- I'm sorry. I can't stop. She is sobbing apologetically and smiles at me through her tears. - It is just - I am so happy. This is a dream come through for me. I smile back at her and give her a hug, patting her sweaty back. - It's ok. It's ok. And I look up. And the sun is glittering through the proud marble columns, coloring them almost gold-ish. I am a tour guide in Athens, it is late afternoon, the heat is intense and I am holding on to a sobbing sweaty tourist who has seen her dream come alive in front of her eyes. She made it to Acropolis.
So, off we are, on this 26-days-around-the-globe-journey, and: welcome to Athens, dear reader! For me it is a must see, and maybe even more so for the tourist lady who had saved money her whole life to make her own dream of seeing the Acropolis come true. I will never forget her. Because at that moment, I also felt the magic. Behind the hoards of tourists, lines and souvenir stalls and beyond the blank ruins, empty temples and dead statues. It was there. I felt it. I felt the amazing wonders of this place, made by bare human hands under the rule of Pericles in the 5th century BC. So many centuries ago. And for so many years the presence of Acropolis with the mighty Parthenon temple has been felt all over the city of Athens. It lives on. Eternally.
So, humble and moved, feeling surrounded by the wonders of ancient time, I go for lunch with one of my Greek friends. I excitedly tell her the story about the tourist lady following her dream. - Huh, she giggles, picking in her salad - I have lived in Athens all my life and I have never been up at Acropolis!
Aha. Dreams. They are never where you expect them to be, are they? Or at least our dreams are to be found in very different locations, that's for sure. Well, let's see where I'll take you tomorrow dear reader. All I can say is that it is a place packed with emotions... starting with a B...:-)
Until then!
1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs here. My theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination tomorrow.
So, off we are, on this 26-days-around-the-globe-journey, and: welcome to Athens, dear reader! For me it is a must see, and maybe even more so for the tourist lady who had saved money her whole life to make her own dream of seeing the Acropolis come true. I will never forget her. Because at that moment, I also felt the magic. Behind the hoards of tourists, lines and souvenir stalls and beyond the blank ruins, empty temples and dead statues. It was there. I felt it. I felt the amazing wonders of this place, made by bare human hands under the rule of Pericles in the 5th century BC. So many centuries ago. And for so many years the presence of Acropolis with the mighty Parthenon temple has been felt all over the city of Athens. It lives on. Eternally.
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| Pics from google.com/wikipedia |
Aha. Dreams. They are never where you expect them to be, are they? Or at least our dreams are to be found in very different locations, that's for sure. Well, let's see where I'll take you tomorrow dear reader. All I can say is that it is a place packed with emotions... starting with a B...:-)
Until then!
1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs here. My theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination tomorrow.
 |
| Go to a-to-zchallenge.com |
Great choice and a wonderful spot, and I hope you get there some day. Nice to meet you though the challenge. I am an expat blogger sharing destinations AtoZ as well - through my own photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rhonda:-) I used to live in Athens, so I have kept a place in my hearth for that city ever since:-) Thanks for visiting my blog - will pop over to have a look at yours now. Good luck with the challenge:-)
DeleteWould love to visit Greece one day! It comes across as a country with abundant natural beauty as well as those ancient architectural structures!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful start to the challenge Eli!!
You would love it dear Arti:-) I know:-) Thanks a million for your kind words dear friend:-)
DeleteWow! On my must visit list too!!
ReplyDeleteYes, its great:-) Thanks for following:-)
DeleteI am coming along with you for this 26-day World tour Eli! Loved your post :)
ReplyDeleteYey! Thanks so much. Yes, please do come along:-)
DeleteGreece - It is now in my to be visited list!!! nice post on a nice place Eli :)
ReplyDeletehttp://iamstri.wordpress.com/2014/04/01/achilles-heel-day1-atoz-challenge-2014/
Thank you so much - great place to visit:-) All the best, Srilakshmi:-)
DeleteWould love to visit Athens one day too, but that's true you know, when you have been living in a place for long you don't realize the importance of the place even though people just dream to visit it... You kind of take it for granted... Waiting for the next in series, Eli :)
ReplyDeleteYes, it is so true... Thanks for your kind words Prasanna:-)
DeleteBeautiful. A great start Eli!
ReplyDeleteThanks dear Amelia:-) Big hugs
DeleteA beautiful post, Eli. And some great pictures there. Travels that are pacekd with intense emotions and feelings can add so much to our lives.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is true:-) Thank you for your kind words Beloo:-)
DeleteYou know Eli your theme will set my hear racing each day..I know. So want to visit this beautiful place set in ancient times. Seems straight out of a fairy tale. Sigh!
ReplyDeleteAaaaaah Aditi. Thanks a lot dear friend. Your words make me so happy:-)
DeleteWe too are planning to step into Greece one day. Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm surely going to be coming around more often to your blog.
ReplyDeleteIshithaa
#AtoZChallenge
That's great Bhavya:-) Sure you will like Greece, and yes, please do stop by. Happy to see you here:-)
DeleteWow...looks like a lovely place...some day...sigh!!
