The only downfall of the Acropolis is that it is not wheel chair friendly and may be tough for people that cannot walk long distances. Children should also be watched closely because some of the walkways are made out of marble and could be slippery, not to mention the extremely high cliffs. Some of the cliffs don’t have anything blocking them, so it is very easy to fall if one stands too close. There are a few people working there to make sure people are being safe and not sitting on the cliffs like my friend and I did in that picture. There have been accidents over the years, but we could not resist. It may also be tempting to climb on a lot of the ruins, so caution must be taken when it comes to safety. However, common sense and comfortable walking shoes should be able to get most people through the Acropolis safely.
There is a prominent plateau rock, located high above the city of Athens which overseas an amazing array of ancient architecture from Greece. This mystical architecture is called the Acropolis of Athens. It is now filled with Athenian locals and tourist from all over the world, but was once filled with kings and queens of Greece. As the sun is beaming on your shoulders and you breath in dry air, it makes you think, what it would have felt like centuries ago?
 |
| My Friend and me at the top! |
In August 2011, my friend and I traveled to Athens, Greece where we stumbled on the Acropolis of Athens. The Acropolis turned out to be one of the must-see sights in Athens. It is a collection of ancient monuments that illustrate civilization of Greece from the 5th century BC. Britannica sources say it “was built as a home of Athena, the patron goddess of the city” and that is a part of what makes it incising. Greece is also known for the being one of the earliest countries to reach civilization and to have the longest history of architecture but seeing it in person makes one truly understand the extent of it. Walking through the Acropolis is a treat that we will never forget, because to see what people were capable of building without technology is mind boggling. The Parthenon, which is the largest temple on the Acropolis makes you feel like a little ant in the midst of giants. Just standing next to the ancient architecture the people get to feel like they are a part of history. The extremely high ceilings, white marble and intricately detailed columns make one feel like they should be draped in white clothing with a green head band on their heads. It is an unreal feeling as though you are in a movie and the people living there are about to come out.
There are plenty of tourists, tour guides at every corner and locals, but the Acropolis is so big that it never feels crowded. If while at the Acropolis you are not a part of a tour, standing near a tour guide could be a great way to learn a few things about the history. That would enhance the experience and give it more depth. While I was there, I was lucky to have a local Athenian girl, friend of my family, showing us the cites and explaining the history. She studied Greek history in her University, so it made her a wonderful tour guide. While walking through there, a few of the walkways are very narrow though and at times you will have to take turns by walking in a single line. The little alleys just makes the experience more realistic. At some point those little walkways, were crowded with people building it and later on the kings walked those same roads.
Athens seems to be surrounding the Acropolis, and I am sure that is how the kings intended it to be. That is what makes it easy to find, “the Acropolis is located on a flat-topped rock that rises 150 m (490 ft) above sea level in the city of Athens, with a surface area of about 3 hectares (7.4 acres)” (Athens/Acropolis 2013). There is a lot of public transportation, such as the metro and the stops that one would take literally say “Acropolis” stops. Once arrived at the Akropoli metro stop and New Acropois Museum, you could walk west along Dianysiou Areopagitou Street and turn at the first right on Theorias to lead you to the entrance. However, there are many other ways to get there from difference metro stops, such as Thissio metro. Travelers should not have a hard time finding it since it is the biggest monument in Athens, and most of the locals speak English and should be able to direct you. Once nearby, you find that the entrance to the Acropolis is off Theorias Street. It is all the way at the bottom of the Acropolis mountain with a marble walk way to lead you in the right direction. There will be a kiosk to purchase your entry ticket and get a map.
Speaking from personal experience, traveling is expensive. I have done as much of it as my wallet will allow me but have learned that there are ways to conserve money and still have an experience of a life time. A flight to Greece from Los Angeles is at cheapest 1,800 dollars, during prime season, so while you are there, it is nice to be able to save some money. The Acropolis entrance is only 12 euro which is remarkably cheap for the amount of history filled adventure one will get. It is easy to fit in your trip because it is open daily, except for Sundays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is some food sold inside the event, but beware prices will be double average cost. I would highly recommend bringing your own food and water. However, for those of you that come hungry the smell of a fresh gyro pita sandwich might just get you as you enter or exit the venue. A gyro is a Greek dish of meat roasted on a vertical spit. It is also commonly served in a sandwich, called pita gyro and full of flavor. Since it is hot you might also be tempted into getting an ice cone, which are exactly like what we have in here in America. What every you decide just remember, Greece is known to be hot and you will be climbing, hiking, and walking all day long, so water is a must! If you bring an empty bottle, just outside the entrance is a water fountain where you could fill your bottle and save money inside.
 |
| Greek Gyro |
A visit to Athens would not be complete without visiting the Acropolis. It has an unforgettable views filled with history of the ancient Greeks. For someone coming from America it is especially interesting to see, because we have nothing that comes close to how ancient these historic ruins are. Excursion to the Acropolis is not expensive, easy to find and great for people that enjoy walking. Just think of the pictures that will tell a story and the wonderful memory you will have to keep for years to come. The pictures will be a reminder of what people centuries before you were able to build just by hand. We are so fortunate here in today’s times to have the equipment to help us build things, it is hard to think a world without it. As you will look back at standing within the ruins at the Acropolis, you can be reminded of the amazing architecture and the alleys leading you up there. I know I will never forget my trip to the Acropolis and recond anyone that has a chance to go to Athen to visit the mystical ruins of Athens, Greece.
References:
(1) Article from Encyclopedia Britannica, Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 11 Jun. 2013.
(2) Athens/Acropolis, Last updated May 2013 http://wikitravel.org/en/Athens/Acropolis
(3) The Philadelphia Tribute, Travel Athens, by Charleston Rita, May 20011 http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/docview/871359097
