Masonry Magazine January 1976 Page.26
Industry Tour of Greece
This is not a Greek myth it may not seem real but it did occur and it is fact.
Assembling in the TWA Conference Center at the New York JFK airport at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 17th, were a group of some sixty hearty travelers who were about to embark on an exciting venture to Greece. Some nine days later they arrived back in the U.S., quite weary but extremely happy to be back home in good old North America.
Here are some of the related events-not necessarily in chronological order but a sprinkling of the highlights of a most interesting Industry Tour.
Following a briefing in the Conference Center, members boarded TWA flight #880 for the journey to Greece. After 8½ hours of flying in a calm and beautiful sky the huge bird touched down at the new Athens Airport situated near the Aegean coast line. The group was met by Teris Tsfos who guided the group on a brief tour of the new International terminal-it ranks as one of the most modern in Europe. After clearing customs and finally securing luggage the group journeyed leisurely to the downtown area and the Hotel King George, once an official annex to the Royal Palace.
After a short but necessary rest the members gathered in the hotel's Athenee Salon for refreshments and discussions with local representatives concerning the country, the city and the construction industry.
On Tuesday morning following a meeting at which John R. Barry, Vice President of Wells Fargo Bank spoke, members were appraised of the days activities. First stop in this ten hour work day was the Acropolis. Words cannot describe the magnificance of this area. Up thru the entrance of the Acropolis with the small temple of Athena Nike just to the right. Then on into the Avenue of the Panathenaic procession. Following the avenue the group passed through the main gate of the central building of the Propylaea and reached the eastern porch which has almost been completely restored. Next was the vestibule of Poseidon-Erectheus which is an important example of the Ionic order. At this juncture the tour stopped to look out over the city of Athens. Continuing on the porch of Caryatides was viewed along with the restoration work currently underway. The Parthenon alone boggles the mind with its many innovations and tremendous scale. Each of the ruins on the Acropolis was described in great detail by the excellent English speaking guide who placed special emphasis on the construction details.
Then on to The Athens Tower, the tallest office structure in Athens, where the group was graciously met by Theodore A. Dimopoulos, President and founder of the firm of A. Albertis-T. Dimopoulos S.A., Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and Architects and Construe tors. Briefed by Mr. Dimopoulos the group then made a comprehensive tour of the company's 15th floor headquarters. Athens Tower was designed and built by the Dimopoulos firm and this building's influence on Athens and the construction industry in Greece was related since it represented the latest construction techniques for this area. Following lunch in the Tower Suite Restaurant a visual inspection of the city skyline was made from the 25th floor observation deck.
A Residential Luxury Condominium type 18 story structure at Algai Varvara-Hlandri was the next stop for the men. Estimated to cost approximately 5 million dollars the building is in various stages of construction, thus providing the members with an excellent showcase of construction methods. Mr. Dimopoulos lead the guided tour which commenced on the 15th floor and proceeded downward thru the structure. Some two and one half hours later after a complete examination a weary group of contractors arrived back at the King George Hotel.
Wednesday and Thursday were spent with side trips. First, on Wednesday to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon built in 444 B.C. and then on Thursday to Delphi and the magnificent temple of Apollo.
On Friday morning following a most interesting check out at the Hotel, members boarded buses for the Port of Piraeus where they boarded the M/V Neptune of the Epirotike Line for a three day adventure that will long be remembered.
After departing the port area the weather which was marginal at the start began to get worse so that most of the ship board activities were postponed. With a scheduled arrival at the island of Myconos of 7:30 p.m. the Neptune finally made the port a little before 10. The tender
Job site inspections of actual building projects were many on the Industry Tour. Here at a modern high rise condominium in downtown Athens are Eugene George, Charles Velardo, Theodore A. Dimopoulos, the project superintendent and George Miller. A first hand view of constructon techniques was made from the 15th floor down.