So Much to Remember...

The First Cemetery of Athens - WOW!

You have never visited a cemetery like this one. It is truly amazing.

The First Cemetery of Athens (Greek: Πρώτο Νεκροταφείο Αθηνών) is the official cemetery of the City of Athens and the first to be built. It opened in 1837 and soon became a luxurious cemetery for famous Greek people and foreigners. The cemetery is located behind the Temple of Olympian Zeus and the Panathinaiko Stadium in central Athens. It is large green space including pines and cypresses.

In the cemetery there are three churches. The main is the Church of Saint Theodores and there is also a smaller of Saint Lazarus. The third church is a Catholic church. The cemetery includes the tomb of Heinrich Schliemann, designed by Ernst Ziller, the tomb of Ioannis Pesmazoglou, that of Georgios Averoff, and one named I Koimomeni (the Sleeping Girl), by the sculptor Yannoulis Chalepas, from the island Tinos. There are also separate burial places for Protestants and Jews. The cemetery is under the Municipality of Athens and it is declared as an historical monument. ~wiki

my favorite statue - isn't it great?

We wandered for a long time, amazed at the memorials and crypts. We wondered about the cost, and the families attached. We never did find the Jewish section, but did come across the Protestant section. When we saw the map, we realized it was huge! (Fotki album for all the pics.)

the front plaza

The Funeral Bier of Christ

from our apartment balcony - the crowd starts to gather with  candles lit

and then the choir goes by...

next the priests in their finery

then the bier of Christ

as the church bells rang long and slow

and the faithful followed

and then came back to wait for the bier to return to the church

Atop Lycabettus

Mount Lycabettus (/ˌlaɪkəˈbɛtəs/), also known as Lycabettos, Lykabettos or Lykavittos (Greek: Λυκαβηττός, pronounced [likaviˈtos]), is a Cretaceous limestone hill in Athens, Greece. At 300 meters (908 feet) above sea level. Pine trees cover its base, and at its two peaks are the 19th century Chapel of St. George, a theatre, and a restaurant.

The hill is a popular tourist destination and can be ascended by the Lycabettus Funicular, a funicular railway which climbs the hill from a lower terminus at Kolonaki (The railway station can be found at Aristippou street). Lycabettus appears in various legends. Popular stories suggest it was once the refuge of wolves, (lycos in Greek), which is possibly the origin of its name (means "the one [the hill] that is walked by wolves"). Mythologically, Lycabettus is credited to Athena, who created it when she dropped a mountain she had been carrying from Pallene for the construction of the Acropolis after the box holding Erichthonius was opened. ~wiki

this is the top of the climbing path up to the top but...

we took the Funicular *smile*

great view of our Pangrati neighborhood just to the left of the Marble Stadium (on the far right)

you can see the Nat'l Gardens with Zappion in the center - off to the right is the Olympian Zeus of Hadrian

yours truly loving the sunshine!

Oh look! A pillar saint on the left!
I have been looking for one, and ended up taking a pic of one accidentally!

iconic depiction of Hell and the saints climbing toward Heaven

a good example of an ascetic saint

Chuck got a good shot of the bell tower

see the cruise ship?

headed down...definitely worth the trip

Half-Way There

Well, it is mid-term week. Two exams and a mid-term paper due, in addition to the regular class requirements...everyone is feeling the stress. Just keep at it...

I had a chance to snag some interesting pics off of Chuck's camera, so you could see what he is seeing and experiencing. He always sees a different perspective than I do.

one of the tavernas we enjoy in Monastiraki

Oh, the woes of bad hair! Chuck keeps me smiling, though.

I know! A hat will help!

some random Byzantine art on one of the many churches

this is cool...a street vendor with marionettes to entertain kids and adults alike

the view out our apartment windows - Chuck is fascinated with how they run a construction site,
as well as all the equipment they use; this building is going to be the new modern art museum, if I remember correctly

Look what Chuck found on one of his walks while I was in class: birds nesting in the wall of the Marble Stadium! We walk by there every day, and hear the birds, but he discovered them flying in an out one day in the sunshine - how cute!

in front  of the Marble Stadium, or Kalimarmaro (which translates well-marbled)

a walk home with the moon

Chuck likes to sneak photos of the insides of the churches - well,
it is not really sneaking if there is no signs, but he does get reprimanded ocassionally

and he gets me in the churches sometimes, too...

OK, this is not a joke - these are really for sale all over here -
need a bottle opener? They come in various sizes and colors, too.
Perhaps you would like a hand painted one? 

Chuck is fascinated with the pigeons...and I think they like him, too!

a night view across the street

It feels like everyone is getting ready for tourist season around here - even the Stadium put up new flags.
Those alternating flags are Olympics flags.

spring is coming!