The Glamours of Greece
After a stressful arrival in Athens, we could finally enjoy the ancient treasures the mainland offers. From the ancient ruins of the Parthenon to the medieval monasteries that sat level with the sky in Meteora, it felt as if the world was our oyster.
We start our first mainland experience with Athens. A city that dates back to 3000-4000 BC that shared many inhabitants. The Parthenon was in our sights, but not before we enriched ourselves with the vast collection of artifacts the Acropolis Museum had to offer. It was amazing! The attention to detail was not only a testament to the skilled craftsmanship of their day but also to the archeologists and historians who were able to uncover and maintain their extremely well-kept condition. I could go on and on about the beauties of Athens, but this blog would never end.
Complementing the Museum, was the Parthenon. A beauty to behold up close. You could tell in it’s day that it was a colossal monument that towered over the rest of Athens. Unfortunately, for those who didn’t know, the Parthenon was heavily damaged during The Siege of the Acropolis where the Turks stored gunpowder in the Parthenon, expecting their opponents, the Venetians, to never strike such a feat of human brilliance. They were wrong. Nonetheless, it remains an astonishing part of human history.
To add to Greece’s beauty is Meteora. Not as old as the Parthenon, Meteroa and her Monasteries were another gobsmacking feat of human brilliance. Built-in the 11th century AD, the Monasteries sit on a cluster of clifts within the region that felt impossible to achieve for its time. For me, it was interesting to see such holy buildings. Being from a mostly secular society in Australia, it certainly was a culture shock to see the devotion towards religion. Distinctively, there was a room full of portraits. Faces I never laid eyes upon, and I still don’t know who they were as I am unfamiliar with the Greek Orthodox hierarchy. Plenty of people kissed these paintings, which I should mention were behind glass. I stood there for about 5-10 minutes observing how many people did this. More than I have fingers my conclusion was. In a time of post covid, it interested me to see the lack of hygiene practiced in these places of worship. However, you may argue that my naivety is showing and there is more to it than meets the eye. Who am I to judge?
So onto the next place! Delphi. A place considered the ‘Centre of the World’ by the ancient Greeks was more than just ruins, but a natural beauty in itself. It really felt like a god of some sort was overlooking this beautiful land, as it felt a place of harmony and peace. To help the feel, we all shared Baklava advertised as homemade from a local shop. Needless to say, it was bloody good! We only had a night in Delphi, but I will always remember watching Eurovision there! All 4 of us into one bed with our snacks, watching Eurovision in the centre of the world, in Greece. I couldn’t ask for much better.
The night ended and the sun rose. One of Greece’s ancient and modern creations was waiting for us. Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympics! Another one of Greece’s beautiful places filled with friendly locals, outstanding natural beauty, and most importantly, the cheapest Gyros we had so far at 3 Euros (5 AUD). However, we were there for the Site of Olympia. I believe it to be one of the best sites so far in terms of what remains on its original ground. It was FILLED with collapsed and standing pillars that once held the temples and houses that protected the ancient Greeks. With the help of information stands at each building, it was easy to imagine how daily life played out in 776 BC (the first ever Olympics). Additionally, the museum on a hill next to the site was fantastic and helped us understand the cultural importance of such an event, and how it progressed over time, regarding women’s right to enter, and the reignition of the flame in the 1896 Athens Olympics, after it collapsed in 393 AD by Christian emperor Theodosius I for declaring it a pagan cult.
I could go on and on about these Greek adventures, however, it would not be fair to disclose everything! Greece without a doubt is a place worth visiting in every aspect. You couldn’t find a more diverse destination for a holiday… okay maybe Italy comes close, but you would be doing yourself a disservice if you were to visit the Mediterranean and not go to Greece!
For now, the adventure continues. A little town called Istanbul awaits us…