2017 BOCA and BUBBA INVADE THE CONTINENT: DAY 19 SAT JULY 01 ATHENS

GREECE HOLDS THE TORCH AGAIN- maybe the heat fries the brains of the Greeks as they have been know to say "it's not normally this hot" year after year. And we know, Robin Williams would have said, "IT'S HOT. IT'S DAMN HOT." Today I have heard the temp reached 116 degrees here- heck- it felt as if it was "only" 115. Like Greece didn't have enough to worry about right now with it's garbage strike and graffiti art- oops I mean it's failing financial system- we get to enjoy some of the most scorching summer temps in the World. Lucky us!

Of course we could be in India (Boca's fav) with a 60 year old record breaking 123.8 degrees. We heard London has also hit some record breaking heat- the first since 1976. How's that stiff upper lip going dear friends in Britain? And of course all the European newspapers are blaming Donald Trump- for pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement and causing the heat wave.

"The analysis was carried out by World Weather Attribution (WAA), an international coalition of scientists that calculates the role of climate change in extreme weather events. “We found clear and strong links between June’s record warmth and human-caused climate change,” said Geert Jan van Oldenborgh, at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and part of WWA."

We've heard that bus and tram drivers in a Paris suburb are wearing skirts (not allowed to wear shorts) not only to protest but to cool down.....

Per a local press clip...

Bus drivers in the western French city of Nantes turned up to work in skirts yesterday in protest at a ban on wearing shorts despite a searing heatwave currently bearing down on France.

With temperatures hitting record levels throughout the country, and authorities advising people to take urgent measures to avoid heatstroke, the idea of wearing long trousers was simply too much to bear for the drivers .

We missed visiting the Metropoli 2 weeks ago- so we must make a special trip to pay homage and pray at The Cathedral. So what if it is 116 degrees. Let's cab it...

Oh, my I thought the garbage strike was over? Yes Mrs. Boca, it just ended and now they have to clean up...oy oy...and the heat brings on such a fragrance. Ewwww. And they say this happens every summer?

"Hold your nose and quit your bellyaching!" barked Bubs.

I thought he said this cab had AC? Yes Madame, but do you understand what 116 degree heat does to a car's operating system?

MITROPOLI aka the METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL OF ATHENS

The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation- popularly known as the "Mētrópolis", is the cathedral church of the Archbishopric of Athens and all Greece. Work began in 140 on this huge cathedral, using marble from 72 demolished churches for its walls. The cornerstone was laid in a ceremony by King Otto and queen Amalia on Christmas day.

It took another 20 years to finish the building, using 3 different architects- which probably accounts for it's unusual appearance?

Boca loves the mosaics above the doors...

and Bubs likes THE DOORS!

THE DOORS!

NICE HAIR BOCA.

THE CATHEDRAL IS THE OFFICIAL SEAT OF THE BISHOP OF ATHENS, AND REMAINS A POPULAR CIT LANDMARK THAT HAS BEEN USED FOR CEREMONIAL EVENTS FROM THE CORONATIONS OF KINGS TO THE WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS.

On May 21, 1862, the completed Cathedral was dedicated to the Annunciation of the Mother of God.The Cathedral is a three-aisled, domed basilica that measures 130 feet long, 65 feet wide, and 80 feet high.

Getting some good iconography ideas for finishing off St. Kathrine's Bubs?

We pretty much had the church to ourselves ( a couple other folks there with us)...looks like the Athenians don't get moving too early on Saturday mornings.

Gregory V the Ethnomartyr, Patriarch of Constantinople, was hanged by order of Sultan Mahmud II and his body thrown into the Bosphorus in 1821, in retaliation for the Greek uprising on March 25, leading to the Greek War of Independence. His body was rescued by Greek sailors and eventually enshrined here.

Saint Philothei built a convent, was martyred in 1559, and her bones are still visible in a silver reliquary. She is honored for ransoming Greek women enslaved in Ottoman Empire's harems.
Bubs wrote a beautiful letter to our future son in law today, welcoming him to Orthodoxy and the family. Good job Bubs and Father Philemon!
Photo from 2009- the Enthronement of Archbishop Ireonymos- that's a whole lotta Holiness going on in one place.

Archbishop Damaskinos who was Archbishop of Athens during World War II and was Regent for King George II and Prime Minister of Greece in 1946.

Saint Constantine XI the Ethnomartyr, the last Byzantine Emperor. Quite a likeness Bubs- bastuni and all.

PANAGIA GORGOEPIKOOS- the little church next door- this domed cruciform church is built entirely from Pentelic marble. This church was dedicated to the Panaia Gorgoepikoos (the Madonna who Swifly Hears) and Agios Eleftherios (the saint who protects women in childbirth)- it is affectionately known as the Mikri Metropoli (Little Cathedral).

Dating from the 12th century, it measures only 25 ft long by 40 ft wide- petite but stunning. Locked up today- dang would love to have seen the inside. The size fit the village Athens was at that time....Classical and Byzantine styles mixed.