Always
the best spot to view a city is from the highest point - and in the case of
Athens, it is Mount Lycabettus. Situated right in the centre of the city, Lycabettus is a rocky limestone outcrop covered by pine trees at its base as it leaves suburbia and wild prickly pear cactus covering the rugged slopes as they rise up to 300 meters.
Lycabettus rising out of the city as seen from near the Acropolis
Lycabettus appears in various Greek legends.
Popular stories suggest it was once the refuge of wolves, ( lycos in Greek ),
which is possibly the origin of its name ( meaning " the hill that is
walked by wolves" ). Mythologically, Lycabettus is credited to the goddess Athena, who
created it when she dropped a limestone mountain she had been carrying from the
Pallene Peninsula for the construction of the Acropolis.
...
and always visible through the chaos of the city ...
From
home, the bus takes me to Kolanaki – the very up-beat shopping, residential and
diplomatic area of Athens - and after coffee and lunch on the sidewalk, the 300m
assent begins ...
...
first it's a climb up 12 million steps ...
... then a funicular
ride in a tunnel up the mount ...
... followed by
another climb up mores steps ...
... and finally to
the wind-swept summit ...
Mythology
aside, the hill is today a major attraction for us hungry tourists, and I’m
sure the goddess Athena would be delighted with the ohhhs and ahhhs coming out of our
mouths as we clamber up the final steps to the windy peak to ogle at the
sprawling city below.
Looking North to the
snow-capped Parnitha Mountains
... and Northeast to
Mount Pentelicus
... and Mount Aigaleo to the West ...
... BRRR THAT WIND IS COLD ...
19th Century Saint
George's chapel on the top
Too cold and windy
today for a casual aperitif in the sunshine ...
Looking over the
Acropolis to the Port of Pireas and out to the Saronic Gulf ...
Then the long trek
down begins - on foot this time ...
... with several
stops along the way to take in the spectacular views ...
Acropolis rising out
of the city ...
... a little help
along the way ...
... and one final vista
before I merge into the valleys of
suburban Athens ...
Next
post we may pay a visit the famous Acropolis ...
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