Day 11 – Friday, September 25: Athens, Acropolis, Mars Hill, Free Time in the Plaka
Today was our last full day in Greece and and our last day together as a group of 53. Following breakfast on the ship, we disembarked about 7:30 and loaded up our buses for our tour of Athens. Once again, we enjoyed sunny blue skies, with perfect temps in the low 70s. We read from 2 Corinthians 11 as we left the port.
Athens City Tour
It was little over an hour drive that took us to downtown Athens. First, we enjoyed a drive around the city, seeing the Olympic stadium (made of all marble and restored for the 1896 Olympic Games), Temple of Zeus, Constitution Square, and Hadrian’s Arch.
Acropolis
We then drove to the base of the Acropolis. Unfortunately, one in the group tripped over an uneven sidewalk and fell. Upon transporting her to a private hospital by ambulance, it turns out that she fractured her hip and is in need of surgery. We pray for our sister in Christ!
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 at night). To see the Parthenon that close was incredible! It is so large!
“It was a great last day here in Greece, with Athens being a highlight. Climbing the Acropolis was amazing and the Parthenon was incredible to see so up close! To connect with Paul’s testimony on Mar’s Hill (Acts 17) completed the day!”
Mar’s Hill
After walking down form 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). Paul was literally seized (epi-lambano in Greek), arrested and dragged before this legal court. 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 (including two by name)!
Leaving the Acropolis, we walked towards the Plaka. We enjoyed grabbing our last Greek lunch here and last-minute shopping. We retuned to Hadrian’s Arch to be picked up by our bus. We drove to the Titania Hotel where we enjoyed dinner together and overnight in Athens. The majority of the group leave at 3:30 a.m. tomorrow either for Rome (27 of us) or back to the States. What a wonderful group God brought together!
Day 12 – Saturday, September 26: Athens, U.S. / Extension to Rome
