Delphi

Today we joined a tour group for an overnight trek to the interior of mainland Greece. Our tour bus is large and the group is small so the three of us all got a window seat.

In the distance, we could see Mt. Olympus - home of the gods.

We passed by the cities of Thebes, Levadia, and Arachova. Out the window on our right, we approached Mt. Pannasus. The locals are overjoyed at the snow in the mountains. It has been dry for the past few years and they need the water.

After much switch-backing we got to the village of Arachova.

We got through the skiers and wannabe skiers and continued on to Delphi.

The ancient city of Delphi was built at the bottom of a sheer rock face - part of Mt Parnassus. The walls of the city are all form-fitted.

I couldn't help but wonder how they got all the massive building materials up the mountain. Then the guide told us about 10,000 slaves who were freed after one of the gods told them to or something. The names of each slave was etched into the walls.

The ruins of the Temple of Apollo. It was here that the famous Oracle of Delphi (priestess Pythia) would foretell the future. (She was high on fumes because there was sulphur leaking into her room).

The treasury.

There was a whole row of stores where people were selling goods.

This is the navel of Gaia, mother of the Earth and defender of injustice. I like her. I don't know if her navel fell from the sky, pushed out through the earth or what. I don't think this is Middle Earth.

The serpent column

We climbed to the top of the ruins and, along the way, came across the amphitheatre that seated 5,000 spectators and hosted plays, poetry readings, and festivals.

At the very top is a stadium, that was used to host the Pythian Games - they were held every 4 years. Athletes from all over the Ancient Greek world would come to compete, and these games would become the predecessor to the modern Olympics.

I'll bet they were completely naked.

Down the road from Delphi, there is a monument to honour Leonidas, the King of Sparta. He went to war against the Persian army in 480 B.C. at the famous Battle of Thermopylae. They were only 300 men. (Think a ripped, half-naked Gerard Butler from "The 300"). You have to admire them for their bravery.

On the side of the road there were these two men selling local honey - fir honey. It's delicious and they were selling giant glass jars for only €10. I bought two jars.

At the end of the day, we landed in Kalabaka, it's a touristy town with a practically abandoned "old town" at the foot of the Meteora rocks. It would be a good spot if you were in the witness protection program.

After supper we wandered around to see what was up. Not much. It's a cute, little town though.