It's All Greek to Me

Somehow this phrase never ceased to grow old in Greece. Every time we read a receipt, a street sign, or a billboard, it was always fun to say, "It's all Greek to me."

I must admit that Greek blood runs in my veins. My great grandfather came over from Greece. I grew up eating baklava, greek soup, writing to my greek cousin, and hearing stories about the wonderful Greeks. I had huge expectations for Athens, and it did not disappoint. In fact, I am already planning my return.



We visited the Panathenaic stadium built to honor the goddess Athena. It was built in 566 B.C. and redone in marble in 329 B.C. It is the only major stadium in the world built entirely of white marble. So cool! It also hosted the return to Olympic games in 1896. I once read about two runners who jumped over a fence to run at the Olympic Stadium in Greece. I'm not sure if it was in Olympia, or at the new stadium, but the thought of jumping did cross my mind. Can you imagine running where the ancient Greeks ran? So amazing. However, I was much to short to hop this fence, and those runners, well they were arrested.



Oh how I would have loved to see the old time Greek theatre with their elaborate masks and men playing all the parts. This theatre, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, was just down from the parthenon built in 161 A.D. seating 5,000 people. Amazingly, they still have events there. When I go back, I will definitely be attending.



Here I am holding the whole porch of madiens, from the Erechtheum in my little hand. The most fascinating and horrifying fact I learned was that they kept a snake in the temple and felt that it was an essential for the safety of the city. They fed it honey cakes, and if it refused to eat the cakes it was a bad omen. I think it was a bad omen to have a snake in there in the first place.



The beautiful view from the acropolis.



Finally, my favorite the Parthenon. It clearly states on my life list that the Parthenon is a must and it was well worth it. The temple of the goddess Athena is magnificent and an amazing symbol of the ancient Greek life.




Last of all I have to share the great Greek food. Gyros, real Greek salad and baklava. My mouth waters just thinking about it. Greece was definitely amazing!