Eleusis

Today, we had a half-day excursion to the site of Eleusis, about a 45 minute drive west of Athens. It held the Sanctuary of Demeter, the goddess of the Harvest. The site was unique in that it is one of the few that allows you to walk through and physically touch everything. We saw the foundation of the Telesterion, the building where the rites were performed of the cult of Demeter, known as the Eleusian Mysteries because of how much secrecy this cult maintained. Then we checked out the site's museum, which had a few cool things, such as the massive head of the Caryatid that held up the Lesser Propylaia, constructed during the Classical Period. Then we came back to Athens and I got lunch at a cafe in Syntagma Square. I was finally able to find a location which served salads with lettuce. Greek salads are not for me. I can't stand cucumbers or tomatoes! Afterwards, we just hung out for a bit until it was time to go and watch an Italian opera in the Odeion of Herodes Atticus, an ancient Roman theater from the 2nd century AD that still is in use! I enjoyed sitting inside an ancient theater, but the opera itself was a let down. I would rather have watched an ancient Greek drama or comedy but, alas, those won't be showing until after I leave Athens.