Greece 2016, Inland and Islands

In the fall of 2016 Ron and Carol spent two weeks in Greece getting to visit inland sites and two islands.

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The trip included 4 nights in Athens, 4 nights on the road, 3 nights in Santorini and 3 nights in Mykonos.

Washington DC – Smithsonian (back). As usual Ron and Carol did a museum before catching a red-eye to Heathrow, then Athens. Behind “The Castle” they found a quiet place to rest up. For details for this part of the trip see Carol's blog at https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/36812.html .

Athens – Royal Olympic Hotel. This was the breakfast view from the hotel. One supper also.

Athens – Royal Olympic Hotel. Same spot looking right. Temple of Olympian Zeus, begun in 6th century B.C. Ron and Carol toured this later. Lycabettus Hill is beyond the temple.

Ron and Carol had three full days in Athens. Day 1 would be a “walk around the rock”, the rock being The Acropolis. Day 2 would be a day trip out to Eleusis and Piraeus by city buses. Day 3 would be long day at National Archaeological Museum.

Athens – The Pnyx, a hill in central Athens. Beginning as early as 507 BC, the Athenian men gathered on the Pnyx for voting, thus making the hill one of the earliest and most important sites in the creation of democracy. Mars Hill and the Acropolis are in the background. For details on this part of the trip see https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/36866.html .

Athens – Areopagus Hill (Mars Hill). This hill once served as the high court of appeal for judicial cases in ancient Greece. Under Roman rule, Mars Hill remained an important meeting place where philosophy, religion, and law were discussed. Here Paul spoke to the Athenians about their “unknown God”. (Acts 17:22-31) (There were modern stairs to the left so they did not have to use the ancient ones.)

Athens – Ancient Agora. Here Carol confronts her agoraphobia. (Paul was here also, probably not so afraid.)

Athens – Ancient Agora. Temple of Hephaestus. Said to be best preserved ancient temple in Greece. Construction started in 449 BCE.

Athens – On the Sacred Way. The Ekklisia Agios Georgios (Church of St. George). Ever since Ron and Carol saw Michel Wood in “Travels: The Sacred Way”, they have wanted to travel the path. It took two buses. Ron chose the transfer point to be at this chapel, one of the places in the travel show. For details on this part of the trip see https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/37180.html .

Eleusis – Site of the Eleusinian Mysteries and the end of the Sacred Way. Here Carol stands at the cave that is said to be the gates to the underworld where Hades came up and took Persephone. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persephone .

Eleusis – Archaeological Museum of Eleusis. Fleeing Maiden, for the pediment of the Sacred House. 490-480 BCE. (About half-life size.)

Eleusis – On the Sacred Way. This time the Sacred Way leads only to the toilets and Coke machine. Back in the day, I’m sure you could buy mementos of your pilgrimage.

Piraeus – Archaeological Museum of Piraeus. Another long bus ride. Here is metal ram and eye ornament from a trireme. For details on this part of the trip see https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/37427.html .

Piraeus – Archaeological Museum of Piraeus. The Piraeus Apollo. 530-520 BCE. One of the several fine bronzes in the museum. (Larger than life size.)

Athens – National Archaeological Museum. Mummy of a snake from their extensive Egyptian collection. (Ron and Carol had only had a few hours at the museum in 2009.) For details on this part of the trip see https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/37700.html .

Athens – National Archaeological Museum. Statue of a flutist. (9in, 27cm) Early Cycladic, 2800-2300 BCE! Ron saw a copy in the museum shop but it was very expensive. He ran across one on one of the islands for less than half and had to buy it.

Athens – National Archaeological Museum. A Neolithic ‘Thinker.’ 4500-3000 BCE. The museum was installing the actual Rodin statue (inserted) next to this. (About 2 ft or 60cm tall.)

Athens – Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Ron and Carol happened to be there a night they were performing “Oedipus Rex”. A 2,500 year old play in a 2,000 year old theater! Subtitles in English.

