Mainland Greece

Entering the Acropolis in Athens.  The crowds were kind of overwhelming, but it was amazing to see these ancient temples.

Inside the Acropolis. The crowds dispersed some once we passed through the gate and we were able to more fully enjoy the beautiful temples.

It's amazing how much detail has been preserved for well over 2000 years.

This is at Ancient Agora.  We both were very impressed with this less-famous little brother to the Acropolis.  It was nice to stroll a bit more peacefully among Greek ruins.

Meteora.  This site is just full of huge pinnacles of rock.  Several of them have monasteries still functioning.  The first monks (or monkeys really) had to climb up these sheer cliffs with no tools.  And they carried supplies to build huge buildings!  Later they made a system of nets and rope ladders, but now they have much more sophisticated pulleys (okay, and stairs).

There are 26 pinnacles in the area.  At one point every single one of them had a monastery full of monks (or monkeys) who had.clambered up to the top and decided it would be a good idea to live up there.  This area really was incredible.