An Athens Walkabout, Athens, Greece

Our trip to Greece this summer started with a full day in the capital city. It was planned specifically so that we could visit the Acropolis Museum, which did not feature on our first visit itinerary to Athens. Beyond that, we spent quite a bit of time reacquainting ourselves with Athens, on foot and on Segway.

While on foot, we more or less remained within the boundaries of lively central neighborhoods of Plaka and Monastiraki. Some of the photography presented here repeats what was included in the above-linked old post.

Starting with the main highlight of the Roman Agora, the Tower of the Winds (aka Horologion of Andronikos Cyrrhestes).

The 2,000-plus-year-old tower is among the best-preserved remnants of antiquity anywhere in the world and the only surviving ancient clock tower, decorated with depictions of wind gods on its eight sides.

The rest of the Forum is what you would generally expect from an archaeological site - mostly ruins. The rows of columns, nonetheless, combine with the surroundings in a fairly agreeable way.

The Acropolis of Athens can be seen from practically everywhere in the historic core of the city. That is Erechtheion up on the hill in the background of the perspective taken from the Gate of Athena Archegetis at the western edge of the Roman Forum. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).