An Unexpected Coastal Walk...

The following day we took the metro and a bus south of the city to head to a lake that Ashlynn had read about. We came across this beautiful bay first.

Lake Vouliagmeni was a very scenic lagoon supplied by saltwater from the bay and a freshwater spring formed about 2,000 years ago. Unfortunately, Ashlynn’s research failed to reveal the high entrance fee, so we admired the scenery and moved on.

Rather than immediately catch the bus back, we opted to walk along the coastline. First we paid a few euros to go to a private beach so we could use the loo and see the views...

 ...and then we walked along the public rocky beaches along the Saronic Gulf.

 We eventually found a waterfront café to watch the sunset, which was spectacular.

After having a nice chat with the restaurant owner about his upcoming vacation in the US, we caught a bus to the metro back to Ashlynn’s neighborhood. 

For the second time, we ate at a nearby souvlaki place. that served delicious and cheap pita wraps.

Sunset from Mount Lycabettus...

Later that afternoon, we headed over to Mount Lycabettus, Athens highest point at 908 feet (277 meters).

It was an easy walk up a paved path. Ashlynn was happy to finally be heading up, but wasn’t happy that I kept pointing the camera at her. Along the way we had a nice chat with an Italian guy who suggested we check out another hill on the opposite side of the Acropolis, which we did the following day.

This hill likely got its name from the wolves that existed in the Lykovatias Forest in the region in ancient times.

The views were incredible!

According to mythology, the hill appeared when Athena, after getting bad news from a raven, threw a rock which she was going to use to build the Acropolis.

We had some time to kill before sunset, so we went to the casual restaurant with views away from the Acropolis for a drink and snack. We especially loved the warm Greek raki (sweet alcoholic drink) Katrinakis with honey and cinnamon.

Although the sunset wasn’t spectacular, the view was.

It was cool looking down on the stadium where we had sat earlier in the day.

Athens was also incredible in the dark. 

Colorful Athens...

After splitting off from the hashers, we explored the surrounding streets, where we saw some colorful...

...birds in cages...

...used clothes...

...clotheslines and Mylar balloons.

The pigeons really loved this church.

Ashlynn did a good job of ducking away from this persistent fellow that tried giving her a free bracelet, which he then would have no doubt charged her for.

Athens Marathon...

The Athens Marathon – The Authentic was held the next day with 18,870 runners from 105 countries running the authentic route from Marathon to Athens and another 36,130 runners in shorter distances.

The race ended within the Panathenaic Stadium, the only stadium in the world entirely built of marble. Built in 144 AD and abandoned at the end of the 4th century, it was renovated in 1896 just in time to host the first modern Olympics.

There was no hash that weekend since some hashers were racing, but others were gathering to be spectators. It was a short walk from Ashlynn’s apartment, so we met up with the group to watch the first finishers. 

Afterwards, we walked across town with Grayson, who hashed with us when he lived in The Hague.

He led us through a fascinating flea market area...

...sometimes right next to ruins. 

We ended up opting not to join the group for lunch at an Irish Pub, but met up with Grayson, his son and another hasher the following night at a sports bar for a pub quiz, which we managed to win earning ourselves a free pitcher of beer. 

Temple of Apollo...

Built in 520 BC, the Temple of Apollo would have had 11 columns on the longer sides and 6 on the shorter ones.

 

Most of the temple was torn down in the 4th century AD because it was deemed idolatrous, but somehow one column survived.

Afterwards we wandered through the shopping area of the city...

...and along the port.

Temple of Aphaea...

I had planned on taking the bus across the island to visit its most famous ruins, but the bus didn’t run very frequently off season. Instead I splurged on a taxi to take us to the incredible Temple of Aphaea, dating from approximately 500 BC.

Apparently it was dedicated to the mother-goddess Aphaea, associated with fertility and the agricultural cycle.

On the drive back, I asked the driver to stop at the Church of Saint Nectarios, one of the most widely known Greek Orthodox Saints.

I assumed that the scaffolding inside was for renovations, but apparently the church hasn’t been completed yet.

We were thrilled to find a table at the water’s edge for lunch.

Ashlynn would have been happy to spend the rest of the afternoon in this spot...

...but I wanted to walk over to the Temple of Apollo.