Downtown Athens

Athens downtown is only about $10 away by taxi (around $5 by public transport), so it's very interesting and easy to pass some time in the old city. It's Orthodox Easter here, so there is added interest and bustle.

In the back streets, you can see lots of these old neo-classic houses squashed between more recent but bland structures. Simple, but elegant with fine iron work and lovely lattice shutters. Wonder what has been seen from this balcony over the years.

No matter how many times I see it, a glimpse of the Acropolis framed by the streetscape is still a thill.

First I thought this was the Tardis, then an early Soviet spacecraft after re-entry. It's actually a transportable police station. Glass shattered to thousands of pieces, scorched by flames. Glad I don't have to be an Athenian policeman.

Here we have some of the colourful goods on sale for Easter. It's funny seeing my iphoto program try to link names to the faces on the icons!!! (No, it didn't get a match for Jesus either, must be a lousy program)

Of course, it's all hot work, and we all know how important rehydration is.....

Check the mini and the Smart car out in the background. Shows how tiny the original mini really was. You can spend hours watching people try to squeeze a 3.5 metre car into a 3.45 metre space.

Tomorrow, we pick up a Ford Focus and head down to Porto Germano to spend the Easter break with some family. Our niece's husband Niko is a triathlete, and has a bike ready for me. It's also on the coast, so I'm hoping for a swim, before the the eating begins.