My stay in Athens, although brief, was one of the most memorable trips thus far. Memories of my junior high obsession of Greek mythology and thoughts of my current interest in classical civilizations, were constantly floating through my head as I wandered the ancient sites. The sun kissed pentelic marble against the layers of mountains in the background gave me a little insight into what the greats such as Homer and Isocrates saw when they were alive. A city as steeped in history as it is in beauty, Athens blew me away from the moment I arrived to the last sunset before catching my flight to Santorini. In the time between my friend Andrew and I spent our time eating gyros from street vendors and sitting in the intense Grecian sun sketching the ruins. Both nights we tried to find the best spot for sunset and each night Athens showed up.
The first night we watched the sun set from the Areopagus, which is the hill just below the acropolis where Paul gave his sermon to the Athenians. The sky slowly turned from a faded blue to a vibrant orange. As the sun vanished, pink clouds streaked across the sky creating a beautiful backdrop against the white city below. The second night after a full day of sketching and documenting, we decided to climb the Hill of the Muses. From the peak, we could see for miles in every direction and with the Acropolis across the way, it was the perfect spot to enjoy our Sunday evening. We could hear the sound of drums in the distance like the sound of a gentle heart beat. The city felt alive. The locals were eating with their families and everyone was out enjoying the beautiful weather. As the sun set, I knew that only two days in Athens would not satisfy the love that I accumulated for the vibrant city.
Athens was filled with pleasant surprises and dreams fulfilled. I was even able to meet up with my friend Jack who was studying abroad in London. The ancient city showed off for us and I look forward to the day I am able return, but Athens was only the beginning. Stay tuned for my blog about life on the Aegean island of Santorini. The following pictures are just a peak into the beauty I experienced in Athens.
