Day 6

Out about 10:30 for the train out to the Olympic grounds which I last visited during the Olympics in 2004. Time has taken its toll. The event pool (the one with the stands) and the training pool look in good shape with bright blue water. Looking at the stands at the event pool, some of the flooring is falling apart, and the media seats (the ones in dark blue) that have some woodwork/tables around them look like they’re falling apart. Doesn’t look like the seats have been used in years and there’s visible rust on railings. It's all fenced off so this is the best photo I could take.



Compare that to 2004:



The grounds, which they never got around to landscaping in 2004, remain that way. I recall dust clouds back in 2004 when the hot afternoon winds came in. Lots of weeds about.





The park itself it getting a lot of use from dog-walkers, runners, and those training their children to ride bicycles (loved listening to a parent yelling driving instructions at a bicycling child in Greek). Not a single event being held there on Sunday, The stadium seems to have corporate suites in place (saw Fujitsu and Carrefour), so it must be getting some use. They sure do have a lot of empty land out there as you’ll see by the photos. Maybe change will come as the Greek economy improves.

Some more photos:

Olympic torch in 2004:



Olympic torch in 2015:



Stadium in 2004:



Stadium in 2015:



Stadium interior in 2004 (can’t get inside today):







Big screen TV at end of pool in 2004 (another Gold medal):



Big screen TV in 2015:



Some photos of the pavilions and grounds today:



Velodrome:



Exhibition Hall:



Not sure what this building was for and no sign in sight - biggest one on the grounds:



And one of the park users:



My 2004 Olympics photos are still on-line here:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/2004-Olympic-Games-Athens

After the Olympic grounds visit, back on the train a couple stops where I saw a Goody’s for lunch. They feature hamburgers and chicken sandwiches and advertise Philadelphia brand cream cheese on several of their items (not mine). I ordered an Extreme Club Sandwich for 7 euros ($8) and realized what the “extreme” part meant when they called my name. Apparently there is a smaller version but mine was already delivered before I saw that.



Another 35 mins or so by train out to the Port of Pireaus, 7 miles from the city center of Athens. This is the largest passenger port in Europe and handles 20 million passengers a year. Plenty of ferries in different sizes about. Good time to mention this city is full of graffiti and the trains are not immune.





The first ferry did a 180 degree turn in the harbour to back in:







Back to the train station where I spotted this resting patron:



Train back into the city center to Monastiraki. A lot more people about there compared to Saturday. There were some musicians out of sight in this photo.



Walked uphill to the Roman Agora for some photos, and then through the Placa area on different streets than the night before looking at lots of folks drinking and dining.











Was back at the hotel about 6:30 and other than a quick run down to a convenience store for some snacks and a soft drink (not much of an appetite with the huge lunch), was in for the night after 8 hours of touring.

New photos for this section start here:
http://tom911.smugmug.com/Travel-Eur...eece/i-xVk8smq