Cape Sounion, Acropolis Museum

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Thursday starts at 8:30 with a trip to Cape Sounion, the southernmost point of the mainland part of Greece named Attica, and about a 70 minute drive from our hotel.  It probably usually takes longer but 75-year-old Nicholas thinks nothing of driving 120 kph (75 mph) on windy coastal roads, weaving the Mercedes around slowpokes.

On the hill overlooking the Aegean sea, there is the Temple of Poseidon.  You may remember that three temples, The Temple of Aphea on Aegea, The Parthenon, and this one form sort of a “magic triangle” which in the minds of Greeks form a perfect equilateral triangle, though in actuality the distances apart are not exactly equal.  As Matthew said, “What’s the difference?”  According to legend, here King Aegeus was awaiting his son, Theseus’, return from a journey Crete to slay the Minotaur.  White sails would mean success, and black failure.  Unfortunate Theseus forgot to switch to white, and Aegeus threw himself into the sea, and thus the sea was named the Aegean.

Sounion is important also because so many, 15, of its original 34 columns are still standing.  It is very spectacular.  It is also very popular for viewing the sunset.  It was used as an outpost for viewing approaching ships.  There are ancient barricade walls extending from the top of the hill hundreds of yards down to the sea.  It was quite windy, and the coldest place we had been so far.

After visiting the temple, we had a cappuccino in the restaurant there.  It was 5.40 Euros each, about $7, including a 75 cent added-on surcharge since it is vacation time.  Starbucks, take notice.  We may never go back.

Back on the road to the New Acropolis Museum, which we skipped earlier in the week because it is closed on Mondays