Those of us who didn't party all night were able to meet on the roof for Mass underneath the backdrop of the Parthenon. You can download the readings and the homily by clicking Here for Athen's Herodian

Today is a "free" day, no planned activities so you can see which part of Athens interests you the most. Father Bob took those who were energetic enough to climb on an excursion up the Hill of Philopappos where we were to be able to look down on the Acropolis.

We were able to see the Parthenon breaking through the tree brances at several rest spots along the way to the summit. At the summit we took turns standing on a column and palming down on the Parthenon. Also a closeup view of the monument to Philopappos was at hand.

It was a bit easier coming back down the hill. We proceeded into the Ancient Agora or Athens. This is the market area, where Paul would have done most of his preaching. All around us were strewn pieces of columns and statues with faint figures carved many years ago showing through.

Soon we entered the Temple of Hephaestus. We got a pretty close look at the columns and interior of this structure. Even though it has black deposits and was well weathered, one could tell it was once an impressive building.

Once we passed by the temple, we headed into the expanse of the Agora. There were numerous foundational remains of structures, including a corrale and a temple. Examples of Capitals and column pieces, as well as partial statues covered many acres. We all split wandered where our eyes caught hold of something interesting looking.

Somehow most of us managed to meet again at the reconstructed Stoa of Attalos which was rebuilt as an architectural museum. The entrance fee to the Agora included the entrance price for this museum, and it contains some interesting pieces within and on the outsides.

Leaving the Agora, several of us headed up the hill. This view looking back on The Temple of Hephaestus with the rest of Athens in the background is typical of the many stops we made going up the hill. Don asked directions several times and I followed thinking they were heading off to the Plaka and I needed to find a bank to get some cash. When they turned right, however, I found out they were taking the shortest way back to the hotel, so I struck out on my own.

Back down the hill, just outside the Agora I chanced upon a lot of old columns within some ruins, the Aerides.

Within these ruins was a large octagonal shaped building known as the Tower of the Winds. The figures on the top each represent a different breeze. It once contained a giant water clock.

I didn't really know of the history of it at the time, and I couldn't see an entrance from where I was, but I got pretty good view of it from the outskirts. Anyhow I continued around the mountain, keeping the Acropolis to my right and eventually found a bank at the edge of the Plaka. I was able to get some cash against my visa, and headed by to find Remy at the hotel.

The jewelery who we ordered the cross from the evening before was crowded with customers, so I continued past them, got some raspberry icecream and continued to the hotel. Just outside the hotel I found Remy, and she was tired from shopping all day in the stores along the same block as the hotel. She had a bag full of clay souvenirs, that I was sure would not survive the flight back.

I guess the shopping gave her an appetite, however, so we went to a nearby neighborhood restaurant for a late lunch. I tried to get an order of feta cheese without the normal rabbit food included, but was unable to convince the waiter of my desires. I ended up with the order of feta cheese and the salad that includes a slab of feta cheese. So anyway we ended up with a nice lunch and a couple bottles of dry wine.

After a short nap we headed back to the Plaka to find the cross we ordered. Nikolas Georgas still had to go pick it up at the shop. Meanwhile we spent some time talking with his his daughter-in-law and Remy looked at various ear rings. She settled on the ones pictured here. While Georgas was waiting for the owner of the shop to call us back, he wrote us a nice Poem and asked us if we saw anything special in the poem. Then he showed us that the first letters of each sentence spelled out our names. While he was doing that he put on some Frank Sinatra music in the background. Later he quized us if we knew who was singing the songs. It sounds a lot like Frank, but not exactly. Remy knew right away it was Georgas. He gave us a complimentary copy of the CD that was made from his singing at the US Embassy.