After lunch in Thisio, we continued our exploration of ancient Greece.

The Ancient
Agora, the center of BC Athens, where Socrates spouted philosophical.

Mario gets his bearings on a map while Josh photographs Ima.

Josh sits and ponders the history of the place.

The Temple of Hephaestus, the best preserved in the city.

Peering through the Temple of Hephaestus.

Every one of the 36 columns is intact.

The Temple of Hephaestus was built in 449 BC.

The temple was dedicated to the god of
metallurgy.

Looking east to Lykavittos Hill.

The temple’s frieze depicts nine of the twelve labours of Heracles.

Heading down into the ruins of the Ancient Agora.

A headless statue of Roman emperor Hadrian.

Strolling through the market.

Studying the history of the place.

The remnants of statues were everywhere.

The bulk of the statues have been moved to the adjacent Stoa of Attalos.

One of the missing heads.

Mario strolls along the Stoa of Attalos.

Josh considers his own physique...

The Stoa of Attalos.

On the slope between the Agora and the Acropolis.

Ima finds a motorcycle with a personalized plate!

Athens street.

The marketplace at Monastiraki.

The next
morning, we hit the amazing Metro system and headed for the port at Piraeus.

Josh watches the landscape roll by from the window of the train.

Shopping at the flea market in Piraeus.

The Port of Piraeus.

The port is busy with ships all heading to the Greek Islands.

While we waited for our own boat, we wandered the streets, looking at stores, bakeries, and...

...smelly fish markets.  Josh didn’t like it
there.

More stores.

And more Greek architecture.

Having a few gyros before setting sail.

It was actually quite a nice little restaurant.

Waiting for our ship to the island of Aegina.

Aboard the “Flying Dolphin XVIII”.

Arriving in the port at Aegina.

Yes, it’s as beautiful as it looks.

The best way to see the place is by moped.

Josh was enthralled by the groves of olive and fig trees.

Mario was having too much fun!

While Josh played it cool.  (He has a motorcycle at home.)

Small farming buildings crowded the island’s steep hills.

Pausing for a quick photo op on our trip across the island.

The magnificent Aghios Nektarios Monastery.

The Aghios Nektarios Monastery is an orthodox church.

The gardens behind the monastery.

A closer look at the buildings on the hillsides.

Josh and Mario.

Looking north across the Saronic Gulf, back towards Athens.

One of Aegina’s many quaint roads.

Josh takes a portrait of the three of us that perfectly captures the mood.

The Saronic Gulf at sunset.

Josh started to get cold after a while...wimp.

Admiring the sunset along the island’s coast.

Josh on his bike.

The Saronic Gulf.

Along the waterfront.

Heading back to the port in
Aegina.

Mario really got the hang of
riding.

Aegina sunset.

The lighthouse on the gulf.

Arriving back in town.

The woman who rented us the scooters seems alarmed at Ima.