From here we went into the Acropolis. Here we saw two temples – the Parthenon and the Erectheium. The former is on the center of the Acropolis, the highest point in Athens. It was built under the administration of Pericles. His temple was called one of the wonders of the world. The temple of Nike Apteron or wingless victory was beautiful all of its statues had wings. The Erechtheium was the most revered of all the sanctuaries of Athens and was closely connected with the legends of Attica. It was situated to the North of the Parthenon. The form differs from every other known example of a Grecian temple. Usually a Grecian temple was an oblong figure with two porticos, one at its eastern and the other at its western end. This had three, the eastern, northern and southern. The roof of the latter was supported by six caryatid or columns of which the shafts represented young maidens in long draperies. The temple of Theseus or Thessum was the most perfect architectural relic of all antiquity. This temple was built 460 B.C. over the bones of Theseus. This hill was the platform of Demosthenes, Pericles, Themistocles and others. The Pnyx was the place of Parliament where all state questions were decided. The Propylaca was the building of all others most admired by the Greeks themselves, it was constructed of Pentilic marble. It covered the whole western end of the Acropolis. It consisted of a flight of about 60 steps, 71 feet in width leading up to a portico 69 ft. broad, having six fluted Doric columns five feet in diameter and 29 ft. high. Its eastern portico was destroyed by an explosion in 1656, that of the western in 1680. The Arcopagus was west of the Acropolis. It was so called because Mars was the first person here tried for the murder of ________. Upon this Hill, better known as Mars Hill, the great Acaopagite Council sat in the open air, but its chief interest is its connection with the acts of St. Paul. From here he preached to the Athenians, reproving them for idolatrous worship. The Horologium of Andronicus or the tower of the winds was built by the astronomer, whose name it bears, to act as a measure of time, both by the sun dial on the exterior and the water clock in the interior of the building. It is an elegant structure consisting of an octagon 44 feet high with a conical roof of curious construction. Four of the sides form very accurately the cardinal points. On the summit was a Triton, having a wand in his hand, pointing to the name of the wind which blow on each of the eight fans of the octagon. The name of that wind is engraved to which the face is opposed and a winged figure sculptures in relief bearing the characters of the weather with which it is usually attended.

The second day we were in Athens we made an excursion to Mt. Pentilicus, the distance is said to be twenty miles. We took carriages and horses, being a party of nine or ten and reached the foot of the mountain in an hour or two. The ascent was not steep, but very long. As we reached one summit there would be another hill in view. Our road was for some extent over beds of beautiful white marble and crystallized rock. We rested about half way at a cave or grotto where we got some beautiful crystals. We passed several marble quarries, one from which the Parthenon was obtained. Upon reaching the summit our Consul pointed out to us the plains of Attica and Marathon and the Bay of Salamis where the great battles were fought; also Mts. Parnes, Parnassus, and Olympus. When we took lunch a boy brought us some honey from a convent nearby. Hymottus is still noted for its honey.

While in Athens, we visited the School of Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Hill, who have lived there thirty-six years. Through an American, he is the British Chaplain here. Some of the Maids of Honor of the Queen were educated by them. We saw children of the higher and lower classes, all of whom appeared very bright. We saw them embroidering and sewing which they did very neatly. Dr. Hill gave us an account of the Maid of Athens made famous by Byron – said that she was not a myth as some had supposed, but is still living. She was only 11 years old when Byron met her, he having lived in her father’s house, there being no khans at that time. In speaking of the present King George of Denmark, he said he did not know what he would become – that he was a mere boy and thought more of pleasure and sports that anything else. One of his chief amusements was playing on a hurity gurity. Modern Athens is a beautiful city. We have spent three days very pleasantly.

We arrived in Constantinople on the 11th and have rooms in Pera, the European section of the city. Came into the city on the 12th of May. After breakfast we spent the day in the shops and bazaars, which we found very attractive. Nora bought a muslin dress - $17.00.