Quaker City passengers were quarantined at Piraeus but Sam and companions snuck ashore and visited Athens at night, August 14, 1867. Mark Twain Project: Quaker City Itinerary

Intended to be a highlight of the Quaker City cruise, fear of cholera caused local officials to bar anyone from coming ashore. The passengers could only make out the Acropolis from the ship through spyglasses. That night Twain, with three others went ashore and made there way to the Acropolis and back. Two others did the same later that night and two more attempted but failed, barely avoiding arrest.