Temple of Poseidon (Sounion)

Temple of Poseidon (Sounion)

The Temple of Poseidon is at Sounion. It is Poseidon's temple, built on a cape the same time as the Acropolis. The view is breathtaking. We can see the Mirtoan Sea and some other islands. To get here, first, take the metro to "Victoria". Then, ask people where the bus station is, and get there. At the bus station, search for the bus that heads to Sounion. There is a bus every hour on the hour ( 1:00,2:00,3:00~). From Sounion to Athens, the bus is also one hour a bus, on every 30's (1;30,2:30,3:30~) It is 2 hours to get there and 6 euros per person. I think the place is worth a visit although it is far from Athens. At Sounion, you can not only see the oceans, but also take a look at another temple other than Acropolis. There are not a lot of people here,and there is a restaurant (the food is so-so) which you can have lunch or enjoy a dessert! The ticket for the temple of  Poseidon is full: 4 euros, reduced: 2 euros.
*I like to post postcards, and I wanted to post a postcard here so that the postcard would have a stamp that stamps Sounion instead of Athens. BUT~there was a postbox but no stamps so in the end I stuck a euro on the postcard and mailed it~ so, I suggest people who also want to mail here buy stamps at Athens before coming here!

Temple of Poseidon

the bus that takes us here

National Garden & Panathenaic Stadium

National Garden & Panathenaic Stadium

The National Garden & Panathenaic Stadium are across to each other. I think that it is great to get to the Parliament first (because the national garden is only next to it), then walk through the garden, and get to the Panathenaic Stadium. The National Garden is beautiful, and nice to walk in the afternoons ( when it is not too hot). It was created by Queen Ameila, who first wanted to plant alien plants. Later on because of the weather, they were not able to adapt the environment . In the end, Queen Ameila planted plants from Greece. There are some cafes and restaurants inside the garden,so you can go there, relax, and enjoy the nature! The Panathenaic Stadium is known since it was where the first modern Olympic Games was held. In 2004, it again was the stadium that held the Olympic games, so many tourists come to this site to take a look at it and take memorable pictures. Athens is very hot at summers, so the best time to go to the two sights would be at about 5 p.m (the sun sets at 9).

Panathenaic Stadium

it faces the stadium ,behind this statue is the national gardens

an architecture designed also by the Hansen brothers

a restaurant we ate inside the gardens

ouzo

ouzo turns white after adding water

left is olive oil

The Academy of Athens & University of Athens & National Library

The Academy of Athens &University of Athens & National Library

The Academy of Athens & University of Athens & National Library face to the Panepistimiou Avenue. They were designed in the 19th century by the Danish Hansen brothers, Theophi Hansen and Christian Hansen. To get here, take the metro to "Panepistimio".  Although three of the amazing architectures are designed by the same people, they have different styles and meanings in each of the buildings. For instance, the academy of Athens has a total four statues close to it. Athena, the goddess of wisdom,divine,warfare, intelligence,architecture and crafts, holding a shield and a spear. Apollo, the god of music, plague, poetry,sun,oracles, medicine, light and knowledge, holding a lyre in his hand. Athena and Apollo stand beside the Academy of Athens. On the other hand, Plato and Socrates, the famous philosophers of Greece, also shown seated in front of the academy. With these four important statues together with the academy, we can feel the prosper in Athens!

Panepistimiou Avenue
*There is one of the big department stores in Athens, called "Attica."
   Website:http://www.atticadps.gr/en/about-attica/the-store/
   I think the mall isn't worth a visit though. It is just like any other department store~
*I recommend a great store that makes fabulous and unique desserts: Lqukumami!!! When I went there, it was only opened for 22 days! I think their creation of desserts is really special and I hope that everyone can go there to try it!

National Library

University of Athens

University of Athens

          

Academy of Athens

Socrates

Plato

Apollo

Athena

Lqukumami

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier & The Parliament Building & Syntagma Square

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier & The Parliament Building & Syntagma Square

To get to Syntagma Square, take the metro to "Syntagma". It was named Syntagma Square because the first constitution in Greece was delcared here.The Syntagma Square is also the center of many forms of public transportation in Athens. For example, the hop-on hop-off bus starts here. To me, I think taking the hop-on hop-off tour bus is a great choice to start your journey in Greece. You can take a whole ride first to get to know the sites and museums in Athens. Then, you can plan your schedule and take the bus to the places you want to visit. The price for Athens-two days is 18 euros for adults and 8 euros for kids from 6-14. If you also want to go to Piraeus, then it would be 22 for adults and 9 for kids.
*Sightseeing Bus: http://www.citysightseeing.gr/
*I am 17, but I got a children price, so I guess if you bargain with the seller, you might get children price even if you're a teen.
*There is a big post office near the square, so if you want to buy stamps or post a postcard you can do it there.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier& The Parliament Building is near Syntagma Square. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is in front of the Parliament Building. The special thing about it is, there are two evzones(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evzones)(presidential guards) who guard the tomb. Every hour on the hour there will be a changing of the guards, and on Sundays 11:00 a.m there will be a changing of a guard ceremony with a lot of evzones wearing traditional uniforms. It is a site that you must see when visiting Greece!
Changing of the Guards: http://www.athensinfoguide.com/wtsevzones.htm

Syntagma square

Post Office

Sightseeing bus stop (the red one is the hop-on hop-off bus)

The Parliament Building

The Evzoni guarding the Tomb

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier