Amazing Athens

It is currently 10:35 in Athens, and so the countdown begins.  I have approximately seven hours and ten minutes until our departure for Rome, and, while Rome is the site which I am most looking forward to visiting, I cannot deny that Athens was truly spectacular.  Following our trip to the Acropolis, we went on a journey to Nafplion and Mycenae. In Mycenae, we explored the ruins of the tribe which inspired the Cyclopean race in Homer's epic The Odyssey, and saw the famous Lions Gate.  Afterwards we spent some time in the small town of Nafplion.  There, we trekked through a Venetian-built castle that featured the Lion of Saint Mark.  We then enjoyed a local beach, which, I would say, put those of the Carribean to shame.  The combination of fried calamari and the marvelous shade of blue that decorated the ocean was worthy of peanut butter and jelly status.  On the following day we went to the museum:

Statue of Spartan Lad on a Horse

Sculpture of Hercules

Statue of Zeus or Poseidon

The statue of either Zeus or Poseidon is especially famous.  We also learned all about the classical and archaic periods of Greek art.  We then capped off our trip to Greece with a hike up Lykavitos Hill and a trip to Glyfada Beach.   The view on top of Lykavitos was incredible:

Just look at that beautiful face!  Oh, and the Parthenon in the crook of that face's elbow.  The Cretan dinner afterwards was also a marvelous way to satisfy the appetite which I worked up on the hike!

Quis est excitatus Romae?
Who's excited for Rome?