We arrived at Piraeus at 6 a.m., landed at 8, then took the train to
Athens, and went straight to Cook's office and wrote letters to
friends staying here, arranging to return for any answers. We then
took a carriage and went to the museum; the statuary is very fine and
beautiful. We returned to Cook's and found a letter from our Greek
friends, inviting us to luncheon at 1 o'clock. We had an hour and a
half more to spare, so took a carriage and went to the Acropolis. It
is indeed wonderful the view of Athens from the top, most beautiful.
We thoroughly enjoyed this sight; the trees all along are most
interesting--avenues of pepper trees, date palms, aloes and cactus; we
also saw a few orange trees. We then went to our friend's house at 1
o'clock. There were three married sisters and their children, and an
English girl, governess to the children. After luncheon they took us
sight-seeing, first to the Polytechnic Institute, founded in 1837 by
some wealthy Greek, and containing memoirs of the Greek War of
Independence, portraits and native costumes, and the clothes of the
Greek King who was shot at Salonika. A tomb has been erected on the
pavement there where he was shot, and a chapel is to be built near.
The pistol that shot him was in the case with the clothes. We also saw
many flags that the Greeks had captured in many different wars, a
sword of Lord Byron's, and his portrait and visiting card.
After leaving here we took the carriage and drove round the principal
streets, then went to the Keremakos market, where there are wonderful
tombs containing the remains of three people in each; the bones are
visible, and the statue of the bull. We then went down the oldest
streets, and to the ancient Church Eglise de Capnicarea. We saw the
temple, the bank, the general post office and the theatre; had tea at
a cafe and took the train back to the port, and arrived on the boat in
time for dinner. Another lovely night; I slept on deck. I forgot to
mention we passed, on Wednesday, some burning rocks; the chief officer
told us they are set on fire by oil by the shepherds, to watch their
flocks by night.