Vouzas Hotel Delphi

... br>After a conducted brief break we had a walk through the area of the site that was open for viewing and gained some impression of what it must have looked like all those centuries ago. Our access to the higher part of the archaeological site was barred because of possible rock falls but we obtained great views down the valley to the athletic track and also up the sheer sides of Mount Parnassus. The ochre colour was ubiquitous in the countryside and the ...

<br>Day... (Giving up on this - no longer accurate as have failed to count no. of days spent some places!)<br><br>So nice, we decide to spend another day here. Lyn wants to go and look around the town, and I am keen to get my boots on and do a bit of proper walking. It's a fine day and there is a short-ish trek up to the Throne of Apollo up behind the town.<br>I set off in fine fettle: excellent path ...

... Ruins of Temple of Apollo even more striking. The natural landscape alone is breathtaking: 8,000 years of recorded history inflates the impression manyfold. The things they assembled here, with their technology &amp; transportation, just beggar belief!<br>A glass of chilled retsina to watch the precious sun go down prompts reflection on the many centuries of human (and otherwordly) strife and struggle in this magical land. <br> Have really arrived, at last!<br>

... hours ago there was no answer at all. Everyone was out helping. The last 45 minutes we are told to wait, and wait.<br><br>Yianni asks a friend of ours to check on the house. He is driving there now to see and call us back. We are in agony. I hope to hear good news though!<br><br>We don't know much of what is happening, and my daughter and son keep calling us ...

... with good descriptions of each object and interesting photos of the excavation processes.<br><br> <br><br> <br><br>

... As we drove through the small town of Arachova it was apparent that around four inches of snow had fallen in a short period of time. Arachova is a ski resort city as well as a charming little town with many restaurants and shops on the side of this large mountain. The town was so busy with skiers and tourists it took almost an hour to drive ...

... to Athens in the evening. We met up with Rebecca once more, and went to a restaurant with an amazing tasting menu. Along with providing us with wine and dessert, the restaurant made us choose 10 traditional greek dishes to sampl, from spicy cheese to smoked fish. I love the way local food gives you a glimpse into the culture - everything was so delicious, and it made me feel like I was experiencing a little more of Greece. (Nov. 11 Update: new photos!)

... Imagine our surprise when we walked out onto the streets and within moments, we were greeted with the magestic ancient Athenian Acropolis site with the Parthenon temple just ahead on the horizon. It was so beautiful! Also to our surprise, we discovered many other ancient ruins scattered about throughout the city, just peppering the cityscape! After a bit of photo taking and strolling about, we sat down for a small meal, then headed ...

... and the work of removing many hundreds of years of scree and detritus began, eventually revealing this most magical, and perhaps most spiritual of Greek antiquities. Night was falling as we exited the site. <br> <br> We began the following day with a visit to the Museum that was built to house and display the treasures found in Delphi. These artifacts are presented in a manner that suggest great sensitivity and respect for their importance on the world stage.

... Sophocles and the story of Oedipus. Wild, crazy stuff. The ruins are pretty good as far as ruins go. I'm sure there are still things yet to be found, but it's a pretty impressive sight. One of the treasuries has been restored and I can only imagine how much treasure was stored in them. The museum houses many magnificent statues and sculptures. One of my favorites was the Sphinx - which is tied closely to the oracle through Oedipus. There ...