ReplyDeleteThanks dear Kajal:-) Hugs
DeleteI do not think I will be able to see one day the places you are to take us through this A-Z challenge.But I will surely enjoy starting with Athens the glimpse of the various destinations through the pictures and description.This one is very nice.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! Happy you liked it:-)
DeleteHi Eli, Got a glimpse of how beautiful and informative your posts will be :-). It surely rekindles the traveler in me and will keep myself satisfied through your blogs for now :-). Thanks again from this fellow blogger taking plunge into A to Z challenge.
ReplyDeleteHi Jayanta. Happy to see you here, and thank you so much for your kind words:-) All the best
DeleteWow it's beautiful! I wish I can visit it someday!
ReplyDeleteHappy you like it:-) Hope you get to visit Nabanita:-)
DeleteBeautiful theme. I am gonna bookmark all this.... so i could actually use this when I visit these places (if ever) ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sheetal:-) Happy you like it ... and you never know..:-)
DeleteEli, beautiful theme and touching post. The magic of a dream and the magic of a place we have wanted to be in, amazing. One place can mean so much to someone and nothing to another. Looking fwd to to reading the rest of your posts.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Sunila:-) All the best:-)
DeleteA world tour or atleast a europe tour is in my to-do bucket! But for now I will settle witha virtual tour :)
ReplyDeleteGreat:-) Yes, please come along:-)
DeleteGosh, that makes me realise how long it is since I visited Athens - must be 1985 or so. Great theme and I'm sure you'll attract a lot of visitors! Have fun :)
ReplyDeleteJemima
#TeamDamyanti
Blogging from Alpha to Zulu in April!
Thank you so much Jemima. So happy you like my theme, and happy to see you here:-)
DeleteWOW, what a beautiful place. It sure would be a trip of a lifetime to see that in person. Also a lovely way to start the A-Z off to a big bang!! Happy A-Z ing! ♥
ReplyDeleteThanks dear Kathy:-) So happy you like it:-) Happy A-Zing to you also:-)
DeleteI was 16, when I visited Tajmahal for the first time and a few years later I met a man from Agra, where the Tajmahal is situated and he asked me, "how did you like Tajmahal then, I never went there" I was like whaaaaaaaat..? Great Post Eli.. :)
ReplyDeleteAmritt
Thanks for taking us on an outing to the beautiful Acropolis through the magic of your words :) And the thing about dreams ....rightly said Eli :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a great theme for this challenge....thanks for sharing...I will follow the rest of the places....
ReplyDeleteThank you:-) Yes, please follow- happy to have you on board:-)
DeleteWe often take the places we live in for granted, don't we? This is surely one of those places that dreams are made of, Eli. Looking forward to travelling with you.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's true:-) Happy to be traveling with you dear Corinne:-)
Deletegood info... this challenge is getting more and more useful..
ReplyDeleteThanks:-) Happy you found it useful:-)
DeleteGreat start to the challenge - the story was really touching because I can completely relate to your tourist. My boyfriend and I made it to Athens two years ago and I couldn't believe where I was, I just stood there and tried to take it in. I found you through the challenge sign-up, we are taking it on as well with the theme of "Beautiful British Columbia". Can't wait to see what else you've got up your sleeve for the rest of the month!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Calli:-) Happy to see you here and connect with you. Nice to hear you also had a great Acropolis experience:-) Will go off to check your blog now.
DeleteSince the 6th grade I've wanted to visit Greece! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteJamie Dement (LadyJai)
My A to Z
Caring for My Veteran
Aahh:-) I hope you get to visit:-) So happy to see you here Jamie. Big hugs
DeleteWOw! Looks awesome! Must bookmark this place! Looking forward for more!
ReplyDeleteThanks Danny:-) so happy you liked it:-) All the best
DeleteEli sorry I am linking a post here but I had to!! Just read this please and you'll know why! :) http://thedogladysden.com/2014/04/01/atozchallenge-a-is-for-acropolis-in-athens/
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha - that's great:-) Thanks Aditi:-)
DeleteLiv, I might have had that exact experience, but many times something close to it. I find the longer, closer we are to something, the less likely we are to go to it.
ReplyDeleteThat is true Corinne- well said:-) Happy to see you here:-)
DeleteThis is quite a coincidence, as my post was about the very same thing and my life long dream coming true!
ReplyDeleteHa ha - that is great:-) Happy you saw a dream come true:-)
DeleteWow... I can feel for that lady and each tear of her eyes would have quenched her forever...I love your theme, love the choice of your first place and I am hooked... I love that analogy of dream..they definetely grow far from us and make us move towards them...
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your very kind words:-) I so appreciate it, and I am happy you are hooked:-) Will pop over to your blog:-) All the best to you:-)
DeleteDo check my Day 2 post... You might have a surprise for you :)
ReplyDeleteAaaw- thanks a million for so kindly mentioning me:-) You made my day:-) :-) - Great time u have btw- I am hooked on it too:-)
DeleteGreece... Acropolis... some day, we will be able to tick it off from our 100 places to visit list!! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat dear Shilpa- I think you will love it. Happy to see you here:-)
DeleteTo visit Greece is one of my dreams - crossing my fingers and toes.
ReplyDeleteHope you will see your dream come true, Suzy:-) Thanks for following:-)
DeleteWhat an exciting life you seem to have led- A tour guide at Athens! Beautiful start, Eli :)
ReplyDeleteShailaja
Thank you so much Shailaja:-) Happy to see you here:-)
Delete