Byline: SATURNINO P. JAVIER, M.D.

That sounds Greek, as the clichA[c] goes. Of course, it sounds Greek a" specifically a Greek dessert. After a sumptuous dinner one night in Athens, Greece, the adventurous in me asked the waiter what Ekmek was, as shown on the dessert menu. Upon being

Well, it turned out ekmek was a rich sweet concoction of shredded coconut meat topped with chopped nuts and whipped cream. Think matamis na bao with some rich topping. Of course, I never heard the end of it in the next several days. Nevertheless, ekmek was a nice welcome treat (and eventually a good travel anecdote) in Athens.

Here for the 41st Annual Convention of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), our group of five consisting of three cardiologists namely, Dr. Ramon Abarquez, an eminent cardiologist from the University of the Philippines; Dr. Norbert Lingling Uy, the immediate past president of the Philippine Heart Association; Dr. Louie Tirador, an opinion leader from the South; and Ma. Cristina Zavalla, sales director of Novartis Pharmaceuticals, always had a good laugh whenever the ekmek anecdote surfaced.

Greece has always carried a certain allure a" a mythical and mystical one. My recollection of ancient Greek mythology from Literature classes in high school must have conjured this kind of impression. Aside from the Trojan and Odyssean links, Greece invariably brings to mind images of athletics and sportsmanship a" being the birth place of the Olympic Games many decades ago. I arrived in Athens with some sense of excitement over these preconceived notions. It was time to update on the latest concepts in diabetes in the land of Hippocrates, Socrates and Aristotle.

After checking in at the Stratos Vassilikos Hotel in Athens at mid-afternoon and a few hours to freshen up and rest, it was time to have an initial encounter with tzatziki (sour cream with cucumber) and souvlaka (grilled meat on barbecue sticks) at Miltonas Restaurant, a fine dining place at the Plaka, the so-called neighborhood of the Olympic gods and goddesses, the Montmarte of old Athens and the central town of Athens. A stroll along the narrow streets of this district, noted for its fine cafA[c]s, taverns, quaint art shops, curio stores, street musicians, local vendors offering tapestries and embroideries, etc. was a most fitting way to greet this Hellenic region "hello" on our first night in Athens.

The second day was the opportunity to relive and be part of ancient Greek civilization. After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we headed off to a city tour of Athens. First stop was the Old Temple of Olympian Zeus, the largest temple in the entire ancient world which was dedicated to the father of the gods. Completed in 131 AD by the Roman emperor Hadrian, these ancient ruins still have 16 of the original 104 columns preserved. From here, we headed off to the Panathinaikon Stadium, a beautiful marble stadium built in the 4th century BC which can seat 70,000 spectators. In 1896, the first modern Olympic games were held here.

The culmination of the morning tour was the visit to the Acropolis, the sacred rock of Athens, the must-see-and-visit place for which Athens is known the world over. A sacred site throughout history, the Acropolis has been the pride and glory of Athens. This archaeological wonder houses magnificent prehistoric temples namely the Parthenon, Erechtheion, the Temple of Athena Victory and the Propylaea.

Perched on a hill overlooking the city, the uphill walk to the Parthenon was a moderately taxing late morning exercise. Each step of the way, many found it difficult to resist taking snapshots of the awesome environs surrounding the group. The tour guide, presumably quite familiar with this temptation awaiting the visitors and fully cognizant of the eagerness of everyone to capture photographically the magnificence of the ancient panoramas unfolding before oneas eyes, calmly and coolly remarked that she would perfectly understand if anyone would like to break off from the group and pursue his photography exploits from here. When nobody budged, she assured everyone that there would be enough time to take as many photos as anyone would want after she gave a brief background of the great archaeological site.

On the way up to the Acropolis, one gets a good view of the Odeion of Herodes Atticus, built in 161 AD, which remains a popular venue for concerts and other festivities. The Propylaea is the grand entrance of the Acropolis. To the south of the Propylaea is the Temple of Athena Nike (Victory).

The Erechtheion, a unique temple consisting of two balconies, is made famous by the six Caryatids, which are figures of beautiful priestesses or maidens supporting the roof of the southern balcony. The ones in the temple today are copies of the original. Five original Caryatids are in the Acropolis Museum while the other one is displayed in the British Museum.

From the highest point of the Acropolis, one gets a picturesque view of two other famous hills of Athens. One is the Philopappos Hill, a beautiful hill opposite the Acropolis where the grave and monument of the soldier Philopappos decorates the top of the hill. This monument was built in honor of the ruler of Syria, Gaius Julius Antiochus, also known as Philopappos. The other hill on the other side of the Acropolis is the Lycavittos, the highest hill of Athens, where a small chapel of St. George is located.

The principal temple on the Acropolis is the Parthenon, dedicated to Athena, the patron goddess of Athens. The temple which is built of marble actually rests on the remains of an earlier monumental Parthenon. This temple houses the golden ivory statue of Athena, the work of the famous sculptor Pheidias.

Beside the Acropolis is the ancient Agora, the political, commercial, administrative, social and cultural center of Athens which was used as a residential and burial area around 3000 BC. And five minutes by walking from the Acropolis, one gets to the central district of Plaka that surrounds the base of the acropolis.

The afternoon tour to Cape Sounio is a fascinating one-and-a-half hour bus ride along the shores of the Aegean Sea. "A Greek French Riviera," one may enthuse a" or maybe even better. Since this is late summer, the shores teem with sunbathers and swimmers. The sea beckons a" one can only wish that he or she is out there basking in the glow of the afternoon sun.

The highlight of the trip is the Temple of Poseidon. Built in the most suitable place, located atop Cape Sounio and overlooking the Aegean Sea, this temple dedicated to the god of the sea is a sight to behold. However, for those who have been sufficiently mesmerized by the Acropolis, the temple of Poseidon may prove to be anti-climactic. Nevertheless, the scenic trip along the line of beaches from Piraeus to Sounio is enthralling. (To be concluded on Monday)