Everywhere we look, we are reminded of the mythology and legends of this wonderful country. Much like Italy, Greece is a land of beautifully timeless ruins. Monuments, temples, statues that have lost their shape altogether – all are powerful relics of a bygone age, an age where celebrating the gods and proclaiming pride for one’s homeland were distinct priorities of life itself. This was especially true for our first destination on the Grecian mainland: the remarkable city of Athens. Bustling and a bit dusty, Athens is still splendidly dynamic and should definitely be visited. 
Every day spent in Athens was characterized by an extreme amount of walking. We were determined to see it all, keeping our eyes wide open so as to not miss a single glorious moment. Unsurprisingly, one of the highlights was our visit to the Acropolis, an ancient fortress that’s located on a hill high above Athens. Although it’s a bit of a hike to see everything, the Acropolis showcases the remains of several buildings of stunning architecture that hold great historic significance. These buildings include, though are not limited to, the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Nike, and the elegant temple of Erechtheion, a building which displays the Caryatids (huge statues of female figures) that support the roof.
Known the world over, the Parthenon stands as a fierce example of human brilliance. Even half destroyed, a feeling of grandeur prevails. Surrounded by a rock and rubble strewn land, the columns tower over us, displaying an order and symmetry that is still impressive to this day. And, although most of the pieces of the pediment reside in the nearby Acropolis Museum, the scholarly reconstruction of what it must have looked like at its height is truly remarkable. In fact, the ancient Greeks had created the statues so that they could be enjoyed all the way around. Interestingly, people could not see most of these details from the ground. The reasoning behind why this was done left us awed: the Greeks had designed these sculptures primarily for the gods themselves, not just for their fellow man to appreciate. Respect, pride, honor, beauty – all are distinct characteristics of the Parthenon. 
As we gazed in admiration at these truly amazing works of art, we could only marvel at the ingenuity of those who had not only the creativity but also the knowledge to create pieces such as this; pieces that were so well constructed that they have survived the passing of the ages. It’s no wonder why cultures all over the world have chosen to duplicate the architectural style of the Greeks.
The view from the top of the Acropolis is breathtaking, with all of Athens spread out in front like a brilliant tapestry. At the bottom of the hill is the mostly intact Theatre of Dionysus and the Acropolis Museum, which we also felt compelled to see. 
While in Athens, we saw the Agora (the heart of Ancient Athens), which used to be the focus point for the most important activities in the city. In fact, anything revolving around political, administrative, commercial, social, or religious activities was conducted here. Many buildings still remain at this site, including temples to Hephaestus, Apollo, and Aphrodite. We also explored the Temple of Zeus, and the Plaka (one of the oldest neighborhoods in Athens that has some truly exquisite restaurants and gardens) as well as the Monastiraki Flea Market. There was so much more that we experienced in Athens, but this gives an overview of the things that stood out to us the most.
After getting our fill of Athens, we decided we could not leave Greece without experiencing Sparta and Olympia. Both locations required an interesting bus trip, but each destination was well worth the time, energy, and funds that were required to get there.
A three hour bus ride from Athens brought us to the famous city-state of Sparta. Home to the iconic Grecian warrior, Sparta was small, remote, and uncrowded. Surprised by the lack of activity, we wandered around and soon came to the Statue of Leonidas. After appreciating this powerfully imposing figure, we continued on to the site of ancient Sparta. Gnarled olive trees dotted the otherwise barren land as we slowly climbed the quiet and deserted hill. There is actually very little left of the ancients, but we still managed to have a brief “This is Sparta!” (from the movie 300) moment. 
Sparta to Olympia required another three hour bus ride, this one noticeably more pleasant than the first. The view from the bus window displayed a rich, lush, and vibrant land. Home of the first ever Olympics, Olympia was smaller than Sparta and housed even more ruins. The most alluring part, and the focus point of the ruins themselves, was the ancient track and field that’s still surrounded by a crumbling amphitheater.
This is specifically where the ancient Olympic Games originated in 776 BC. The Olympics began as a religious festival to honor Zeus, king of the gods, and events such as wrestling matches, a javelin contest, and a footrace were added later. From the onset, the Games were vastly important to the Greeks. Not only were they a token of respect to their deities, but they brought with them the opportunity for athletes to demonstrate a sense of pride in their country as well as their individual city-state. 
So much more was experienced in this beautiful country. Alas, those adventures will have to wait for another day. Suffice it to say that we are, officially, in love with this magnificent land and we encourage any and all to journey here as soon as possible! 😀
For additional photos, please see:
– Greece 2014 – Crete: Hersonissos
– Greece 2018 – Crete: Hersonissos
– Greece 2019 – Crete: Hersonissos
– Greece 2019 – Crete: Knossos
– Greece 2019 – Crete: Chania
– Greece 2019 – Crete: Balos Pink Beach
– Greece 2019 – Crete: Samaria Gorge
For more information about this country, please see our other articles:
– Greece 2014: Mykonos, Santorini, Crete
– Greece 2019 – Crete: Hersonissos, Knossos, Chania, Balos Pink Beach, Samaria Gorge