1st day in Athens

I was trapped in orginge line of DC Metro and then flight delay in DCA which caused me to rush to international terminal at Phlodephia to catch up with my 10-hr flight to Athens. Everything thereafter turned out fine. I got to sleep over two seats over the flight and watched Greek mountains and islands when landing. My friend picked me up at the airport and then told me the directions to the most important landmark in Athens in no time.

I met a family of three form Toranto near the Metro and we parted to different ways at Acropoils because they needed to finish all sites on one day. I run into a new friend Catalina there and we travelled the whole day together. Catalina  lived in Bogota, Colonbia, and is taking one month off after 7-month UN volunteer geo-survey in Congo Africa. She just finished 4-day in turkey and on her 2nd day in Athens. 

The Acropolis, a Unesco World Heritage Site, was the ancient fortified town of Athens, and has the best buildings of the Greek Classical age: the Parthenon, the Erectheion, the Temple of Athena Nike. Acropolis dominates the Athenian sky and symbolizes the foundation of modern culture and civilization. 

As the most famous landmark of entire Greece, Acropolis is the eternal symbol of democracy, education and inspiration. Catalina told me it has been her childhood dream to visit Athens, and she finally made her way here.

We bought combination tickets to visit multiple sites in 4 days: Kerameikos, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Roman Agora, Ancient Agora, and the nearby Theatre of Dionysus. It was hot and sunny, so we took a lot of photos and drank a lot of water.

We also visited The Temple of Olympian Zeus.  Only the ruins remain today. The column that has fallen and can still be seen on pieces was brought down during a thunderstorm about a century ago. 

Our next stop was new Acropolis Museum which was designed by Swiss star architect Bernard Tschumi at a site south of the Acropolis. It is located just below the Acropolis, it's easily accessed from the Acropolis station of the Metro. 

We then met my firend who worked in TAiwnese Embassy for dinner on a rooftop restaruant to enjoy the view of Acropolis in the sunset and food. 

We then Atteneded the cultural night and experience the exquisite culture of Indonesia (yes, it is not Greek). Indonesian Embassy in Athens took us on a cultural journey across its many islands, from the western tip of Sumatra Island to the eastern part of Papu via showcasing performances, which link to different areas and culture in Indonesia, such as: Saman Dance (a dance of thousand hands), Gaga-Gaba Dance (stick dance), and Pakarena Dance. What a day!