Greece-Turkey Day 9: Athens

Disembarkation from the Louis Cristal is at 7 a.m., so the group gets an early start.  Our first destination is Cape Sounion, the southernmost part of mainland Greece …

The Aegean Sea from Cape Sounion
Laurium, Greece • 37°39’0.20″ N 24°1’28.33″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 17-55 mm f/2.8 at 19 mm • ISO 100 • 1/250 sec at f/11

… and the site of the Temple of Poseidon.

The Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion
Laurium, Greece • 37°39’0.20″ N 24°1’28.33″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 17-55 mm f/2.8 at 19 mm • ISO 100 • 1/200 sec at f/11

Then we head back to Athens to see the Acropolis, including the Erechtheion (and the Porch of the Caryatids), the Parthenon, and the Theatre of Dionysus.

Next we walk through the Plaka at the base of the Acropolis, stopping for lunch at Ta Youvetsakia, and meeting the friendly neighborhood butcher – who was happy to chat and didn’t want to charge for a picture.

A butcher shop in the Plaka in Athens
Athens, Greece • 37°58’17.64″ N 23°43’49.17″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 17-55 mm f/2.8 at 40 mm • ISO 100 • 1/50 sec at f/2.8

The final stop on our trip is the changing of the guard at Parliament.

The Greek Parliament Building in Athens
Athens, Greece • 37°58’31.24″ N 23°44’10.01″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 17-55 mm f/2.8 at 17 mm • ISO 100 • 1/4000 sec at f/2.8

Then to the Hotel Stanley for an early dinner and a great view of Athens from the roof top.

Athens at night from the Hotel Stanley
Athens, Greece • 37°59’8.55″ N 23°43’15.95″ E
Nikon D7000 • Nikkor 24 mm f/1.4 • ISO 100 • 1/5 sec at f/2.2

It’s an early night.  Tomorrow I have a 3 a.m. wake up call for the return flight to Dulles via Munich.  Time to plan the next adventure.  Maybe the Galapagos Islands?

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