must end posts on Greece!!!

Oh Greece!!! Why are you so beautiful, so picturesque?  I could probably write another 10 posts on Greece but I must really move on.  I have been back from Greece for over a month now and so many sweet things have happened in between but I just can't help continue to post about this beautiful country.  I think that Athens was just as amazing as Santorini just in a completely different way.  The ruins, the vibrance of the city, was a stark contrast to Santorini's quiet sea-strewn vibes.  I think my favorite part of Athens, though, (I know I should say the Parthenon, or the Acropolis, or the totally awesome historical museum) was the National Gardens.  Perhaps this is because I live in the middle of the desert where gardens must be watered ever 15 minutes so that measly little flowers don't wilt in the heat... but the greenery, the families playing with their dogs, grandmas on a stroll with the grandbabies, turtles crawling over grass, couples having espresso at a cafe, and the changing of the guards in front of the president's house, just makes the Gardens seem magical.

Thus ends posts on Greece.  tear.

Athens, The Acropolis, The Parthenon

Now for another happy-go-lucky vacation to Europe post!  Right, so Athens is pretty spectacular despite the grafiti, no-so-friendly shoes salesmen, and hoards of tourists.  But in itself, it is a spectacular city, nestled between two hills, with ritzy bourgeois cafes, cloud-dotted blue skies, fabulous parks, and oh ya... a few incredible historic sites.

Honestly, I think the three of us, Mom, Sister, and I, were pretty awe-struck when we walked a few blocks from our hotel and landed right at the bottom of the Acropolis.  We climbed up and marveled at the Parthenon.  It was sitting right there.  Unlike in the US, the historical sites are almost completely open and accessible.  There is no glass wall between you and ancient Greece.  No "please stay behind the yellow line" deal.  You can walk right up, sit at the ancient theater as if you are waiting to see Dionysus himself start the ceremony.  This lack of regulation was pretty cool, but it was also met a lack of care for the sites.  There were few signs posted naming sites or telling us what the history of the structure was.  Many things seemed to be mid-restoration but no work seemed to be getting done.  Obviously, Greece, has a lot more to deal with right now than putting marble finishes on the Parthenon, but perhaps a few small regulation/ restoration measures could be taken that would help avoid massive destruction in the future.... just a thought...