I arrived in Piraeus at 6am after an 8 hour cruise across the sea from Turkey. For one week I wandered the ancient stone streets of Athens, exploring the Parthenon and the Stoa, the ancient forums and libraries of the Greeks and Romans, the birthplace of so many ideas. I enjoyed the souvlaki, the endless coffees, the golden sunshine on the white pentelic marble. I visited the Hill of Muses many times to draw the panoramic views.