The Acropolis in Athens

 I did it too, people often confuse the Parthenon and the Acropolis.  The former is the temple built for Athena and the latter is its physical location.

The Parthenon is the structure on the top right of the Acropolis. To the left is the unfinished approach called the Propylaia with a small temple. In the front left below the Acropolis is a Music Hall.



Our group with our guide, Anastasia, preparing to make the climb to the top of the Acropolis. I had a hiking stick, too and was expecting it to be stairs the entire way.  It was not as you can see below.

Our view as we got closer.

View of the Music Hall from close to the top.

It once had a roof.

Views of Athens

and another temple

To approach the Parthenon you have to walk through the unfinished entry point.  It's a real choke point when lots of people are visiting. 

Entries are by reservation to limit the numbers of people.

First full view of the structure built from 447 to 438 BC. 

It was built over top the ruins of other structures dating back to the fourteenth century BC.

A replica of the frieze looted by Lord Elgin and now in the British Museum

Elgin didn't take all the friezes.  These are on the other side but in poorer condition.

The Parthenon once had a huge statue of Athena, 13 meters tall covered in ivory and gold sheets. No one know what happened to it but there is a Roman marble copy that shows what it once looked like.

The Parthenon had many uses through the ages and suffered in wars.  Though restoration work continues it will never be returned to what it looked like in 438 BC.

Leaving the Parthenon we head again through the entry area.  Here we can get closer to the marble pillars, but no touching allowed!

There is another temple there on the Acropolis but I'll share that one another time.

The State of Spring Here

Unlike most of you to the south and west, spring takes its time arriving here in New Hampshire.  It took some getting used to after living in Maryland for so many years.

Here is what is blooming now.

Plenty of daffodils with more varieties still in bud stage.

Creeping phlox is a nice bloom and color for this time of year.

I mowed the lawn for the first time this year but mowed it high so the violets and dandelions remain for the bees.   The hummingbird feeder is up as of an hour ago.  I haven't checked the hummingbird map to see if they've been spotted this far north.  But I'm ready for them.

Peonies are sprouting.

Another view of daffodils.  These are doubles thanks to Vicki Lane in NC.  I think this is their second season and they have multiplied well.

Other daffs in the same garden.

The green leaves of lilies show they have multiplied too.

These are the stepping stones for the deck in this garden and the grass needs to be pulled.

Remember my forsythia? It's still an anemic bloomer.  Not sure the reason for it this year.

Before I went to Greece I planted snow peas, sugar snap peas and lettuce in my raised bed. I watered these after I took this photo. The brown cup is a sunflower I got for free at the Earth Day celebration Saturday on the green.  I planted it after taking this photo and watered it well but don't know how it will fare.

The view of the hill behind shows color in the trees.

Another view of the deck garden.  Dan hasn't gotten out our chairs yet.

This is a new garden space.  We share the hillside with the soon to be new library.  I planted daffodils last fall and look forward to their spreading through the years on this hillside.  There are day lilies planted there too.  They do well with daffodils.  Our single rhododendron is to the left.  Will it survive?  To the right is a clump of myrtle I hope will spread too. I need to bring the rocks down to make a straight edge between those two half circles to make it easier to mow.

I have one lenten rose but in a color that doesn't really stand out.

It's such a shy flower and doesn't like to show its face.

Another shot of the rock garden. Grass needs to be pulled from there too.

 No tulips in bloom yet.  I have some in the front of the house in bud and will share those another time.

Flowers in the Greek Islands

Spring was a good time to travel to Greece - no crowds, low temperatures and flowers in bloom.

The background settings were perfect for the flowers.

What flowers did you recognize?