Corinth – Next day Ron and Carol started their inland bus tour. First a quick stop the Corinth Canal. The bridges connect the Peloponnese with Attica (Athens). (We visited ancient Corinth in 2012 on a cruise ship.) For details on this part of the trip see https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/38307.html .

Mycenae – Hilltop stronghold. In the second millennium BC, Mycenae was one of the major centers of Greek civilization. It is said the war on Troy was planned here.

Mycenae – The famous Lion Gate. The missing heads were probably made of wood and gilded.

Mycenae – The ‘Treasury of Atreus.’ Actually a beehive tomb, also known as a tholos tomb. Constructed around 1250 BC. Ron and Carol saw parts of door columns in the Athens museum.

Olympia – Archaeological Site of Olympia. The Philippeion. Built by Philip II of Macedon (Alexander's father) in celebration of Philip's victory at the battle of Chaeronea (338 BC.) For details on this part of the trip see https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/38898.html .

Olympia – Archaeological Site of Olympia. The “tunnel” leading to the playing field. Ron’s favorite moment. (Note the arch. Romans were not the first to do this.)

Olympia – Olympia Archaeological Museum. Helmets of all types and ages.

Antirion – Rion-Antirion Bridge. Finished in 2004, it connects the Peloponnese with the mainland of Central Greece. Built with private funds and the tour bus cost €65 to cross.

Delphi – Athena Pronea Temple. Pronea means ‘before the temple.’ People coming to Delphi would stop at this beautiful temple first and give offerings before continuing up the hill to the main temple. (The circular section is called the Tholos of Delphi.) For details on this part of the trip see https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/38916.html .

Delphi – Temple of Apollo. An ancient sanctuary that was the seat of the oracle, consulted on important questions by people throughout the ancient classical world. (1400 BCE – 390 CE)

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphi .

Delphi – Delphi Archaeological Museum. The ‘Twins’ of Argos. 6th Cent BCE ”Archaic” style. (Life size.)

Delphi – Delphi Archaeological Museum. Delphi was considered to be the center of the world and therefore had a large stone navel.

Delphi – Delphi Archaeological Museum. The Charioteer. Stunning life size bronze that at one time included the chariot and horses.

Thermopylae – 20th Cent. memorial of Leonidas and the Spartan 300. A hill nearby contains their remains.

Meteora – One of 6 Eastern Orthodox monasteries listed as a World Heritage site, built on top of rock pillars. Seen in the movie “For Your Eyes Only.” For details on this part of the trip see https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/39404.html and https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/40117.html .

Fira (Thira), Santorini. The caldera full of ships. For details on this part of the trip see https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/40347.html and https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/40670.html .

Fira (Thira), Santorini. A view down to the old port with a modern cable car for swift transfer. Otherwise it is donkeys or on foot.

Ancient Akrotiri, Santorini. One of the most important prehistoric settlements of the Aegean. Like Pompeii, covered when the volcano erupted about 1627 BCE. Here, viewing the third stories of these houses.

Fira (Thira), Santorini (walking tour) – Museum of Prehistoric Thira. No bodies were found in Ancient Akrotiri so far, but plaster was poured in to the cavities of perishable items such as this wooden table. For details on this part of the trip see https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/40670.html .

Fira (Thira), Santorini – Museum of Prehistoric Thira. A touching grave tablet from the cemetery of ancient Thera. 3rd c. BCE.

Perissa beach, Santorini – Ron and Carol played in the black sand of this famous beach.

New Port, Mykonos. The ferry that transported Ron and Carol between islands.

Mykonos City. The view from Ron and Carol’s hotel room. Look the other way and it was a large car park—and the endless Aegean. For details on this part of the trip see https://carolbuckles.livejournal.com/40884.html .

Mykonos City. The windmills are an iconic feature of the island.

Delos Island – Lions' Terrace. Delos was a sacred religious center active between 900 BCE and 100 CE. The lions here are reproductions. The actual lions are in the nearby museum. One was abducted by Venetians. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delos .

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