Athens - Old & Older
During Eid of 2016 I spent a few days in Greece, going to Vouliagmeni on the coast and Athens
During Eid of 2016 I spent a few days in Greece, going to Vouliagmeni on the coast and Athens
During Eid of 2016 I spent a few days in Greece, going to Vouliagmeni on the coast and Athens
During Eid of 2016 I spent a few days in Greece, going to Vouliagmeni on the coast and Athens
One of the best views of the city, especially in the later afternoon.
Shot with iPhone.
Our hotel for the first two days. Beautiful setting with its own little sea inlet.
The sister hotel of the Arian, the Westin, just next to it on the same peninsula.
... and another shot is still to come!
I never thought butterflies are particularly pretty.
Looking westwards from Vouliagmeni.
Sunset happiness!
More sunset views looking over the Astir Palace pool.
Sometimes you need a little abstractness in your life.
The first moon after Ramadan rising over the Saronic gulf. Eid Mubarak!
Found this guy roaming on the island, enjoying the views.
Bumpy ride.
Never tried this myself.
Athens from the rooftop of our hotel, The Stanley.
Mostly in Greek though.
Originally built some 100 years BC, the current version was rebuilt in the 1950s.
Archaeological digging sites next to the train tracks, that's Athens for you.
The small and big version of the Temple of Hephaestus in the Agora.
This turtle was roaming around near the Temple of Hephaestus. Maybe fleeing from the dog behind it.
With the Stoa of Attalos and the Lycabettus Hill in the background - we climbed that one later...
One of the fascinating things about Athens is the huge messy urban sprawl surrounding the city mixed with some of the ancient preserved areas. The Stoa of Attalos and Church of the Holy Apostles in the foreground here.
Still used for events today.
Tourists, ropes and a garbage can.
Not many angles without cranes or other signs of ongoing renovation works.
The ruins of this theatre, originally built in the 6th century BC.
The Partheon is undergoing major renovation at the moment to prevent it from deteriorating further. Not the best time for photos.
.. which we climbed on the next day!
Athens' churches weren't really particularly impressive, here is one of the nicer examples.
One of the few buildings on the Acropolis not currently under renovation.
Promised you another one!
With the Tower of Winds on the right.
Walking around the Plaka.
The most human-like thing you could find in many buildings of central Athens.
But mostly old.
View from the A for Athens rooftop. Amazing spot.
Again taken from the A for Athens rooftop.
While most of the graffiti was visible unpleasant to say the least, this was far more intriguing.
I was one of them a few hours earlier.
Many of Athen's rooftops are housing bars and hotels, but there is also a lot of empty and abandoned ones.
The new moon rising.
The most photographed sight in Athens.
Luckily she was able to handle my strict planning.
A turtle pond in Athen's National Gardens. Don't know what this guy is up to.
The guards in front of the Presidential Palace.
Where the first Olympics of the modern era took place in 1896.
The stadium also hosted the final of the 2004 Olympics marathon.
Up the stairs!
...for my OCD mind.
A collection of the torches used for all Olympic games is exhibited alongside the official poster in the stadium's little museum.
Some people actually ran the track of the stadium. No thanks.
The stadium is still used for special events occasionally.
Originally built for the first modern Olympics.
Square peg in a round hole.
Many shops selling religious artefacts of all kinds.
No further comments.
The Temple of Olympian Zeus was one of the more impressive sites for sure.
From the Athens Gate rooftop.
A close up of the Stoa of Attalos' roof.
In case you plan to build your own church.
Loved this modern building constructed over an ancient site. Don't know what it is, who can tell me?
One of my favourite buildings in the city.
The Panathenaic Stadium from the Lycabettus Hill.
The edges of the city towards the eastern hills surrounding Athens.
...during sunset
As seen from the top of the Lycabettus Hill.
Also from the Lycabettus Hill.
Soldiers taking the flag down - I assume this was because of the wind though.
Sun setting over central Athens and the Acropolis.
The sun setting behind the mountain range on the North Western side of Athens.
.. and a few hours later
The view towards the sea. Athens looks unusually large and dense from above.
Thanks to the lighting it still looks impressive.