Local Ruins

In  the last walk-about post, I shared a pic of some ruins that are in the heart of one of shopping districts. They are very similar to me to the ruins in Israel - foundations/outlines of homes and narrow streets. Here are some more fascinating ruins we saw just in passing. Hopefully, we will have more opportunity to investigate fully.

the Acropolis, of course - you can see it from almost everywhere in Athens;
can't wait to get up there in person!

I apologize for the small type, but this is the explanation
of some of the ruins at the foot of the Acropolis nearby
the mosaic floor of the remnants of a Roman home

a Roman home

the amazing mosaic floor

Hadrian's Gate (Arch)

The Arch of Hadrian (Greek: Αψίδα του Αδριανού Apsida tou Adrianou), most commonly known in Greek as Hadrian's Gate (Πύλη του Αδριανού Pyli tou Adrianou), is a monumental gateway resembling – in some respects – a Roman triumphal arch. It spanned an ancient road from the center of Athens, Greece, to the complex of structures on the eastern side of the city that included the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It has been proposed that the arch was built to celebrate the adventus (arrival) of the Roman Emperor Hadrian and to honor him for his many benefactions to the city, on the occasion of the dedication of the nearby temple complex in 131 or 132 AD.[1] It is not certain who commissioned the arch, although it is probable that the citizens of Athens or another Greek group were responsible for its construction and design. There were two inscriptions on the arch, facing in opposite directions, naming both Theseus and Hadrian as founders of Athens. While it is clear that the inscriptions honor Hadrian, it is uncertain whether they refer to the city as a whole or to the city in two parts: one old and one new. The early idea, however, that the arch marked the line of the ancient city wall, and thus the division between the old and the new regions of the city, has been shown to be false by further excavation. The arch is located 325m southeast of the Acropolis. ~wiki

I wish I knew more about these amazing things we are seeing - but, when I know more, you will read more! This columns were gated off (since it was getting dark when we were there), but they demand a closer look. In the daylight, and when we can get closer, you will get more of the story, I promise!

I love the sky in the above photo. The weather here has been rather extreme from what I'm accustomed - bright, intense sunshine with vivid blue skies, then quickly blowing in big puffy clouds which turn to threatening dark, rain clouds in such a short time. What starts out as a sunny morning can be very loud thunder and amazing lightning by a wet mid-afternoon. The locals take it in stride and continue on with their daily tasks, but us foreigners are amazed at the intensity.

"It sounds like the Olympian gods are bowling tonite! Massive lightning and thunder and rain has just started to fall. Glad we are close to the school! The thunder claps are amazing!"
~excerpt from Chuck's journal