Impressions of Athens

The first thing that struck me driving to our hotel was the architecture...

well, if you can call it architecture. 

Housing on top of shops was built fast and on the cheap between 1950 and 1980 

in what is called the Dom-Ino System.  

(That sounds scary to me...if one falls...?) 

This systems does away with the need for interior load bearing walls.  

The condominiums also provide a bit of social mixing as the higher your condo the more expensive it becomes.  

So all social spheres are mixed into one building. 

Next up, the traffic.  

I am used to city traffic in and around Philly, but this traffic is beyond Philly traffic.  

The streets are narrow and filled with motorcycles weaving between cars and buses while people bustle between them.  

It definitely created the feel of being in a Bourne movie. 

And then there is that whole ancient history thing...right in the middle of modern day life buzzing by, 

you see something from long ago still managing to survive. 

This is the olympic stadium from 1800s but it was built on the site of athletic race courses from 330 BC which was rebuilt in 150 AD with marble seating. 

The juxtaposition of old and new surrounds you. 

If you own property and you want to do any excavation, you need to have an archeologist on site.  

Should the archeologist find something of interest, your project can be held up for years.  

If the find is of high interest of value, 

you have the privilege of allowing the government to give you a small donation in exchange for confiscating your property.

People come from all over to visit the capital of Greece 

and the most popular attraction is the Acropolis on which the Parthenon sits. 

It is an impressive sight to see and a marvel of ancient construction.