|
The Propylaea, ceremony hall |
Last
week we travelled to the capital to attend our daughter’s commencement. It seemed most fitting that Libby receive her
bachelor’s degree in Classical Philology at the Propylaea, the beautiful headquarters of the University of Athens, which also serves as a ceremony hall and
rectory.
|
The National Library |
It was quite an emotional day with speeches, family and friends, and of
course, a hearty Greek meal of traditional meze, local wine and rich dessert.
|
Plaka |
|
Plaka |
And coffee, lots of coffee. Brewed strong, Greek coffee is thick and aromatic, with a signature frothy topping, called 'kaimaki', served in an espresso sized cup, thus, café hopping is a must if one is to skip siesta in favour of sightseeing and a swim!
|
Plaka, perhaps the birthplace of the original chalk paint? :) |
Libby’s
graduation gave us the opportunity to,
once again, explore Athens’ ancient
treasures.
|
The Temple of Hephaestus |
|
Surrounding Plaka |
Whether they date from as early as antiquity (8th century BC to 600 AD),
or the last 200 years, the city’s impressive architecture is appreciated both by
tourists, who travel the world to visit and study mystical ancient temples, and
the Greeks themselves, who, especially in these times, need to be reminded of
the admirable accomplishments of their ancestors.
|
Plaka |
|
Plaka |
|
Plaka |
Wandering the narrow labyrinth-like streets of Plaka, also referred to as
the ‘Neighbourhood of the Gods’, as it is situated directly below the Acropolis,
we were enchanted by its unmistakable neoclassical style of geometrical finery
and chalky palette.
|
Plaka, and the Acropolis above |
|
Plaka |
Among all the residential beauty, the restored Stoa of Attalos (159 -138
BC) can be found, with its impressive columns of marble and limestone.
|
Stoa of Attalos |
One might say that this ancient stoa, which is basically a covered promenade, can be compared to a modern day outdoor mall, as it housed a shopping centre, offices, and galleries, as well as a space for religious gatherings.
|
Stoa of Attalos |
The masterpiece of the ancient agora, or marketplace of Athens, has to be
the Temple of Hephaestus, or Theseion, as it stands strong and tall on Agoraios
Kolonos hill, still looking very much like it did when it was erected (449-415 BC), in
honour of Hephaestus, the patron god of metal work and craftsmanship.
|
Temple of Hephaestus |
Stay tuned for part two of our trip, as we trek up to
the clouds, where myth meets mystery, and a British poet of the past, who penned his love for this land and its people, kept company with Poseidon, leaving his own traces of immortality, high above the sea.
|
Athens
Thanks for visiting!
Poppy |
These beautiful pictures reinforce how much I missed when I thought I couldn't take three weeks off from work to accompany her to Greece! Next time, I won't say no! ~ Maureen
ReplyDeleteps- She reads you now but says it makes her wish she was living your life.
Καλημέρα!! Κάθε φορά που θα ανέβω Αθήνα για κάποια δουλειά θα περπατήσω οπωσδήποτε σε αυτά τα μέρη. Σήμερα με ταξίδεψες με τις όμορφες φωτογραφίες σου! Σε ευχαριστώ!! Καλό Σαββατοκύριακο!!
ReplyDeleteOh my God Poppy - first of all congratulations!
ReplyDeleteAnd second of all those photos are magazine worthy - thanks for the mini vacation - just beautiful!
Hugs,
Suzan
Beautiful photos! And, congrats to your daughter :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to your daughter.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures of our beautiful city.
Good night, Poppy !
Greetings from DC, Poppy ~ Many congratulations to Libby! What an honor to have studied in a city full of history, culture and importance. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos!! That first one of the ceremony hall should be a postcard :) Athens is very picturesque and an architectural gem!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend friend!
xoxo
Loi
Hello Poppy,
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful post! You live in one of the most spectacular places in the world. The architecture, soft pastel colored stucco, stonework and the majestic Mediterranean are all so amazing. And, how wonderful that they are all at your doorstep. My husband has visited Crete and my youngest son is in Italy for the next few months. I have yet to travel there and maybe one of these days....ahhhhh! It doesn't hurt to dream.
I lived in Hawaii for 5+ years and grew so accustomed to the lush floral landscape...much like you have there in Crete. I had a giant bougainvilla outside my kitchen window. Today, I have tall ponderosa pine trees outside my windows here in Central Oregon. Quite a contrast.
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful comments on my blog, my friend. I'm so glad you came for a visit.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Blessings across the many miles,
Carolynn
As an "assistant stylist" I would like to express my appreciation for the result. Albeit, it would be NICER if you had included the rumbles I had been telling you about. Lastly, Libby's contribution is evident since she has conducted a thorough research by providing her expertise on facts and figures of the classical period.
ReplyDeleteAnd YES, I WAS THERE!!!
Amazing entry, as always!
Ωρίστε Libby ασχολείσαι με το αντικείμενό σου :p
Sincerely yours,JKS
Congratulations! May Liberty find happiness and be successful in her career and in all the other areas of her life. (Ptou, ptou!) Thanks for sharing those photos,Poppy. I think it's especially important in times like this to be reminded of all the beauty that is still Greece, and that's what your pictures and narrative here did. Kourayio!
ReplyDeleteXOXOXO,
Fay
How fortunate you are to live in such a beautiful part of the world. The photos are amazing. Congratulations to your daughter, you must be so proud. Thank you for visiting my blog. Please come again.------------ Shannon
ReplyDeleteAmazing! Beautiful how the ancient structures comingle with newer ones - the streets look romantic - such a very lovely place! Congratulations to you and to your daughter!
ReplyDeleteI do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
Kathy
Congratulations to Libby! I love the shots of the streets of Plaka. That's one of the parts of Greece that I always thought would be so fun to visit with it's quaint shops and interesting architecture. Love the scenery and seeing the city spread out below.
ReplyDeleteLiz
Beautiful shots. I wish I were having a coffee in one of those cafes right now. I linked up with you from The Tablescaper -- here's my travel diary for today if you'd like to stop by. http://gotmyreservations.com/?p=10312
ReplyDeleteI love all the colors and architectural details of the Plaka, I enjoyed seeing it through your post, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteCome and join my new Monday photo carnival on my travel site!
What a spectacular place with a ton of history. I can't imagine graduating in place like that.
ReplyDeleteGreat to have you be a part of "Oh the PLACES I've been!". Hope to see you next week!
- The Tablescaper