ATHENS

 On the seventeenth of September we headed off for a two week adventure.  We flew American Airlines early in the morning into Philadelphia.  We had a little time to grab some lunch before getting on the next flight that flew eleven hours into Athens.  We arrived early in the morning at 9:10.  After getting our bags we rented a car and headed to the Semiranis Hotel about a thirty minute drive from the airport.  Our room wasn't quite ready so we waited a bit until we were able to get into our room.  We were able to get an upgrade into a suite which was really nice.  Semiranis Hotel was a very retro hotel...lots of bright green and pink.  Very seventiesish in decor but kinda cool and different.

After getting some rest for the afternoon in our hotel room we were able to get freshened up and headed out to the Plaka neighborhood for some dinner.  We found a cute restaurant with outdoor seating and had a fun dinner.  Our first time eating Greek food in Greece!  It was delish!

After dinner we walked the couple of blocks over to the Parliament building to see the changing of the guard.  Kinda cool to see!

After the guard change we strolled around the Plaka area just enjoying the feel of the old streets.

                                            ...and then stopped for ice cream to end the evening!

Here is a view of the pool from our room.  The pool was beautiful but COLD!!

The next morning was September 19th!  MY BIRTHDAY! 

We had a big day planned for that day.  We took off early for a tour to Corinth and one of the areas where Paul came to preach.  It was about an hour and a half drive to get to Corinth.  On the way we stopped at the Corinth Canal, a nearly four mile canal built to connect the Gulf of Corinth (Ionian Sea) to the Saronic Gulf (Aegean Sea).  It was really cool to see knowing the building began in 67 AD.  The work stopped and it didn't fully become finished until the 19th century.  

Our next stop was the ancient port where Paul came into the Corinth area.  Most of the port is under water due to an earthquake that buried most of it.  There are still a few foundations that can be seen.

A beaurtiful mosaic of Paul over a church on Paul's Road.

Paul's road is the road that Paul would have taken to get to Corinth.

Of course, today it is an asphalt road...

A stop by a marker next to Ancient Corinth.

A view of Ancient Corinth from above...

With our guide, Michael.

We took a stroll around the ancient city walking in the place where the Aposle Paul preached.

The main road of ancient Corint.

Outside of the ancient city walls were some fun shops. 

Rick met the artist that does woodwork and decided to but a lamp like the kind that was used in ancient times.

Next Michael took us up to a mountain in ther area that had a great view of the Ionian Sea (Gulf of Corinth) and modern day Corinth.

Our last stop was this cute church.  There were people there preparing for a wedding but what we were there for was...

...this amazing mosaic.  It speaks for itself....scenes from Paul's life.

I loved it so much!

How about this olive tree!!!

  Did I mention how delicious the olive oil is in Greece??

                       Here is a view of our pretty room.  We had a really big outdoor patio.

That evening we found an Italian restaurant for my birthday dinner.

I had pizza, of course.  Can't remember what Rick had.😂

Of course we NEEDED to get dessert!

After dinner we perused the darling neighborhood we were in.

The nut shop was inviting!

A good way to end my birthday.

Happy fifty nine, Janellie!!

The next day was Sunday.  We enjoyed a really nice church meeting not too far from our hotel.

Afterward, we drove back down to the Plaka neighborhood for some dinner and sightseeing. 

More good food...

After lunch we found our way over to the Parthenon and the ancient ruins of Athens.  It was really cool to see these ancient buildings.  There were A LOT of people doing the same thing but we made our way through for some nice pictures.

Next we made our way over to Zeus' Temple.  

 There are only a couple of columns left but it was still nice to see.

This was our last hurrah of Athens.

I can honestly say that we enjoyed our time there.