Greece finished, Odysseus goes home: Delphi
My last week in Greece as a resident. Next week I start my new position in Hsinchu, Taiwan. Sweet(ie)s at the end, I have two beautiful ladies as guests, and they convinced me I should go with them and see Delphi. Some 180km bus drive from Athens, good tour for a pleasant weekend. And...it makes sense to go and ask Pythia about some future before you change worlds, no?
We started 10:30 from bus station at Liosion, and after leaving Attica and M75 in Thiva (=ancient Thebe), bus stopped, before climbing up Parnassos, in Livadia. It is a magnificent walley behind the mountains above Corinthos.
We passed ominous crossroad where Edypus met (and killed) his father, and via Arahova we reached Delphi, small town at the slope of Parnassos, with good view to one small part of the Bay of Corinthos. At the horizon was Kalavrita or some close by mountain at Peloponessus, and views were breath-taking.
A pity Pitia was not there, as I would maybe have some questions...anyway, we did our best to be good tourists and attacked The Site at once. It showed to be proper choice, as we had sunny and warm weather, in difference to snowy and cold next day, sunday.
Ancient Delphy. Because of magnificence of mountains around, somewhat less exposed, I would say, than Acropolis in Athens or so. But anyway worth its fame.
My favorite was remainings of Tholos, below the actual Site, a bit after the source of C... (which was closed for visitors, because of danger-fallingstones).
Tholos was a round structure, of unknown purpose. Strange one there, really, and I noticed itatonce when approaching the sanctuary, as it is still the most eye-catching detail at the slope ofthe hill below the Apollo temple.
View from our hotel-Parnassos-was stunning piece of sea and mountains. The canyon below Delphy is not easy to catch in the pic, although it is a large one, because ofthe masiveness of the surrounding mountains. In good light it surfaces as large natural exit towards the Corinthos. Would be interesting to bike around! In some next life.
Next day we took a walk towards the Gymnasium and Tolos. Unique sights.
Afternoon, we took bus back to Athens, with 2 hour stop in Arahova. This seems to be Greek Madonna di Campiglio or Kranjska Gora or Zakopane. Mountain village, highly turistic today. Ski lifts are at the northern slopes of Parnassos, says Lonely Planet, we did not see any from southern side. There was some snow, blowed by the wind, but fortunately anything like usual in winter. I do not miss it at all :-).
Back in Athens we found rainy and cold (5 cels) weather, but already next day sun also showed. I like winter in Athens, I will miss it, oranges around and really the best winters I had in my life, what considers weather. But...climate is not everything you need for living, so I have to go on. Next weekend I will be in Taiwan :-).
Follow me on mikidtaiwan blog further, the Greek one seems to be finished. Greece is magnificent country. Balkan mentality, yes. Not so good :-D. Good food? Depends. If you happen to love cheese, olives and fresh vegetables, then yes. Athens, as a 5.5 millions city is really most liveable place I tried until now. My big thanks to everyone who made this time possible!
We started 10:30 from bus station at Liosion, and after leaving Attica and M75 in Thiva (=ancient Thebe), bus stopped, before climbing up Parnassos, in Livadia. It is a magnificent walley behind the mountains above Corinthos.
We passed ominous crossroad where Edypus met (and killed) his father, and via Arahova we reached Delphi, small town at the slope of Parnassos, with good view to one small part of the Bay of Corinthos. At the horizon was Kalavrita or some close by mountain at Peloponessus, and views were breath-taking.
A pity Pitia was not there, as I would maybe have some questions...anyway, we did our best to be good tourists and attacked The Site at once. It showed to be proper choice, as we had sunny and warm weather, in difference to snowy and cold next day, sunday.
Ancient Delphy. Because of magnificence of mountains around, somewhat less exposed, I would say, than Acropolis in Athens or so. But anyway worth its fame.
My favorite was remainings of Tholos, below the actual Site, a bit after the source of C... (which was closed for visitors, because of danger-fallingstones).
Tholos was a round structure, of unknown purpose. Strange one there, really, and I noticed itatonce when approaching the sanctuary, as it is still the most eye-catching detail at the slope ofthe hill below the Apollo temple.
View from our hotel-Parnassos-was stunning piece of sea and mountains. The canyon below Delphy is not easy to catch in the pic, although it is a large one, because ofthe masiveness of the surrounding mountains. In good light it surfaces as large natural exit towards the Corinthos. Would be interesting to bike around! In some next life.
Next day we took a walk towards the Gymnasium and Tolos. Unique sights.
Afternoon, we took bus back to Athens, with 2 hour stop in Arahova. This seems to be Greek Madonna di Campiglio or Kranjska Gora or Zakopane. Mountain village, highly turistic today. Ski lifts are at the northern slopes of Parnassos, says Lonely Planet, we did not see any from southern side. There was some snow, blowed by the wind, but fortunately anything like usual in winter. I do not miss it at all :-).
Back in Athens we found rainy and cold (5 cels) weather, but already next day sun also showed. I like winter in Athens, I will miss it, oranges around and really the best winters I had in my life, what considers weather. But...climate is not everything you need for living, so I have to go on. Next weekend I will be in Taiwan :-).
Follow me on mikidtaiwan blog further, the Greek one seems to be finished. Greece is magnificent country. Balkan mentality, yes. Not so good :-D. Good food? Depends. If you happen to love cheese, olives and fresh vegetables, then yes. Athens, as a 5.5 millions city is really most liveable place I tried until now. My big thanks to everyone who made this time possible!
posted by mikidkolan | 6:39 AM
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