acropolis has been battered, rammed, attacked and burned. It has been a fortress, a city with all amenities and its Parthenon a temple to the ancient god’s, a Catholic Church and an Ottoman Empire mosque. Its marble statues and beautiful colorful relief’s have withered and weathered and in a few cases been stolen and not returned. Pearse asked to the delight of the tour guide “How come Britain just doesn’t give them back, stealing is wrong?” I think our tour guide almost cried as she gave the ginger haired Pearse a skeleton like hug.
The Parthenon, 8 columns wide and 17 columns deep, and the surrounding ancient buildings are mesmerizing and elicit overwhelming feelings; while your brain knows civilization is based on ideas not buildings the sheer magnitude of these structures boggles the mind. The panoramic view of the city of Athens is one of a kind and if you listen hard you can hear the deciding vote between the gods. Zeus called for a contest to name the great Greek city between Athena and Poseidon. Each had to deliver a gift to the city and the gods would decide who gave the better of the gifts. Poseidon gave the city access to the sea when he touched his trident to the well in the Acropolis. Athena gave the gift of renewed life that is represented by her present the “olive
tree.” Now I’d argue that the deck was stacked since Athena was born from the ax that split the brain of Zeus and she is indeed beautiful. Poseidon while ripped with an 8 pack, the world’s first thong and could conjure the power of the sea, who was going to vote against the daughter of Zeus? In what I think was the world’s first reality show, Poseidon got “voted off” the mountain. If he’d won we would have visited Poseidon city today instead of Athens! So today’s lesson: A not so great gift wins every time if your dad owns the heavens!
take in all that is “Ancient Athens.” Our tour guide looked like a cross between the mean, age battered history teacher from high school and a caricature of a stop “smoking campaign.” Her sun scarred countenance, gravely voice and rail thin frame seemed paradoxical when she mentioned the voluptuous and stunningly beautiful goddesses like Hera, Aphrodite and Athena. It took a while but Pearse said “Is she speaking 2 languages?” After every explanation in English she’d follow with another rendition in Italian. We felt like folks on the TV show American Bandstand “Rate a record” where you vote “Liked it or hated it.” Pearse hated the explanations in Italian. A couple weeks ago he didn’t seem to mind folks speaking Italian but then again there was a snowboard attached to his small feet.The new 130 million euro Acropolis Museum is simply stunning. The glass floor seemed like you peeled back a book jacket to see into the novel and ancient world of Greece. Below your feet you can see marble and stone columns that date 1000’s of years and red and black decorated pottery still sitting in its B.C. earthen cocoon. How appropriate that the National Acropolis Museum ran into issues requiring preservation, “further study” and documentation before they could dig or build. I wonder how many residential and commercial builders chuckled with glee when the federal government complained that this “discovery” would increase the price and make the project “over budget!” I am not sure if there is a Greek god for “building” but if there was he is laughing like hell all the way from the Parthenon.
We saw the preserved city ruins in Ephesus, Turkey less than a week ago and they were awe inspiring to say the least but as you make you way up the marble dimpled steps to the ancient Acropolis you almost feel like someone should be selling wings so your feet don’t ruin this treasure for others. The Acropolis has been battered, rammed, attacked and burned. It has been a fortress, a city with all amenities and its Parthenon a temple to the ancient god’s, a Catholic Church and an Ottoman Empire mosque. Its marble statues and beautiful colorful relief’s have withered and weathered and in a few cases been stolen and not returned. Pearse asked to the delight of the tour guide “How come Britain just doesn’t give them back, stealing is wrong?” I think our tour guide almost cried as she gave the ginger haired Pearse a skeleton like hug.
The Parthenon, 8 columns wide and 17 columns deep, and the surrounding ancient buildings are mesmerizing and elicit overwhelming feelings; while your brain knows civilization is based on ideas not buildings the sheer magnitude of these structures boggles the mind. The panoramic view of the city of Athens is one of a kind and if you listen hard you can hear the deciding vote between the gods. Zeus called for a contest to name the great Greek city between Athena and Poseidon. Each had to deliver a gift to the city and the gods would decide who gave the better of the gifts. Poseidon gave the city access to the sea when he touched his trident to the well in the Acropolis. Athena gave the gift of renewed life that is represented by her present the “olive
tree.” Now I’d argue that the deck was stacked since Athena was born from the ax that split the brain of Zeus and she is indeed beautiful. Poseidon while ripped with an 8 pack, the world’s first thong and could conjure the power of the sea, who was going to vote against the daughter of Zeus? In what I think was the world’s first reality show, Poseidon got “voted off” the mountain. If he’d won we would have visited Poseidon city today instead of Athens! So today’s lesson: A not so great gift wins every time if your dad owns the heavens! 
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