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| the Antikythera Mechanism |
We boarded our buses and toured around a bit (buses have to go circuitous routes to get anywhere since many of the streets are too small for them). We arrived at the National Archaeological Museum at 9. I had my wonderful cheat sheet/personal tour papers and headed off on my own. I knew what I wanted to see and was ahead of most of the tour groups including my own, so I got to see many of the exhibits without anyone else around.
For me, it was like a treasure hunt, looking for a few specific items in each room and finding neat surprises, too. I managed to see 95% of what I had set out to see and covered all of the museum in about 90 minutes. I really enjoyed doing it that way. I didn't want to listen to Sophia's lecture every 10 feet, and I also managed to have some fun with the helpful guards in each room.
I got to see the Antikythera Mechanism, an interesting object that took half a century for people to recognize it as the world's first computer dating back to around 100 BC. I took about 80 photos which I will have to figure out when I get home.
The group met in the entrance lobby about 11 which gave us all time to use the facilities (not the greatest) before we headed out to the Ancient Agora. I did find a neat t-shirt in the gift shop with the Antikythera Mechanism on the front.
Sophia got us started in the Agora and up to the Stoa which is now a museum. I slipped away from the group long enough to get to see my goal for the site - the Holy Apostles Church built around the 10th century. I joined the group again as Sophia led us around the Agora.
We boarded the bus again and headed for lunch in the Plaka (old town) at a lovely, truly local, restaurant called Kentpikon. I had my food list with me and was delighted to get several items from my list. We were served family style which was fun.
The first platter had spanakopita with tzatziki, melitzana (eggplant dip which was really yummy!), and what Sophia said was a potato salad.
The second platter had kolokythokeftedes (fried zucchini balls - really good!), saganaki (fried cheese), and a spinach item. I asked the waiter if it was horta (wild greens including fennel leaves, nettles, poppy leaves, dandelions, etc which are steamed or boiled and served with lemon and olive oil). He said it wasn't, but he soon brought a bowl for me to taste. How sweet!
The final platter had dolmades (stuffed grape leaves with béchamel sauce), beef and lamb in a creamy tomato sauce, plain rice, green beans cooked with tomatoes, potatoes, and the stuffed tomato (gemista) that I had yesterday.
Finally they brought the dessert platter: revani (semolina cake soaked in a sugar/orange sauce), a Greek flan, and halva (a semolina pudding with cinnamon). I liked the halva, but no one else did.
After lunch, some people took off on their own, but we followed Sophia as she guided us back to the hotel. Our local Lindblad person, Anne, was in the lobby printing boarding passes and checking us in. I went up to the room, and Bill soon came up saying that there were problems getting us checked in which has happened to us before for international flights. Anne said she would accompany us to the airport and help us get it straight.
That took a while, but after, we headed down the street to the big souvenir area and picked up some small items for the nieces and nephews. I was totally pooped when we got back, but I managed to start packing. I passed on the farewell dinner out tonight. I was just way too full from lunch, and it is much nicer to have the time to pack calmly.
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