Jan/Feb winter days. Time for tourism.
We had SHORT winter here...some would not call it winter at all. But for Athens, it is. I was not swimming meantime, so it means it WAS winter :-D .
Accordingly, not so many activities, but some, anyway. We were visiting what is to visit in Athens and a bit around. Athens part I will give separately, here is 'around'.
Except of Maratonas beach, which is long sandy bay, a bit south, also on Aegean coast, is Vravrona. Here is tipical landscape in this part of Attica.
Most southern port of Attica peninsula (on which Athens city is) is Cape Sounion, with the beautiful temple of Poseidon. The most appropriate place for it! View from this place is magnificent, when you come to Athens, be sure to be here around sunset! This is also the orienting point for the ships far in the Mediterranean since hundreds of years. Really nice place!
We observed Epiphany day customs in Loutsa - small point above people in the midle of the pic is CROSS thrown to the sea by the priest. Boys around are to jump in the sea and catch it. And give back to the priest, sure! The biggest such event is in Piraeus, but we heard it is impossible to see anything there, because of the crowd, so we searched for some smaller town. Loutsa was a good choice. The one who catches the cross will have luck or so, in any case he gets applause-and probably a shot in the local newspaper. One observation...priest was throwing the cross for three times. Wrong boy catched the cross or what?, ha-ha!
In front of the church people were taking (sacred) water from the tank.
Driving south from Loutsa, just in front of Vravrona (ancient Brauron) is this place with really ancient aire...it is Artemis. Young girls, if born after the prayings of their mothers who could not have children, to Artemis, were priestesses here. The most famous one is Iphigeneia, Agamemnons daughter, who was one of the children here, and here is her (said) tomb. Really a touch of History. Rarely inspiring place, as it is completely out of the touristic path.
As I said, there was some winter, for the 2nd time in last 60 (!) years snow remained for more than one day (TWO days, ha-ha), kids had fun.
When I go to work, I often wait for the bus at the Mesogeion/Katehaki crossing, where (probably for the Olympics 2004) some architect did a good job with this harph. I like it! Good architecture!
Ania and Antek needed MORE snow, so they went some 150 km north-west, skiing resort of Athens (the other one is Parnassos) at Kalvrita mountain. I do not miss snow. At all.
Accordingly, not so many activities, but some, anyway. We were visiting what is to visit in Athens and a bit around. Athens part I will give separately, here is 'around'.
Except of Maratonas beach, which is long sandy bay, a bit south, also on Aegean coast, is Vravrona. Here is tipical landscape in this part of Attica.
Most southern port of Attica peninsula (on which Athens city is) is Cape Sounion, with the beautiful temple of Poseidon. The most appropriate place for it! View from this place is magnificent, when you come to Athens, be sure to be here around sunset! This is also the orienting point for the ships far in the Mediterranean since hundreds of years. Really nice place!
We observed Epiphany day customs in Loutsa - small point above people in the midle of the pic is CROSS thrown to the sea by the priest. Boys around are to jump in the sea and catch it. And give back to the priest, sure! The biggest such event is in Piraeus, but we heard it is impossible to see anything there, because of the crowd, so we searched for some smaller town. Loutsa was a good choice. The one who catches the cross will have luck or so, in any case he gets applause-and probably a shot in the local newspaper. One observation...priest was throwing the cross for three times. Wrong boy catched the cross or what?, ha-ha!
In front of the church people were taking (sacred) water from the tank.
Driving south from Loutsa, just in front of Vravrona (ancient Brauron) is this place with really ancient aire...it is Artemis. Young girls, if born after the prayings of their mothers who could not have children, to Artemis, were priestesses here. The most famous one is Iphigeneia, Agamemnons daughter, who was one of the children here, and here is her (said) tomb. Really a touch of History. Rarely inspiring place, as it is completely out of the touristic path.
As I said, there was some winter, for the 2nd time in last 60 (!) years snow remained for more than one day (TWO days, ha-ha), kids had fun.
When I go to work, I often wait for the bus at the Mesogeion/Katehaki crossing, where (probably for the Olympics 2004) some architect did a good job with this harph. I like it! Good architecture!
Ania and Antek needed MORE snow, so they went some 150 km north-west, skiing resort of Athens (the other one is Parnassos) at Kalvrita mountain. I do not miss snow. At all.
posted by mikidkolan | 9:18 AM
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