Day 10 – Monday, October 13: Athens, Mars Hill, Acropolis, the Plaka, Free Time
Today was our last full day in Greece and and our last day together as one large group. Following a final breakfast on the ship, we disembarked about 7:30 and loaded up our buses for our tour of Athens. Once again, we enjoyed perfect temps (in the low 70s), with mostly sunny skies in Athens. We read from Colossians 1 as we left the the port.
City Tour of Athens
It was about an hour and half drive that took us to downtown Athens. First, we enjoyed a brief bus tour of the city 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.
Mars Hill
Next, we drove to the base of the Acropolis. Close by is the Rock of Areopagus (“Mar’s Hill) where Paul delivered his testimony. We climbed Mar’s Hill using the modern steps. Paul would have used the steps carved in the bedrock. From the top of this rocky escapement, we could see the Agora a bit closer-up, which included the Temple of Hephaestus and the Stoa of Attilos. 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). Paul was not invited to join the Stoics and Epicureans for a philosophy discussion. His life was literally being threatened for what he was teaching. 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!
“We were back in Athens today for the last day of the Greece portion of the trip. We climbed “Mars Hill” as well as the Acropolis. Standing tall from 447-438 BC is the Parthenon, one of the severn wonders of the world! The size and detail of this structure is incredible!”
Acropolis/Parthenon
From here 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 Stoa, the Agora (the center of economic and public life), and Mt. Lycabetus (that some in the group climbed earlier this week).
Descending down off the Acropolis we re-gathered and walked to Hadrian’s Arch. For the next two hours (on our own) we walked into the Plaka where we enjoyed grabbing our last gyro, Greek salad here, and last-minute shopping. We returned back to Hadrian’s Arch to be picked up by our buses. From here drove to the Titania Hotel for the rest of the afternoon. Following dinner we said goodbye to those not doing the Turkey extension (since those who are have a very early morning flight to Istanbul. Those not doing Turkey have various-timed flights back to the States in the morning. It was a great Greece trip with a wonderful group!
Day 11 – Tuesday, October 14: Flight Home/Turkey Extension
