ORIGINAL POST: 16 Feb 2008
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So, I honestly did not know what to expect the day after massive strikes and demonstrations by the public transportation workers in Athens, Greece.
Considering there were 80,000 supporters and clashes with police - the kind that involved lots of riot gear and tear-gas. The kind with drama and burning cars and helicopters. Yes, even the kind with a number of police and demonstrators ending the day in the hospital.
But there was absolutely no evidence of this mess. All back to normal...
Even the dogs were back to the usual routine... but that doesn't take much...
Except maybe this guy... with bandoleers of shotgun shells in his trunk. I wonder if he was coming back from the strikes?
But instead of seeing all kinds of craziness, a few friends and I decided to climb up to the chapel to St. George on the top of Lycabettus Hill. It was the location where the Athens Acropolis SHOULD have been, but was deemed too small to be an effective fortress or citadel.
But it was a rather awesome view...
Not quite comparable to the Sears Tower or the Empire State Building (1200ft), but its really really close near 850ft tall. Looking down on EVERYTHING in central Athens - even the Acropolis - it made the climb well worthwhile.
Mythologically speaking, the mountain was formed when the goddess Athena was helping build the Acropolis by carrying parts of the nearby mountain chain to the center of town. Well, in her clumsiness, she dropped the part she was carrying and... surprise!... Lycabettus Hill was formed.
It DOES kinda look like it, if you think about it...
But now... many moons later...
Agios Georgios...
And the interior of the chapel, in classic Eastern Orthodox style, is covered in images depicting the deeds and teachings of Jesus. Originally, these paintings were used to teach lessons to the illiterate - in a sort of a New International Dr. Seuss Bible style.
However, this chapel is extremely well preserved.
And, yes, completely okay to take picture...
Lots of gold... lots of silver... lots of iconography.
But otherwise... just really great views...
And photograph opportunities...
Hooray!
Its kinda difficult to see the little LCD screens on the back of digicams in such brightness... Thank goodness for SLR's.
But have a great day, my friends... I'm going down to the seaside coffee shops and hanging out for a few hours.
Because it is THAT kind of Saturday in Porto Rafti, Greece.
Stay tuned...
~Noah D
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