Saturday 2 May

Sunny, warm.

Half day tour to get orientated and up to the Partheon on the Acropolis. The first stop is the stadium of the ancient Athenian games and was "recently" used when the modern olympics were restarted (1896). It's all marble - even the toilets as Tina discovered! See lots of famous buildings and then a steep walk with guided tour up to the Parthenon on top of Athen's Acropolis (it seems most places in Greece have an acropolis - we certainly saw a lot of them). For over 40 years I have seen pictures and read about this but to stand there is simply stunning. And the views of Athens below!

We are dropped off in the centre of Athens. Go for a stroll to find the Plaka, take a wrong turn and have no idea where we are. Stop for lunch (an outstanding salad that has Tina thinking about how she can prepare Greek food) and helpful staff point us in the right direction. Stumble across an outstanding and cheap internet café (English keyboards, huge screens, fast connection). Catch up on a week’s emails.

Go and watch the changing of the guard at Parliament Building – an impressive ceremony but I need to do some reading as to the meaning of parts of it. To me it looked rather strange but I am sure everything meant something.

Comment on Athens - graffiti EVERYWHERE.

7.30pm is the Insight meeting followed by tour party dinner in hotel. Ever since we have arrived we have been suspicious about our door locking and we realise that it is not. First turn of the handle tells you it is locked - second turn opens the door! Staff deal with this quickly and we are in a different room (445). Rushed, stressful but we are now secure.