one day in piraeus, greece

Piraeus is rough and dirty, and there's not much of interest outside of the port itself. With so much to see and do in Athens I suggest you catch a taxi or the Green Line Train into the Monastiraki Metro Station area, visit the Parthenon, stroll around the Plaka, and if you have any energy left and if your feet aren't sore go to the National Archaeological Museum. 10 hours is plenty of time to do this.

This is a no brainer - get into Athens with all due speed.

Pireus is just a port. It's like every working port in Europe. It's dirty, busy and full of noise and bustle.

The only thing that distinguishes Pireus is that in the evening the dockside is swarming with the ugliest hookers I have ever seen anywhere.

Al, you obviously have never been to Penang, Malaysia!

Beat it into Athens - it is as interesting as Piraeus is not.

There is a train/subway that takes about 15 minutes to the center of Athens. It was about a mile from where our ship docked -- we walked along with a couple hundred other folks. Use google earth to get a feel for how the area looks.

Everyone here is right. You will want to leave Piraeus as soon as possible. Take the subway and use it while you are in Athens. It is a good one and easy to use; it goes to all the important sights you will want to see. Go to a Tourist Information Office and ask for a subway map.

No need to go to the tourist office. Here's one:

http://www.dolphin-hellas.gr/Maps/Athens/Metro/AthensMetroMap.gif

Syntagma Square is considered "Ground Zero" in Athens.

Here's a map of Athens as well. Syntagma Square is "Syntagmatos Sq." next to the "National Gardens":

http://www.athensguide.com/map/athens.htm

Fair question. In this context I am saying that Syntagma Square is the "center" of Athens, the point from which all exploration of the city begins and ends, because of the nature of transportation into and out of the city to and from the Airport and Piraeus. It's a slight exaggeration, but it gets the message across.

FYI-the expression "ground zero" existed long before September 11, 2002.

Lee is correct -- I have always associated "ground zero" with dead center. And the phrase has been around for a long time before 9/11.

Those of us who remember learning to duck under our desks remember "ground zero" coming into usage as the spot above which a nuclear weapon detonates.