This spring we’re heading back to Europe, but this time we’re heading to a place we’ve not visited before – Greece.
We’re going to do our exploring as part of a group tour with Globus. Even better, several of my siblings are going to be joining us. So, let me give you a high level view of our adventure.
[Okay… this is obviously a work in progress…]
Athens
Sightseeing – we’re planning on the Acropolis, the Parthenon, the Erechtheum and the Temple of Athena Nike. My high school english teachers would be impressed that I remember that Socrates held school, or court in Athens (Theseum)… maybe it would be my history teacher…? The first of the modern Olympic Games was held in Athens (not Olympia), and we hope to see that stadium from the 19th century.
Mycenae
One of the major centers of Greek civilization, Mycenae was a military stronghold that dominated much of southern Greece. The period of Greek history from ~1600 BC to ~1100 BC is called Mycenaean in reference to Mycenae. Peaking in 1350 BC, the citadel and lower town had a population of 30,000.
Nearby Corinth derives its name from the ancient city-state of Corinth. Homer’s writings describe this area.
Olympia
An archaeological site on the Peloponnese peninsula, Olympia was a major Panhellenic religious sanctuary of ancient Greece, where the ancient Olympic Games were held. The site was primarily dedicated to Zeus. Having done some research, I’ve found that it’s nowhere near Mount Olympus (Northern Greece), where the Twelve Olympians were believed to live. On the other hand, the Olympic Games were held here every four years from the 8th century BC to the 4th century AD. In addition to the Olympics area, we’re hoping to visit the temples of Hera and Zeus. (Even though we all know he lived on Mt Olympus…)
Delphi
The archeological excavations of the Oracal of Dephi are obviously located here. (Not to be confused with the cookie baking Oeacal in the Matrix…) In addition to several museums and sites, we’re getting a dance lesson where we’ll learn how to dance the sirtaki just like Zorba the Greek. I’m gonna need a couple of glasses of Ouzo.
Meteora
This is a place of more recent history. Monks and hermits have been finding refuge in this unique rock formation for more than a thousand years. Six Eastern Orthodox monasteries—some dating back to the 14th century—remain in place, still home to a small number of monks and nuns. Meteora is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I’ll be sure to have my camera ready.
Thermopyale
‘The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states, led by King Leonidas of Sparta, and the Persian Empire of Xerxes I over the course of three days, during the second Persian invasion of Greece.‘ Okay, that’s what the Interenet says. I think that’s the ‘Battle of the 300’,… not 100% sure. South of here is Marathon, the site of another famous battle. When we visit this area I’m sure we’ll be talking of the historical events that took place here.