Ever since I was in grade school, I've wanted to visit Athens. Today, I finally got that chance. And I was not disappointed.

We checked off most of the top ten "must see" stops today, starting out with a half-day guided bus tour. This tour served to orient us to the city, and then we spent the rest of the day exploring.

We started out at the Panathinaiko Stadium, the site of the original Olympic Games in the fourth century BC, which was rebuilt for the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Following that, we visited the remains of the Temple of Olympian Zeus, ancient Greece's most colossal temple.

Most of the day, however, was spent in or around the Acropolis, the highest point in ancient Athens, home of several temples, including the Parthenon. This area is under constant and eternal restoration, but we stood in awe of the structures there. Once again, we managed to visit the Parthenon on the same day that all 4 million Athenians also chose to check it out; it was very crowded.

Around the Acropolis, we visited the Theatre of Dionysus, the Odeum of Herodes Atticus, and the Odeum of Agrippa -- all ancient open-air theatres or concert halls. Next to the Acropolis is the Agora, the marketplace and gathering place of ancient Athens.

In addition to climbing the Acropolis (no small feat), we also clambered to the top of the Areopagos. This is a huge, slippery marble rock between the Acropolis and the Agora that has two claims to fame. First, it was the site of civilization's first jury trial (a murder trial). Second, the Apostle Paul preached from here, as recorded in Acts 17:22-34. Here is where Paul is said to have converted the first Athenians to Christianity.

We closed out the afternoon by walking through the Plaka, an area of shops, sidewalk cafes, restaurants, and bars. Then, following a brief breather at our hotel, we climbed a very steep street, and caught a funicular (a railway slanted at a 45-degree angle) to the top of Lycabettus Hill, the highest point in modern Athens. We got there in time for a spectacular sunset and some great evening views of Athens.