2024 Italy and Greece, Wed May 08, 2024

Rest day in Athens

Today, we got an oil change for both bikes, visited the Acropolis, and went for a swim.

We rode motos around Athens a bit, but didn't record the track.

It was to rest my foot.

We met a couple of women after dinner, one was a Russian doctor. She recommeneded an "aluminum water" compress. Gave it a try, but didn't seem to do anthing.

Hotel for 3 days from now is booked in Karpenisi

Dave has been busy booking rooms for our final four days in Greece

Hotel for 3 days from now is booked in Karpenisi

Hotel for 4 days from now is booked in Kalabaka / Meoteora

Hotel for 5 days from now is booked in Monodendri

This is my foot in the morning after wearing a compression sock all night. It's not as huge, but the color is still aweful

Breakfast

Excellent Cafè Απολλώνιον Bakery Patisserie a couple of blocks from Palmyra Beach Hotel

Oil changes for both bikes

The Ducati is overdue for an oil change and we've still got maybe 2000 miles to go and I don't know the scooter's service history. It might have never had an oil change, so we found this motorcycle repair shop less than 3 km from our hotel and went to check it out. A woman who spoke some English was there but her husband/mechanic was out on an errand, but she said we could wait 20 minutes and he would help us. We chatted while we waited and when he got back, he took care of us immediately. The stated price was very good, but looking back at the debit card charge, they overcharged us by €30. Even at that the €100 for changing oil on two bikes on short notice was a good price. It's just annoying to be overcharged. Was it a mistake? I don't think so. Sigh.

This is ΡΗΓΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ ΧΡΗΣΤΟΣ (Rigopoulos Christos) a motorcycle repair shop

note that this is the featured image for his shop now :)

In a corner of the shop, there's my original Puch Maxi 50cc!

The Honda SH350i getting a transfusion

The Acropolis :: The term “acropolis” means “high city” in Greek and can refer to one of many natural strongholds constructed on rocky, elevated ground in Greece, but the Acropolis of Athens is the best known.
We rode the bikes about 12 km and parked a few blocks (500m or as they write it in Greece 500μ which is funny to me because it looks like 500 microns) from the Acropolis. Turns out we could have riden right into the facility and parked there. Motos always have special parking in Greece. The place was moderately crowded with tourists, but this is the shoulder season. I wonder what it will be like a month or two from now, probably insane. Anyway, it was a beautiful, warm-but-not-hot day to see these extraoridary sights. If we were going to get into only one archaeological site in Greece, this was the right one. Nice!
Acxropolis of Athens

Parthenonas

Temple of Rome & Augustus

Sanctuary of Zeus Polieus

Temple of Athena

Statue of Athena Promachos

Monument of Agrippa

Temple of Athena Nike

Beulé Gate

Chalkotheke

Choregic Monument of Thrasyllos

Temple of Asklepios

Temple of Themis

etc

Parked on the street a few blocks from the Acropolis. Didn't realize that motos park for free right at the top of the hill.

Beginning of the path up to the top of the Acropolis hill

Bought our tickets (€20 each) going in

Amphitheater

Ωδείο Ηρώδου του Αττικού (Odeon of Herodes Atticus) a very well preserved/reconstructed ancient Amphitheater --- Concerts and other performances are held at this restored stone theater constructed in 161 CE.

Ναός Αθηνάς Νίκης (Temple of Athena Nike) the goddesses of Wisdom and Victory, built around 420 BC, this temple is the earliest fully Ionic temple on the Acropolis.

The Acropolis in central Athens

Παρθενώνας (The Parthenon) The Parthenon was built to thank Athena for the Hellenic victory over Persian Empire invaders during the Greco-Persian Wars. Construction ran ~nine years years from 447 BC to 438 BC

Προπύλαια Ακρόπολης (Propylaea) is a monumental gateway serving as a partition, separating the secular and religious parts of the Acropolis (High City) of Athens

31x70 meters, 15 meters tall, 8 columns on the short sides, 17 on the long sides. The columns have an inward tilt to exaggerate perspective and make it look even taller than it really is.

The lighter colored stones (perhaps 5% of the total) are reconstructed components made during the ongoing restoration which was started in 1975. The reconstruction is taking many times as long as the original 9-year construction.

Propylaea gateway

Ooooohh, I think I need one of those!

Ancient Iranian musical instrument

Another conversation with Alexandro: "How are you? Is the foot better? Chris: it looks like crap but it still works. Alexandro: Don't walk too much otherwise it will swell more. Chris: But there is so much to see. Alexandro: Here in Bergamo it rains and it's cold! It feels like October. Chris: That's why you should be here with me."

Chris going for a swim

The beach near our hotel

Is he waving or calling for help?

Alexandro: "Watch out for sharks", Chris: "It's OK, they don't want to eat my rotten foot."

Dinner at Ο Πρόεδρος (Γλυφάδα) Kebab "The President"

Citroën 2CV just like Maeda-san had in Toyota City

Grilled peppers are delicious!

These are so spicey as to be inedible. Dangerous!

Feta with spices and olive oil

Kebab variety plate

On the left is Irina Noskovs, she is a Russian doctor (liver surgeon) who was very interested in how governments can track phones and can they get GMail data. She took me across the street to Φαρμακείο Ιουλιέτα Παπαπολυχρονιάδου Pharmacy and bought me some medicine for my foot. Not sure it did any good.
Next to her is friend Sophia who, despite being engaged and about 25 years younger, had a crush on Dave ;-) Sophia is also Russian, a model, and interested in converting to Catholoicism because she things Catholics don't allow divorce. Hmmm.

Meanwhile in Napoli here's what Kathi was doing

To see a journal of this day from Kathi's perspective, click here.
or page though the following slideshow...