Greece

After leaving northern Greece we had a leisurely drive back to Athens. We took the back roads and with no GPS we just kept close to the Aegean sea. Driving in Greece is fun, just be prepared to get lost often and end up on a dead end street only 6 inches wider than our car at least once.

Beautiful roadside shrines every few miles

Arrived in a small resort town just south of Athens "Port Raffi", but close to the airport, and the next day we put Maxine on a plane back to Canada. Wandered the coast the next day and happened on the "Temple of Posiden at Cape Sounion National Park". Didn't even know it was on our bucket list. Another couple of days exploring, sitting on our outside deck, and swimming, then another one-way "Easyjet" to Milano and our Italian experience begins.

Temple of Posiden

Climbing Mount Olympus

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and home of the 12 Greek gods including Zeus  the "God of all Gods".
On September 18th we arrived in "Litochoro" a small town at the base of Mount Olympus. We got settled into our hotel, expensive (90 euros, approximately $125cdn) but 4-star and luxurious.
Scouted out the climb, 20 kms to the trail head, 2-3 hours to the refuge and another 2-3 hours to the top.
Next day Maxine and I got a daybreak start, watched the sunrise over the Aegean sea as we climbed, reached the refuge at Prionta in 2 hours and in another 2 hours reached the summit of Skala, only experienced climbers go further. A gruelling 5 hour hike down, that jacuzzi tub sure felt good. Sally spent the day wandering the ancient town of Litochoro, inhabited since the 5th century BC, taking pictures and soaking up the history.

Mount Olympus

Starting the climb

Looking down the trail

Skala

Skala

The majesty of Mount Olympus

The Monasteries of Meterora

These immense, solid rocks, split by earthquakes, wearhered by water and wind over millions of year, are natures authentic masterpiece. Emerging about 25 million years ago as the elevated seabed material was the outcome of strong tectonic movements, the Meterora rocks became a shelter of humankind.

The first hermits arrived in this area to seek spiritual isolation and inhabited the caves of the rocks, with the sole aid of ropes and ladders. Common existential needs and strong religious faith compelled them to live united in the first monastic communities, their common drive of faith guiding them towards the unrepeated construction of monastries of the highest architectural and artistic value.

The 24 monastries emerged on the countless summits of the rocks from the 14th until the 16th century, 6 of them remaining to be explored and admired by all. These monastries became the centers of the Orthodox creed in the Byzantine era, having produced some of the best pieces of religious art and craft and still possessing a collection of precious manuscripts, which today are on display in their museums. The meterora monastries have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Kalampaka through the Meterora Rocks

On the rocks

Sanctuary of Athenia Pronaia

The idea to visit Delphi was borrowed from author Sue Monk Kidds, "Travelling with Pomegrantes". Her memoir recounting a trip with her daughter in which she shared how much they enjoyed visiting this sacred site.

Bob, Maxine and I arrived late enough in the afternoon, that all the tour buses had left. So we wandered the sanctuary in peace and quiet. Historians say it is the gateway to Apollo and is dedicated to the worship of the earth Goddess, Athena. 3 Doric columns stand dramatically on the site of the most known building, Tholos. Originally 20 columns formed a round, stone chamber who's purpose is still questionable but architecturally a masterpiece. This site was built between the 5th and 4th century BC, as a shrine to Athena, patron of labour, arts, sciences and there are many supposed spiritual connections (wisdom, reason, purity, fertility). The setting is surrounded by olive trees and spread along a terrace, on the mountainside.

Pomegrante

Tholos

Tholos

Olive trees

The sanctuary of Apollo at Delphi extends over a series of terraces, nestled in the foothills of Mount Parnossos. for many centuries this was the religious and spiritual centre of the ancient Greek world. Legend also says this is the geographic centre of the world, as it is where the two eagles sent by Zeus, from both ends of the world, met.

Tour buses descended on the following morning as we climbed above the gymnasium, treasuries, the theatre, temples and the Sacred Way. Most interesting was the stadium and site of the Pythian games. Here judges officiated foot races from stone seats, with backs. Easy to visualize ancient contests taking place here.

In Greece cats are everywhere and right on the very steps of the Temple of Apollo, a tabby was enjoying the morning sun, oblivious of the history and us.

Theatre

Stadium track

Stone benches with backs for thr judges

Santorini

Arrived Santorini on the fast ferry September 8

                         

Luca, Max, Pat, Amy, & Bob (Sally took the picture)

  Unusual architecture, all the whitewashed building hanging high off the cliffs

Found our accommodation, a villa with 5 bedrooms, 7 decks, 4 bathrooms on the 3^rd floor overlooking the Aegean Sea

Sunrise from the villa, thanks VRBO.

Took a hike to the Red Beach (our favourite). Then a water taxi to Black beach where we swam through a cave (spooky). Took a pass at White beach and back to Red  beach all      

the while drinking cold beer.

Red Beach

Luca got a great surprise when the newlyweds (Chiara & Masi) showed up to join us.

A cable car took us down the cliffs from Fira to the Old Port where we boarded "Odyseas" to tour the Caldera, hiked the volcano, swam in the hot springs, lunch at Thirasia and ended the trip with a donkey ride up the switchbacks to Fira

The Caldera

View of the Caldera

Our boat

On the boat

Hiking the volcano

No explanation necessary

One night we got dressed up and went high class. We sampled wines at the Santos winery while enjoying the Caldera sunset.

 Took in the sunset at Oia along with many other camera toting tourists, Promoted as the most beautiful sunset in the world.

Pick your favourite