7/1 - Delphi and the Temple to Apollo

Athens still feels a little threatening and the international news suggests a violent and disorderly protest, though that is not what we observe, but we nevertheless decide to get out of town. We secure front seats on the bus tour to Delphi and love the ride. Photos ofthe drive are here.

We're amazed at how rocky and mountainous the country is and can hardly imagine how it sustains sufficient agriculture to support its population. It obviously has managed to do so for many centuries, perhaps with greater trade with neighbors than we have imagined.

We tour the site, have a perfectly adequate lunch at a small, roadside resort, but realize how spoiled we have become by the fabulous excursions and tourguides we so enjoyed on the cruise.

The Treasury of the Athenians

During the Mycenaean Period, the female deity of Earth was worshiped in the small settlement of Delphi. The development of the sanctuary and oracle started in the beginning of the 8th century B.C with the establishment of the cult of Apollo. People from all over the Mediterranean would come to the oracle of Delphi to ask for advice from the priestess Pythia. Although many other oracles developed in Greece, this was considered the most accurate of them all.

Delphi and Apollo's temple were enriching and we learn that the oracles were women, high on various things that are no doubt illegal now, but whose visions were invariably "interpreted" by men. Photos of the small museum, temple and theater are here.

In contrast to our tourguides on the cruise tours, this guide understands that we need to sleep on the way back and is silent for the return trip. And doze, we do.

Back in Athens, the protesters are still milling about, but in a friendly way, so we feel comfortable walking around Syntagma from the drop-off point of the bus to our hotel. We wander in the Plaka looking for souvenirs and for a quiet place to dine. We find a lovely little outdoor place to eat and think we might actually be getting real Greek food for the first time. It's delicious!