Greece
Sun, swim, climb, ruins, Athens from the roof top, monasteries, relax, Eamon’s friends…
Greece was a pleasant surprise that we will all remember.
(We are now on an overnight Ferry to Bari, Italy. The boys are curled up in sleeping bags on the floor.)
Zion wanted from our Euro trip to be able to climb Mount Olympus so, after a comfortable night’s sleep and a morning at the beach in Paralia, we drove to the old town of Litochoro and went on our 24hr adventure.
Plans to stay with a Couchsurfing family near Thessaloniki for 2 nights were challenged by a non functioning computer. We spent a few hours drawing on all resources to finally navigate our way to their home at 10pm. After some fig preserves and a chat we had a much needed sleep. For Breakfast we were served bread, fig jam, tomatoes, and olives all prepared by our hosts. The day consisted of computer repairs, a swim in the sea (a low key local beach), and an evening walk by the pier. Our bodies were so sore and exhausted from the climb (all but Eamon’s!).
At Refuge A, on Mount Olympus, Eamon had made some friends. He was completely taken by this couple who loved him back and invited us to their home in Litochoro (at the base of Mount Olympus). He held their phone number closely and reminded us (frequently) that he wanted to go and visit – We were all so happy to be welcomed into their home for Frappe (iced coffee) and a meal. We sat on the balcony and got to visit while enjoying the area’s first rain since June. The thunder and lightning was impressive. A very special afternoon.
We then drove to Meteora where the earth changed dramatically and tall rock formations were adorned by monasteries. We visited one inside and the others we drove by, walked to, and gasped in awe.
We went to Athens and found a reasonable price at the Novotel Hotel (after driving and asking at many places). (Did you know that ½ of Greece’s population lives in Athens?) Our 2 nights at the Novotel was a vacation from a vacation. This was the most remarkable relaxing 2 days spent lounging about and playing in the roof top pool. We even treated ourselves to evening martinis snuggled on the couches with a lit up view of the Parthenon. I walked the city in search for a new dress. It wasn’t until we checked out of the hotel that we as a family toured the old city and the new Acropolis Museum. Notice the picture of the boys and I in the museum and Eamon is trying to keep from crying – for 1 hour he was distraught about why the people who lived here long ago had to die. We took the metro back to our hotel to pick up the car and snuck back up to the pool for another swim before leaving the city.
Some archeological sights that we took in over the next 2 days included Mycenae (with the lion’s gate and Agamemnon’s grave) significant to the story of Troy as this was the city of the Greeks who fought the Trojan war. Spectacular at sunset. And, the Theatre of Epidaurus – site of an early healing centre and one of the best preserved theatres. It was fun to explore the acoustics and find that, sitting on the top step, one could hear the footsteps of the performers down in the centre circle. Elmir laid on one of the top stairs in the shade contemplating the life of the Greeks who sat here many centuries ago, the children played with 2 kittens, and I wandered.
Rather then seeing more sites (we had planned to fit in Olympia – site of the first Olympics) we decided to go camping by the sea in a beach town called Tolo. The water was clear and the sand was smooth. The children made mud and olive soup while Elmir hand washed a sleeping bag wearing a playmobil bag apron. The second morning Zion rented a paddle boat with a water slide built on – so much fun!
Greece really does inspire one to relax. Things were simple here.
