Day 11 – Friday, October 25: Athens, Acropolis, Mars Hill, the Plaka, Overnight in Athens or Flight to Rome
Today was our last full day in Greece and and our last day together as a large group. Following breakfast on the ship, we disembarked about 7:15 and loaded up our buses for our tour of Athens. Fifty six of us flew to Rome on an 7:35 p.m. flight, while the rest enjoyed one more night in Athens before their flight early Saturday morning. Once again, we enjoyed sunny blue skies, with perfect temps in the low 70s. We read from Romans 8 as we left the the port.
Athens
It was about an hour and half drive that took us to downtown Athens. First, we drove to the base of the Acropolis. We then climbed to the top of the Rock of Areopagus (“Mar’s Hill) where Paul delivered his testimony. From here we could see the Agora a bit closer-up, which included the Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa. We read Paul’s “defense” he gave (recorded in Acts 17) as he was seized and arrested and dragged/siezed (epi-lambano in Greek) before this legal court (similar to how Socrates was seized for teaching something new to children in 399 BC). In the context of the pagan customs and culture of the day, Paul was quite bold in proclaiming Christ here. Praise God for those who heard and responded to Paul’s message that day!
Next, we began our climb to the top of the Acropolis. We past the odeon (small theater that held 5,000) and the Temple of Nike, and then through the Propylea (“gate-way” marked with huge pillars today). Reaching the top we saw the Erechtheum (a temple built in 421-406 BC honoring Athena, Poseidon, Zeus, and Erechtheus a local goddess) and the Parthenon (built between 447-432 BC). Looking down on the top from the Acropolis in all directions we could see the Temple of Zeus, the Agora (the center of economic and public life) the Stoa of Attilos, and Mt. Lycabetus (that some in the group climbed earlier this week).
Leaving the Acropolis, we returned to our buses.
“Today was the last day of our Greece trip. We visited the Acropolis and Mar’s Hill in Athens. Despite the large crowds of people, we enjoyed the history, archaeology, and biblical connections with these places.”
City Tour of Athens
Leaving this area, we boarded back on the bus and enjoyed a brief city tour of Athens. We drove past by the Temple of Zeus, and the old Olympic stadium of Athens (made of all marble and restored for the 1896 Olympic Games) and Constitution Square.
Next, we all got dropped off by Hadrian’s Arch and walked to the Plaka. We enjoyed grabbing our last gyro here and last-minute shopping. We retuned to Hadrian’s Arch to be picked up by our buses. From here drove to the Titania Hotel where we said goodbye to those not going to Rome. Those staying behind enjoyed dinner together and overnight in Athens.
Those going to Rome then boarded back on the buses and drove to the airport for our evening flight to Rome.
Day 12 – Saturday, October 26: Flight Back to the U.S. OR Flight to Rome, Ostia Antica, Catacombs, St. Paul’s Church Outside the Walls, Appian Way
