Greece: Stewed in History, Drenched in Olive Oil

In the past month, we've visited tons of well-preserved antiquities; I'm impressed that ruins have stood the test of time. Greece makes our country looks so young and naive in comparison.

I've attended lectures on history, healthcare, and education. I tried tasty foods and adjusted my eating times to have late dinners like the Greeks. Restaurant portions, I've learned, are generous because Greeks love to share. Men clamor for you to test their olive lotions, while others want to teach you how to swing worry beads correctly.

All the Greeks we've met have a fierce pride in their country. This was evident from the number of political demonstrations our first week in Athens, when elections were held. They love the landscape: fertile hills, goat-cluttered mountains, and turquoise oceans. For these reasons, and many more, I thank Greece for all it has shared.
Poli Efharisto

Delphi

On Thursday we visited the site of the oracle at Delphi, where ancient Greeks would come to ask questions about their lives. The prophet, a human 8-ball of sorts, would give cryptic answers because she was somewhat stoned. Pictured above is the temple of Zeus, the building where the prophetess would have been.

Ancient Olympics

We visited Olympia to see the site where the Olympic games were first held.

(above) At the far right of this photo is the entrance to the Olympic stadium, where races were held. These stone pedestals lining the stone wall are like a wall of shame. The penalty for cheating, in the early days of the Olympics, was to erect a statue of Zeus and have your name carved into the base so everyone would know you were a cheater. The public humiliation was designed so that you would disappoint your family, friends and entire community.

(above) Some of my group tested the Olympic stadium with a quick sprinting race. My favorite thing we learned was that the first Olympiads (all men) competed naked, slicked up with olive oil.

Napflion

We took a hydrofoil to Piraeus Port of Athens.

(above) The view from Palamidi fortress in Napflion.

(above) The shops in Napflion.

Ancient Epidaurus

(above) This dude is Asclepius, a healer god. He is often pictured with snakes, which is where the caduceus insignia for doctors comes from.

(above) In the center of this photo, Phil is testing the acoustics at the theatre at Epidaurus.
This is one part of the sanctuary of Asclepious. Our guide explained that this theatre held approximately 12,000 spectators.

Santorini

(above) I tasted wine at a wine museum.

Santorini was a lot more touristy than I expected. A lot of the shopkeepers aren't even Greek! They gave us strange looks when we said Thank You in Greek after making a purchase.

(above) Donkeys wait tired in the hot sun. People run them to avoid climbing the endless steps on the island.

(above) My first falafel! I got falafel balls, with tzaztiki sauce and salad.

(above) We hiked over the caldera, meaning cauldron, formed from volcanic eruptions.

(above) The sunset in Oia (pronounced Eee-yah)

The hills are aliiiiiive...

By now, we're used to being on buses. Today's bus ride, however, was a whole new experience. We zigzagged through the mountains, driving at the edge of cliffs on roads barely wide enough for two vehicles. I watched out my window, holding my breath the entire time. I imagined the bus driving off the edge, spiraling end over end, with all of us plunging to our deaths. I wondered who would find us out here and when people would begin to worry. Only after I assured myself that the bus driver had probably driven the route dozens of times was I able to enjoy the scenery.

And what scenery it was. I knew there were mountains in Greece, but until today I didn't fully comprehend how vast and gigantic the mountains are and how terrifyingly low the gorges seem from higher points. Driving across Crete reminds me of The Sound Of Music. The endless mountains, the clear blue sky, and goats frolicking everywhere. At one point (seen below) we had to stop the bus for a passing herd of goats.