04 - May - Athens Archeological Museum
Yes, our butts were dragging but we had one more museum to visit. We hopped on the 'Flying Cat' ferry from Hydra to Athens for a 2 hour ride. The Cat didn't do any flying because the Greek government still had some safety slowdowns in place on transport systems after the recent disastrous trainwreck. It was a fast, uneventful 2 hrs and we were back in Athens.
The bus picked us up and dropped us at the Athens Archeological Museum. Lots of painted pottery and broken clay figures but there were three things that I wanted to see.
First was the Artemision Bronze sculpture of Poseidon or maybe Zeus, who knows.
Check the link above for more info but here is a photo with the ever present tourists.
Back view for the ladies.
Next was another magnificent bronze known as 'The Jockey of Artemision'
Most bronze sculptures were melted down for the metal but this one was lost in a shipwreck and discovered on the bottom of the Mediterranean after laying there for a couple of thousand years. It is really beautiful up close.
The last item in this museum that I wanted to see was the Antikythera Mechanism.
This is the oldest known example of an analogue computer and could predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance. It doesn't look like much now but scientists have reproduced the mechanism from these parts and it works.
This is the oldest known example of an analogue computer and could predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance. It doesn't look like much now but scientists have reproduced the mechanism from these parts and it works.
It was time to say goodbye to the museum and our favorite local guide, Mama Faye.
Delfi our Rick Steve's guide with Mama Faye, everyone's favorite guide
Mama Faye is the most famous guide in Greece. Everyone knows and respects her and when she talks everyone listens. We saw her shut down a group of a couple dozen rowdy high school kids with one shout.
Time for some lunch and back to our old haunt, the Acropolis Select Hotel for a last evening looking at the Acropolis.
Everyone had a great time, weather was good and nobody got hurt which was amazing because there are a hell of a lot of mountains and rocky steps in Greece.
We owe a big thanks to Delfi our guide. She made the trip special and enjoyable for everyone.
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