Day 7: Athens, Greece
We weren't certain if we would actually get to visit Athens. It was only the day before our scheduled arrival, Greece had massive strikes and violence in Athens due to the failing economy. The port workers were also on strike so even if the cruise line said everything would be resolved by the time we were scheduled to arrive there, I was still skeptical. But thankfully, I was wrong and the strike ended at 6am and we birth the port at 9am.
Athens is a very interesting city. One of the oldest cities in the world, due to population growth and urbanization, the city has been pushed to its limits. For a European city its quite dirty but, then again it is one of the oldest mega cities in the world.
But it is still worth visiting Athens because there are only handful of places that can beat that experience.
The Acropolis: Athens, Greece - Images (c) Manori Sumanasinghe 2010Athens is one of those places everyone should try to visit at least once in their lifetime.
Panoramic Athens - Image (c) Manori Sumanasinghe 2010The other highlight of Athens was visiting the New Acropolis Museum. Photographs of inside of the museum were not allowed so I don't have any images to share with you. But this amazing structure by Bernard Tschumi is one of the most elegant, thought provoking architectural masterpieces I have visited this life.
It is pretty cool how the structure is build on an actual architectural dig, without destroying or blocking the site. You can still see the excavations happening below the museum. And through the glass floors of each floor, as you browse through the exhibits, you can observe the excavation from different angles.
It is pretty cool how the structure is build on an actual architectural dig, without destroying or blocking the site. You can still see the excavations happening below the museum. And through the glass floors of each floor, as you browse through the exhibits, you can observe the excavation from different angles.
The Entrance to the New Acropolis Museum - Image (c) Manori Sumanasinghe 2010
The archeological dig underneath the New Acropolis Museum - Image (c) Manori Sumanasinghe 2010
The New Acropolis Museum - Image (c) Manori Sumanasinghe 2010Day 8: Rhodes, Greece
This charming Greek Island played an important role in the ancient Greece. Rhodes, famous for Colossus of Rhodes has two main things one must explore. The old city, which is the city built in the ancient Greek days with the acropolis of Rhodes and the new city or the medieval city built by the Knights Templar.
The old city / The Acropolis of Rhodes - Image (c) Manori Sumanasinghe 2010
The Medieval City, Rhodes, Greece - Image (c) Manori Sumanasinghe 2010Both days, I wish I had more time to see and to explore the cities and enjoy the beauty and the craftsmanship of these ancient creations.
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