Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - Arriving in Athens

Yes...I have finally seen the Acropolis and the Parthenon....well, from a distance anyway. This morning we left Nafplio and drove to Athens. Our hotel is smack in the middle of downtown Athens directly across the square of the Parliament building and within walking distace to the Acropolis!

Today was basically a travel day and after we settled in to our hotel (the Electra Hotel) we headed out to take in Athens. Melissa(from Houston, Texas), Beth (from Seattle, Washington), and I headed down a local street to see what we could find. We stumbled across the Athens Flea Market and then window shopped in a ton of variety shops. It's such a mixture of modern and new vs. classic and old here. For example, just in the center of a downtown street would suddenly be an old catherdal or church that you had to walk around to continue on the same road. There was an H&M store right next to a 1000+ year old church. It's astounding. Really.

Can you see the back side of the Acropolis in the background???

A church right in the middle of town and in the middle of the street

The Parliament building

After a bit of shopping and lots of walking, we ran back to the hotel to change and then we took a bus to the Chief Deputy of the United States Ambassdor's house for a Fulbright Reception and Awards assembly. We met the head of the Fulbright Program here in Greece, as well as the the United States Embassador to Greece, Daniel Barrett Smith, and many other important people whose names I have forgotten.  The reception was held in the backyard of a fancy house and each of our names were listed in an offical Fulbright Greece Program, as well as announced and recognized by the program at the reception.  The name on my certificate was spelled correctly and I was able to speak with the Embassador about education, morale, and the economy of Arizona.  It's was all a bit surreal and while I am thankful to be recognized and honored, I like being on the other side better!  :-)

Beth, myself, and Melissa all dressed up and ready for the bus to take us to our Fulbright reception!

Dimitri and I at the reception (Dimitri is the head of the northen Greece Fulbright office and was our Fulbright "chaperone" from New York to Athens.  We had to say goodbye to him this evening.  He was so good to us!

The reception area!  Oo, la, la.

Melissa, myself, LeeAnne, Stephanie, and Amy waiting for the bus to come pick us back up so we could rest our weary legs after our reception at the Chief Deputy of the Embassador of the United States House.

Tomorrow we get up early and head to the Acropolis and the Parthenon!  Come back tomorrow for more details and pictures!