Greece 2014
Day 1, 10 October - Friday
Greece is a very special place. I first visited Greece in 2002 toward the end of the three-month grand tour. I subsequently visited Greece in 2009 (over 24 days!) in my new car. There is so much to see here -- it needs many visits.
Day 2, 11 October - Saturday
During my 2002 Grand Tour, I arrived in Athens shortly before it was closed for renovation in preparation for the 2004 Olympic Games to be hosted by Athens. I was tres disappointed. Finally, I have made it!
My name in Mycenaean Linear B script:
Day 3, 12 October - Sunday
Started the day early to avoid the Sea Of Humanity that crowds the Acropolis (“high city”) by mid-day. Afterwards, I visited the nice new Acropolis museum, just to the south of the Acropolis.
Day 4, 13 October - Monday
Delphi is a very special place, set on the side of a mountain overlooking a valley of olive tress, and overlooked by a craggy mountain. My first visit to Delphi was in 2002 but a revisit cannot be missed.
Day 5, 14 October - Tuesday
Mycenae was the leading state of the Mycenaean civilization, which spanned from 1600 BC to 1100BC. All the gold at the entry to the National Archeological Museum comes from Mycenae, “rich in gold”.
Day 6, 15 October - Wednesday
My longer-term plans for this trip is an extended stay at Monemvasia. Atop its plateau are the ruins of a Byzantine fortress city, and the lower town is a still-inhabited Byzantine fortress city!
Day 7, 16 October - Wednesday
During my three-month tour back in 2009, I visited Monemvasia. But at the end of my long trip and having seen so many ancient sites (and being more than a little footsore), I skipped the nearby Epidaurus Limera. With Pausanias’ description in hand, I visited today.
Day 8, 17 October - Thursday
Pausanias writes: “About two stades to the right [of Epidarus Limera] is the water of Ino, as it is called, in extent like a small lake, but going deeper into the earth. Into this water they throw cakes of barley meal at the festival of Ino.”
Day 9 Saturday 18 October 2014
Pausanias writes: “A hundred stades from Epidaurus is Zarax; though possessing a good harbour, it is the most ruinous of the towns of Free Laconians... There is nothing in Zarax except a temple of Apollo, with a statue holding a lyre, at the end of the harbour.”
Day 10 Sunday 19 October 2014
Today is very windy. I visited the waterside to sheck it out, then visited the Lower Town. On the plateau of Monemvasia there used to be an Upper Town, but it hasn’t been inhabited in over a hundred years.
Day 13 Wednesday 22 October
it would take a very extended stay to truly take it all in
Day 14 Thursday 23 October 2014
A light day... napping at the beach... collected pretty pebbles in the surf... tested packing (it just about all fit! even with souvenirs)... and a revisit to the sea gate at the end of the day
Day 15 Friday 24 October 2014
My time at Monemvasia has been wonderful, but it is time to start heading back
Day 16 Saturday 25 October 2014
I am going to miss my time in Greece. It is a very special place. If you want a place where you can relax, go to Greece. If you want a place with rugged natural beauty, go to Greece. And if you want to visit a treasure of ancient history, Greece is definitely the place to go!
