Lucky these guys wear underpants

The ministry for silly walks has devised an elaborate style of marching to draw in the tourists. We have been told it is of recent design (1960's or there abouts) and is of no historic significance. However, the tourists loved it so much, a 'new tradition' has been born. On our walk back to the hotel tonight, we followed the three replacement guards on their march towards Parliament house for the changing of the guards ceremony. They wear wooden shoes with metal spikes. It was interesting to hear the difference noises they made by stamping or dragging their feet to communicate with each other and to be tell pedestrians to get out of the way. (I want to be a very Greek Guard when I grow up. The uniform is really spiffy.)

Yesterday, we did the Acropolis. It is amazing for what is not there. Cast your mind back to 5th Century BC. What were your ancestors doing at that time. (Here is a question for the kiddies. Did you have ancestors at that time? Don't say you don't know... you do know the answer... you just have to think about it.) Now think of the 14th Century and all the fuss made of Michael Angelo when he carved David. Now think back to the 5th Century once more. Come on... keep up. The marble carvings all around the Parthenon were of similar quality to David. And there were hundreds of them. The fragments now being found and the samples stolen by the great Lord Elgin have been enough to convince archaeologists of the grandeur of the original work. Lord Elgin wasn't the only vandal. The early Christian invaders are also blamed for wrecking the joint. But Lord Elgin is held up to be some sort of anti-genius. He had his men climb up to the parapets (where the largest carvings were). Instead of securing the sculptures by rope and lowering them, he simply had them thrown down... and if they broke... bad luck... push the next one down and see how that one goes. His system worked. He ended up with two boat loads. He set sail back to London... but oops... one of the boats sank. You can't help bad luck. Fortunately, when back in London, he was strapped for cash and had to make a quick sale. The British Museum was the only buyer at short notice. So we have the ridiculous situation where from the one statue, an arm is in the British Museum, the broken head is in the Athens Museum and other body parts could be in New York or Rome or any other major city.

Athens Museum has made a superb effort in bringing together all the information held in all the world's museums to replicate as accurately as possible the picture of what existed in the 5th Century BC. They really had a lead on the rest of the world at that time... a lead that made the Romans look like peasants. Today, they are struggling a little. But at least they lead the world for a period... which is more than most nations can claim!