Exploring Athens

It's almost 8 am here in Greece. I should be getting ready for class, but I just have to tell you all about my lovely Sunday.

I woke up early Sunday morning, showered, got dressed, had some breakfast, and set out to see central Athens in daylight (I had only been in the center to go clubbing.) I started  with some of the area's Byzantine churches, which are BEAUTIFUL. I actually walked into a cathedral while service was going on - that was interesting, LOL. I took pics at some of the churches but couldn't at all of them since you're not really supposed to. I definitely took the opportunity at the empty ones though. So after the churches I had a good time getting lost on the streets of Plaka (the section of the city below the acropolis). Seriously, the streets all kind of look the same. Luckily I had my map so it was all good, and I did see some really cute areas. Next I headed over to the Monastiraki area to check out the flea market. They meant it when they said this place was huge - seriously, you can find ANYTHING. I was really happy to find a fruit stand, I bought 5 apples for 1 euro! Definitely a good spot, I'll be back there for sure. Anyway, the crowds at the flea market were getting to me so I was trying to find my way out and accidently ran into the Agora. That turned out to be the highlight of my day. I walked around the ancient marketplace, standing among the ruined stone walls and broken statues and imagining what it looked like in the days when Socrates and his contemporaries proselytized from its stalls. I went up the hill to the awesome Temple of Hephaestus - the best-preserved Classical temple in Greece - and had the most beautiful view of the Agora and Acropolis. After snapping a few pics I walked around the hill until I found a fairly secluded bench. I kicked off my shoes and just sat for a while, enjoying the peaceful quiet and the breathtaking view. I think that's the moment where it really hit me... I'm really in Greece!