We travelled to ancient Corinth passing the impressive Corinth Channel which is a steep sided deep chasm that connects the Argolikos Gulf with the Corinthian Gulf. Learnt about the difference between Doric, Archaic and Corinthian styles of architecture. Most of what remains was restored by the Romans or are new Roman structures. The Roman engineering is impressive, especially when it comes to moving water. Baths, drainage and sewers reminds me of that that Monty Python skit ‘what did the Romans ever do for us’, apparently quite a lot. The paved road systems is likewise impressive. Today the ruins are home for birds and even reptiles, we caught a glimpse of a gecko.

On our return to Athens we wander around the gardens and streets, some buildings are covered in flowering vegetation. The bus tour around Athens is worthwhile, it helps to orientate yourself and prioritize what you will see and there is so much to see.

The attention to protecting cultural and historical values is evident every where. During the creation of the underground Metro system (prior to 2004 for the games) they came across ancient ruins and these are preserved in their railway stations. Monastiraki station is a great example of this with the ancient buildings, foundations and the below foundation structures on show, and the ancient artifacts all retrieved and saved. The protection of their heritage no doubt paying dividends as Athens history supports a massive tourist industry.

We dine in Monastiraki for lunch and dinner, we don’t order much but they pile on the food and then some more, they wont let you leave before giving you a free small but delicious desert of some kind. I recommend walking around Athens rather than the underground, trams and buses else one would quickly accumulate personal excess baggage.