For those of you who have been bored by my "daily life" entries, this one is pretty much all tourism. In fact, it will be mostly pictures. We made our first trip up to the Acropolis today.

It was a fantastic day. The only complaint is about the flock of tour guides that descend on you like vultures as you approach the front gate. They all want you to hire them to take you through the site. They're not cheap either. When Nicole, Kim and I visited Pompeii in 20002, we paid for a tour so I'm not completely opposed to the idea. We just weren't interested. Some of the people continued to ask after you already declined their offer. One said, "Without a guide, you're just looking at rocks." I wanted to say something pithy like "I'm a geologist, what's wrong with rocks?" or maybe "have you heard of guidebooks? We have more information in a book than you will ever know" but nothing came quickly enough. It even continued once you were past the entry point. If someone had declined that many times, do guides really have success asking them again?

We heard lots of languages being spoken, including a high school group from Italy. It was fun listening in on their conversations.

If you need information about the Acropolis, read this or read Wikipedia.

The Acropolis Museum is currently closed. There was a small museum up at the summit, and Greece has built a HUGE museum at the base of the hill - somewhat controversial in its size and design. The museum is the large building at the top of this photo, across from Dionysus's Theatre. The museum has also been beset with construction delays and problems. The opening has been delayed several times. A glass floor is said to undulate more than its tolerance will allow. Here's a CNN piece from last year about it.

Of course after walking around the grounds for a few hours you work up an appetite. After coming down we wandered around a little and took a shopkeeper's advice on a place to eat. We figured it must be her uncle's restaurant or something but nonetheless we went there and had a nice "lunch" (again, after 2 p.m.).

After a little more walking, Kim started feeling a little sick. I was worried she might be getting what I got Monday. We decided to head home so she could rest. She thought maybe just the heat from being in the sun for hours, a big meal and the wine was just catching up with her and a rest would be all she needed. Fortunately she was right. We took the tram back, left Kim at the apartment and Beth, Trish and I headed off for coffee and dessert.

Kim and I know we'll be back at the Acropolis. We have other guests coming, so we didn't feel compelled to see everything and study every rock closely.