ATHENS - The Acropolis..and more

Athina - the greek word for Athens - reminds me of the famous greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassiss. His first wife and his only grandaughter were both named Athina.

I have a little theory (supposedly, not original) : I think everyone is born with a certain Luck which goes with him/her from the cradle to the grave. In-between there are ups and downs, but a person's life usually ends more or less within the same kind of Luck it started with.

The "Rise and Fall" of Aristotle (Ari) Onassiss seems to be a fairly good example. Son of greek refugees, he worked as a liftboy, as telephone operator, and then his Luck gradually changed. He became rich, successful and famous through commerce with tobacco and ships. He married Athina (Tina), the daughter of a greek shipping magnate, whom he later divorced, had a long love affair with the world's greatest opera singer, Maria Callas, married late USA president John Kennedy's widow ,Jacky Kennedy, bought an island, had connections with Heads of States, Kings, etc.. and then, when in the third phase of his life, his Luck changed again.

His decline (personal , not financial), reached its bottom with the death of his son Alexander (25) in a plane crash. Onassiss never recovered from the tragedy of his son's death. He didn't live long enough (died three years later) to face another tragedy, that of his daughter Christina's death (37) .

And what became of the two Athina-s ? Athina (Tina), Onassis' divorcee ,died a year after her son's death.

Athina ,the grandaughter, is the sole survivor of the shipping tycoon 's immediate family, and she doesn't live in Greece.

The Acropolis (upper city)

In the center of Athens there are two hills : the Acropolis and the Lycabetus , both offering a splendid view of the city capital Athens.

The Acropolis is viewed as the highlight of ancient Greek civilization. It is believed that this is where democracy was born and where art and life became almost inseparable.

On the top of the acropolis is the Parthenon erected in honour of Athena , goddess protective of Athens. It is considered a marvel of architecture.

The Parthenon

The Acropolis, the upper city

Watching over Athen's beauty

Symbol of ancient civilization

The Greek's pride as a nation

A place of major temples

In honor of Athena Goddess

The most famous on the site

Is Parthenon standing upright

From the Acropolis one can get a superb view of the city with its outstanding landmarks: the Olympic Stadium, the Zappion , the National Gardens , etc.. Below the Acropolis is the ancient theater of Dionysos and the well-preserved temple of Thissio.

The ancient theater of Dionysos

On a stone chair in the theater of Dionysos

Behind, is the temple of Thissio


Monument in front of the Olympic Stadium


The Zappion Exhibition Hall

In the city square, pigeons everywhere


Guard- the Presidential Residence

Rhodes Rhodos Rodos - island of the Sun

I'm ashamed to admit it, but the first thought that comes to my mind when someone mentions Rhodos, is a big omelette with mushrooms I ate at the hotel "Blue Bay"on the day of our arrival in Rhodes. It was unforgettably tasty, or ..perhaps I was very hungry.

And then, I noticed the woven bed cover in the hotel room and liked it ,not knowing of course, that the next day , in one of the old city shops ,I'll find a poncho made of the same blue wool fabric as the bed cover, and I'll buy it on the spot. Another acquisition during the old city tour was that of a silver pendant representing the Colossos of Rhodes (statue considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world), and a wooden matchbox with a metal deer on it - the Deer- the emblem of Rhodes guarding Mandraki harbour at the entrance to the city.

Bed cover that 'got' me a poncho

resting by the hotel's pool

Rhodos -the island's main town

My first real vacation trip abroad

Was to the greek island of Rhodes

I liked everything, including the flight

For me it was "love at first sight"

The city of Rhodos is divided in two

The old part and the modern, the new

Tourists are much attracted to the old

Which is medieval and walled

The entrance to the old city's made

Through the in-walls eleven gates

The busy narrow cobbled lanes

Are crossed by old archways

The modern city has broad streets

Lots of shops, beautiful things

Nice buildings ,hotels, green parks

Intensive nightlife with many bars

And in the area outside

Fine beaches, blue sea and sky

The famous 'valley of butterflies'

Archeological and historical sites

sculpture at the Archeological Museum

stone balls in the city park

in the old city

panoramic view of Rhodes - on a cloudy day
*

Outside the city of Rhodes ,I recall two outstanding attractions: the valley of the butterflies and the acropolis of Lindos.

Lindos

Above the modern village of Lindos

On the east coast of the island of Rodos

Rises the Acropolis - citadel and ancient spot

Offering views of the coastline and Rhodin port

One can climb up to the Acropolis on foot

Or on a monkey's back , sturdy and cute

Either way it's a rewarding experience

Providing pleasure, in the first instance

The Acropolis of Lindos

view from the Acropolis

Valley of the Butterflies

Between June and September, thousands of butterflies flock to the valley which is about 12 Km distant from the city and has many wooden bridges, streams, and waterfalls. It's a fascinating sight attracting lots of tourists eager to watch the butterflies phenomenon

Valley of the Butterflies ( by oldboy96)