Amal Alamuddin Clooney, as she calls herself now, may be missing her husband madly but it doesn’t show as she makes every moment count in her first 24 hours away from George Clooney in Athens. Her visit is part of Doughty Street Chambers team’s effort for the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles, led by Geoffrey Robertson QC, that has caused nothing but enthusiasm in Greece. The other consuls accompanying Ms. Alamuddin have worked miracles in cultural heritage cases but they nonetheless walk in the shadow of the newly-married style icon/international human rights lawyer/Mrs. George Clooney. Granted, most of the focus has been on her exquisite fashion choices, well-groomed trademark hair, misty eyes and uncanny ability to tight-rope walk between the new demands of marriage, sudden stardom and high-profile career rather than on the legal angle for the repatriation of the marbles.

On Tuesday, the London-based lawyers met with Culture Minister Constantinos Tassoulas, Culture Ministry General Secretary Lina Mendoni, Acropolis Museum Head Dimitris Pandermalis, the Ephorate of the Private Archaeological Collections Eleni Korka, Melina Mercouri Foundation President Christophoros Argyropoulos and President of the International Association for the Reunification of the Parthenon Marbles, David Hill. The meeting lasted for one and a half hours and included an in-depth discussion on suggestions and ideas for a legal case, without a focus on the financial issues. Mr. Palmer told reporters that he is extremely optimistic that a consensus solution can be found and there are other approaches that can also be considered.

It leaked that prior to the meeting with Mr. Tassoulas, Ms. Alamuddin had made inquiries about the Greek islands and expressed the desire to visit them in the future raising everyone’s hopes for more Amal-watching, this time in a swimsuit, while waiting for the Parthenon Marbles to return. She had lunch at Varoulko with Mr. Tassoulas and Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni where she met celebrity chef Lefteris Lazarou. Later, she dined at shipowner Lia Daniolou’s Glyfada mansion last night.

A meeting with Prime Minister Samaras is scheduled for Wednesday at 11.30 a.m. and is to be followed by a tour at the Acropolis Museum, followed by a 1.30 p.m. press conference, lunch and then a tour of the Acropolis at 4 p.m. in the afternoon.

Lunch –

Dinner