Delphi Day Trip

Yesterday was our weekend excursion to Delphi, a rich archaeological site in the heart of mainland Greece. We departed early by bus, stopped for coffee, then made our way to the ancient site at Delphi rather than the modern town. Even though there were some reconstructed bits, the site as a whole felt relatively authentic compared to others in Athens that I have previously complained about. Seeing the ruined treasury buildings, monuments, temples, theater and stadium transported me back in time just like a good site should. My imagination was alive as I wandered among scattered stones with ancient inscriptions. I could feel what the ancient travelers must have felt as they waited in long lines to consult the Oracle. I dipped my hands in the waters that fed a spring where people would have had to cleanse themselves prior to ascending to the Temple of Apollo. I stood in the theater and could see the stands full of faces staring down at me as I performed a Greek tragedy. I gazed on the stadium and heard the cheers as runners streaked across the empty space toward the finish line. The experience wasn't intense to the point of being overwhelming, but I could feel the history of the space as I moved through it.

 The Treasury of the Athenians, restored of course

 The theater at Delphi

 The Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle would have been

The stadium, for athletic games

After the trip to Delphi, which ended with a quick 15 minute stop at the very nice museum, we made our way to the mountain town of Arachova (might be horribly misspelled, sorry!) for lunch. We ordered in the Greek style, with little plates of everything for the table to share. The feeding frenzy lasted for close to an hour, with delicious local meats and cheeses disappearing as fast as the servers could serve them. While I felt glued to my chair afterwards, most of the others walked the town and can attest to its beauty and charm. Our final destination after lunch was an especially beautiful monastery at Osios Loucas. The views were captivating...

 The church was the domed building

 A bell tower and the entrance to the grounds

 View from a bench in the courtyard

The valley was spread out beneath us

After a long 12 hour day, we made it back to Athens in one piece. I would say that our Delphi day trip was a success. We were immersed in ancient history, experienced a pretty little vacation town in the mountains, and learned a thing or two about Greek orthodoxy while drinking in the views at the monastery. It was a fun experience I won't soon forget.