March 2 - Clean Monday

Today is a holiday. It is the called clean Monday. The Greeks celebrate this day, which is also the carnival's end by going to the country and flying kites. It is the beginning of their lent (Christian Orthodox). The carnival begins 56 days before Easter Sunday. Since our apartment is close to Philopappos hill and that is a popular spot for them to go, we decided to climb the hill and have a look.

Church of Saint Demetrios Loumbardiaris - 12th century

There were people everywhere there was a flat spot trying to fly a kite or sitting down having a picnic. Some seemed to have trouble getting their kites in the air. We saw why on the way down the hill when we stopped to look at some of the kites for sale along the street. They were made of heavy painted paper.

View from Philopappos hill 

People and kites everywhere

Kites for sale

Kimon's Tomb

The Prison of Socrates

Not much is open today. There was the bakery and a few bars and restaurants. Everybody must be gone kite flying, I guess. On the way up the hill we stopped at a tiny church with maybe a dozen seats. There must have been about 50 candles that people were lighting and putting in a sandy dish. Most of the churches that we have stopped to visit have this deep sandy dish filled with lighted candles.


After a break in our apartment we decided to go for a couple of caches near the Parthenon. We had a travel bug (geocaching) whose mission was to go to a cache just below the Parthenon. As I had not reached my minimum number of steps (15,000) for the day while on vacation it was as good a time as any to go. Today was our most relaxing day so far. Maybe we are just getting used to all those hills, stairs and walking. Since we have been here, we have walked over 20,000 steps everyday.


We finished the day by having our usual glass of wine with cheese and pita bread. For supper I made a Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumber, kalamata olives and feta. I wasn't too sure about a dressing, so I just mixed some olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice and added a crushed garlic and oregano. I haven't had a salad here yet so not too sure what they put in it but it's definitely a do again.