' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

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Georgeanna
Posts: 436
Joined: October 29th, 2017, 1:17 pm

' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Georgeanna »

Well, no I didn't but perhaps some day I will...

Plato's first line of the Republic intrigues...what would the port of Piraeus have been like, what is it like today...

I'm just wondering if anyone here has visited Greece with a view to walking/talking in the footsteps of Socrates...or other ancients.

I'm considering a trip. So, before I venture forth to TripAdvisor - here I am, picking your brains.

I'm guessing hardly anyone here has been there, done that, or wants to talk about their experience.
But even if I'm right, if you have explored the classics you must have imagined a particular place ? And wondered about Athens, Delphi...
Have you even looked at a map when you've been reading...just to see where, and the distances between...

How far down to the Piraeus...?

If you have visited Greece, ancient or modern, any advice and recommendations would be welcome. Thanks.
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Burning ghost
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Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Burning ghost »

One of the main reasons for the success of Athens and the reason it survived invasion was the Piraeus.

Under siege the city of Athens coudl still receive resources via this harbour due to a fortified wall running from the city to the port. So if an army wanted to siege Athens they’d have to stop ships too - needless to say Athens survived siege attempts with without suffering any serious damage due to this means of protection.

I nearly went there earlier this year. Next time I go back to Europe I plan to visit. I’m sure you’ll have a great time. I’m sure there are many guide books on this particular kind of trip available somewhere?
AKA badgerjelly
Steve3007
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Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Steve3007 »

I first went there while doing the Europe by Train Interrail thing, back in 1990. But didn't do it to walk in the steps of Socrates or anything. Arrived by ferry from Brindisi in Italy. Got stuck in Athens because there was a general strike and the trains weren't running. There was no accommodation left so slept on Athens station platform along with everyone else. I recommend that for the experience, but only when you're young.
Georgeanna
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Joined: October 29th, 2017, 1:17 pm

Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Georgeanna »

Burning ghost wrote: October 12th, 2018, 9:07 am One of the main reasons for the success of Athens and the reason it survived invasion was the Piraeus.

Under siege the city of Athens coudl still receive resources via this harbour due to a fortified wall running from the city to the port. So if an army wanted to siege Athens they’d have to stop ships too - needless to say Athens survived siege attempts with without suffering any serious damage due to this means of protection.

I nearly went there earlier this year. Next time I go back to Europe I plan to visit. I’m sure you’ll have a great time. I’m sure there are many guide books on this particular kind of trip available somewhere?
I don't even know if I'll go. I will be doing my usual research before stepping out the door.
Just curious about where and how people here might have ventured.
Or if they might have even got as far as making up a philosophical itinerary...a Day at Delphi kinda thing.
Georgeanna
Posts: 436
Joined: October 29th, 2017, 1:17 pm

Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Georgeanna »

Steve3007 wrote: October 12th, 2018, 9:13 am I first went there while doing the Europe by Train Interrail thing, back in 1990. But didn't do it to walk in the steps of Socrates or anything. Arrived by ferry from Brindisi in Italy. Got stuck in Athens because there was a general strike and the trains weren't running. There was no accommodation left so slept on Athens station platform along with everyone else. I recommend that for the experience, but only when you're young.
:)
The joys of travel, eh ?
Where would you visit now, if you could and had unlimited resources ?
Steve3007
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Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Steve3007 »

If it could be anywhere in the world? I guess it would be interesting to see North Korea.

But there's loads of places I'd like to go if I ever have the time and/or money. Australia, Japan, China, road trip across the US, South Pole base in Antarctica, Baghdad, Tehran, trans-Siberian railway...
Georgeanna
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Joined: October 29th, 2017, 1:17 pm

Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Georgeanna »

Steve3007 wrote: October 12th, 2018, 9:49 am If it could be anywhere in the world? I guess it would be interesting to see North Korea.

But there's loads of places I'd like to go if I ever have the time and/or money. Australia, Japan, China, road trip across the US, South Pole base in Antarctica, Baghdad, Tehran, trans-Siberian railway...
Exotic choices. But I think you know I meant within Greece.

So, not Greece then. Do you think it would disappoint ?
Just like today's Roman 'gladiators' posing outside the Colosseum...
Steve3007
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Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Steve3007 »

I'm not sure if Greece would disappoint. I guess that would depend on your expectations. I've only ever been to Athens and a couple of Greek islands (and the journey from the port, to Athens and north through the former Yugoslavia). I think Athens and the Parthenon are certainly worth a visit. But it's still a hot smokey modern city too.
Steve3007
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Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm

Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Steve3007 »

An interesting thing that a Greek guy who used to work with me said was that, apparently, in Greek schools they still refer to Istanbul as Constantinople. Almost as if they don't accept that it belongs to Turkey! I've done some work with Turkish people and we were, at first, concerned that we should hide the fact that we had a Greek employee. But our concerns turned out to be silly and naive. They had absolutely no problem with each other, regardless of any past or present quarrels between their respective governments.
Georgeanna
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Joined: October 29th, 2017, 1:17 pm

Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Georgeanna »

Steve3007 wrote: October 12th, 2018, 10:05 am I'm not sure if Greece would disappoint. I guess that would depend on your expectations. I've only ever been to Athens and a couple of Greek islands (and the journey from the port, to Athens and north through the former Yugoslavia). I think Athens and the Parthenon are certainly worth a visit. But it's still a hot smokey modern city too.

You are right about expectations.
I visited a small village, Haraki (Rhodes) some umpteen years ago with no expectations other than to relax and do a bit of sightseeing.
It didn't disappoint. Other than the small bore toilet pipework which can't cope with paper waste...

Yes, I'm not much into busy, busy places...hot and full of tourists. Yet, I coped well this in London on the hottest day of the year ever.
Just takes a bit of planning and know-how...
Georgeanna
Posts: 436
Joined: October 29th, 2017, 1:17 pm

Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Georgeanna »

Steve3007 wrote: October 12th, 2018, 10:14 am An interesting thing that a Greek guy who used to work with me said was that, apparently, in Greek schools they still refer to Istanbul as Constantinople. Almost as if they don't accept that it belongs to Turkey! I've done some work with Turkish people and we were, at first, concerned that we should hide the fact that we had a Greek employee. But our concerns turned out to be silly and naive. They had absolutely no problem with each other, regardless of any past or present quarrels between their respective governments.
Interesting how different people can react to each other depending on their own background, intellect and wisdom to take each other first and foremost as fellow human beings.

Also of interest is how faces can change when they realise where you come from. In Italy, 'sono scozzese' gets you a better class of smile than 'sono inglese'. Just saying :)
Now to learn the Greek version...
Steve3007
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Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm

Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Steve3007 »

Also of interest is how faces can change when they realise where you come from. In Italy, 'sono scozzese' gets you a better class of smile than 'sono inglese'.
Is that right? I suspect that's true in some other places too. I think we English get more of the blame for the past actions of the British Empire than the Scots do.
Steve3007
Posts: 10339
Joined: June 15th, 2011, 5:53 pm

Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Steve3007 »

είμαι αγγλικά


Good old Google Translate.
Georgeanna
Posts: 436
Joined: October 29th, 2017, 1:17 pm

Re: ' I went down yesterday to the Piraeus...'

Post by Georgeanna »

Steve3007 wrote: October 12th, 2018, 10:40 am είμαι αγγλικά


Good old Google Translate.
Perfect.
For a lazy English man :)
I love the pronunciation feature. For 'I am Scottish' despite the unintelligible squiggles it sounds very like the Italian.
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