Oracle at Delphi
Good news, bad news. I found a computer to actually type on so hopefully this will just all be one lovely post. Bad news, all the sites are in Greek which can make it hard to decipher what to do... But the keyboard isn't all weird so that is positive.
Today was another mountain day. We drove through the Arcadian mountains north to Delphi! I can really see all that was done in Greece to prepare for the Olympics. We did get to take the fancy new bridge that connects the Peloponnese to the mainland. It's really beautiful and can handle a 2 metre sway during an earthquake! I did have to laugh because it's really such a short span. Probably a little longer than the High Level bridge in Edmonton. But it makes a huge difference because otherwise I think you had to take a ferry across. So we did get a little stop and walk around there.
We also passed through the construction region. I guess right around the Patra region, with the bridge, is where they have a lot of cement plants. I know Dad, it's concrete. But I still get a little laugh about it. They also have a lot of farmland. Obviously, they grow a lot of olives, but with joining the European Union they have started to grow more crops that are imported, such as corn, which we were told is a little bit of a novelty for the Greeks, as that has never been a traditional crop. But they can't do too much of farming because of the mountains. I think that only about 30% is usuable for farming and living.
Afterwards we continued East to Delphi. The sanctuary is perched on the top of Mount Parnassus. The area is so picturesque and lovely to just drive around. Of course to get there involved quite a few narrow switchbacks to get to the top. In a giant ass bus. These are the moments where you appreciate the skill of the driver. They also have a lot of tunnels built into the mountains. Because they aren't massive mountains like at home they can go through narrower parts with the tunnels. And they use them a lot.
It was a big day of hills. They felt that Delphi was so sacred that this is where the oracle was. She would pass out advice and such, but it mostly seems like she was an ancient version of a magic 8 ball! But the sanctuary was way way way up in the cliffs. Which made for a beautiful view but a difficult climb! We started out with the Temple of Apollo, which was the lowest down structure. There is a bit of it left, but not a lot. Then we climbed more for the Theatre of Apollo. I think that the view of the valleys below would have been distracting for the audience. At the very top of the hill was the stadium where they would have athletics almost like the olympics every 4 years. It was a big climb. But a few of us made it and it was worth the climb!
Afterwards we did lunch and another shopping stop. This time is was for rugs and such. 500 euro rugs. I'll pass thanks. But we had plenty of time to shop and the tour guide had to go explain everything to convince us to buy!
After that we stopped at the Athena sanctuary. This is ironically the image that is most often associated with Delphi yet it isn't actually the main attraction. It was downhill but once again, worth the trip.
The one lesson I am learning on group tours, not that this was ever an issue, is to keep my mouth shut. We have so many fellow travellers that don't know when to stop. I've heard diatribes on why were the British orphans sent to Australia? Because that is terrible. Or one fellow discussing his expensive persian rug, while he spit out his tobacco. Sometimes you don't have to get too in depth. Ask about others travel experience, we've all gone interesting places. Discuss things at home, ask about where people live. But avoid politics and religion. And apparently the oil sands. A few people have placed Edmonton based on that, and one fellow said something about not discussing that but if it is going to be a touchy subject lets drop it!
Tomorrow we are off to Meteora, where they have multiple monasteries up on tall rocks. I guess the one we even have to climb 120 stairs to get there! But it should be fascinating!
Today was another mountain day. We drove through the Arcadian mountains north to Delphi! I can really see all that was done in Greece to prepare for the Olympics. We did get to take the fancy new bridge that connects the Peloponnese to the mainland. It's really beautiful and can handle a 2 metre sway during an earthquake! I did have to laugh because it's really such a short span. Probably a little longer than the High Level bridge in Edmonton. But it makes a huge difference because otherwise I think you had to take a ferry across. So we did get a little stop and walk around there.
We also passed through the construction region. I guess right around the Patra region, with the bridge, is where they have a lot of cement plants. I know Dad, it's concrete. But I still get a little laugh about it. They also have a lot of farmland. Obviously, they grow a lot of olives, but with joining the European Union they have started to grow more crops that are imported, such as corn, which we were told is a little bit of a novelty for the Greeks, as that has never been a traditional crop. But they can't do too much of farming because of the mountains. I think that only about 30% is usuable for farming and living.
Afterwards we continued East to Delphi. The sanctuary is perched on the top of Mount Parnassus. The area is so picturesque and lovely to just drive around. Of course to get there involved quite a few narrow switchbacks to get to the top. In a giant ass bus. These are the moments where you appreciate the skill of the driver. They also have a lot of tunnels built into the mountains. Because they aren't massive mountains like at home they can go through narrower parts with the tunnels. And they use them a lot.
It was a big day of hills. They felt that Delphi was so sacred that this is where the oracle was. She would pass out advice and such, but it mostly seems like she was an ancient version of a magic 8 ball! But the sanctuary was way way way up in the cliffs. Which made for a beautiful view but a difficult climb! We started out with the Temple of Apollo, which was the lowest down structure. There is a bit of it left, but not a lot. Then we climbed more for the Theatre of Apollo. I think that the view of the valleys below would have been distracting for the audience. At the very top of the hill was the stadium where they would have athletics almost like the olympics every 4 years. It was a big climb. But a few of us made it and it was worth the climb!
Afterwards we did lunch and another shopping stop. This time is was for rugs and such. 500 euro rugs. I'll pass thanks. But we had plenty of time to shop and the tour guide had to go explain everything to convince us to buy!
After that we stopped at the Athena sanctuary. This is ironically the image that is most often associated with Delphi yet it isn't actually the main attraction. It was downhill but once again, worth the trip.
The one lesson I am learning on group tours, not that this was ever an issue, is to keep my mouth shut. We have so many fellow travellers that don't know when to stop. I've heard diatribes on why were the British orphans sent to Australia? Because that is terrible. Or one fellow discussing his expensive persian rug, while he spit out his tobacco. Sometimes you don't have to get too in depth. Ask about others travel experience, we've all gone interesting places. Discuss things at home, ask about where people live. But avoid politics and religion. And apparently the oil sands. A few people have placed Edmonton based on that, and one fellow said something about not discussing that but if it is going to be a touchy subject lets drop it!
Tomorrow we are off to Meteora, where they have multiple monasteries up on tall rocks. I guess the one we even have to climb 120 stairs to get there! But it should be fascinating!
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