A little clarification to begin today’s story. In Day 44’s post, I provided a clue for my next destination – the “Edinburgh of the south”. This was of course an alllusion to Edinburgh’s sobriquet – the “Athens of the north”. I really don’t know where these ideas come from.
Today was about sightseeing, and where better place to start than at the Acropolis. Despite the heat on this Sunday and the hordes of tourists, it was still a beautiful visit. There were many dollars worth of cameras hanging around the necks of the visitors…
“Ok, Will, I’ll get you with that in the background. Now, shoulders back, head up, arms straight!”
Looking back down the corridor of time, I don’t know if that is a literal quote of what I heard or a paraphrase/amalgum of the general vibe of the chatter on the Acropolis that day.
The views across the city were amazing and we could see the Temple of Zeus – again, a collection of pillars, but so evocative of centuries past. It was interesting to see The Parthenon, remembering childhood trips to the British Museum in London with my father and his telling me the story of the now very controversial “Elgin” marbles. I saw the marbles first, never dreaming that one day I would see where they actually belonged. The “we” I referred to were my companions for the day – Horace from Australia and John from Enfield. I think I must have met them in the youth hostel last night.
In retrospect, a significant day. Probably too much to process at the time. Athens was my original destination, but sadly not to meet Judith my muse of that time. The Fates did not facilitate such an encounter.
Tomorrow sees another day in Athens if you wish to hang around – unlike my muse!
Psychologist on the Move 