DELPHI and LAGKADIA
Our trip to Delphi was our first excursion into the countryside of the Peloponnese, and we were completely blown away! The land is so dramatic and beautiful and wild here. We had seen so many images of the Greek Isles, but we had no idea just how rugged and mountainous the landscape of the mainland was. We had a short drive before we arrived in our destination, the ancient and mystical city of Delphi. We couldn't wait to explore!
Day 3: Delphi
Our first order of business after piling off the bus into our quaint hotel on a main street in Delphi was food. Most of the group ended up at a tiny gyros shop across the street where we had a delicious and inexpensive meal. Then David and I headed out to check out the amazing view this hilltop town had to offer.
I feel everyone will tire of my superlatives, but this was a very superlative-y trip. The views from the town in Delphi are just breathtaking. We had a stunning clear day and we could see for miles into the valley, see the sparkling lakes surrounded by mountains. We wandered the streets, checked out a beautiful Greek Orthodox church, and just soaked in the wonder. It wasn't long before it was time to meet up with our group for our guided tour of the museum and historic site of Delphi.
Our group stopped first at the Archeological Museum of Delphi, where we had a wonderful tour of the most important artifacts. This museum contained a collection of items found when Delphi was being excavated, and it was fascinating. Our local guide, Penny, for this stop was passionate and highly educated in her subject matter, and with her words she painted a picture of us of what life would have been like when Delphi was in use. We really love how Rick Steves' manages to recruit the brightest and most passionate guides around. They weave these incredible tales that bring history to life! I would have paid much closer attention to history in school with teachers like this!
The views at Delphi can't be beat. It is easy to understand as you stand here on the edge of a beautiful, mountainous valley why this place held so much magic for the ancient Greeks. What an amazing pinnacle to a pilgrimage to see the famous oracle! Our guides had us arriving at the site in the evening, just when the crowds were gone and the lighting was soft and beautiful. Our group was able to wander through the ruins at our leisure, enjoying the peace and soaking in the magnitude of the site. It was perfect.
Day 4: Lagkadia
After our restful night in Delphi (and a delicious meal cooked for us by the hotel), we hit the road again for some more thrilling turns through gorgeous, mountainous countryside stretching out under blue skies. It was truly a feast for this photography-lover's eyes. We traded our bus for a train that took us through rock walls and caves and past waterfalls to the small town of Kalavryta.
Although set in a beautiful backdrop, Kalavryta has a chilling claim to fame. In 1943 German soldiers were ordered to kill every male in the town. 696 men were massacred that day, with only 13 surviving. We toured the local school house where the villagers had been ordered to meet and the men were captured. It has been turned into a museum/memorial to the victims. The church in the center of town has two clock towers, one that has the current time and one that is perpetually set at the time of the massacre.
After our sobering village visit, we had a peaceful lunch at a roadside restaurant that was nestled into the trees alongside a creek. We had fresh fish and delicious salads as we watched the goats wander by. Our bus driver, Costas, was kind enough to help me filet my fish, as I had never had fish served with skin and eyes before. He thought it was nuts that Americans are willing to eat a fish without skin and eyes, because then how do you know what you are eating and how fresh it is? Valid points!
We arrived in the afternoon to Lagkadia, a tiny little village. The views from this area were once again gorgeous, with wildflowers carpeting the cliffs and the rambshackle houses clinging to the side of the mountain. David and I went for a walk to take some photos of the beautiful old buildings and the mountains. There were a few tiny local shops that sold handmade crafts, soaps and herbs, and many of us did our souvenir shopping here in the hopes of leaving something behind to boost the local economy. We had dinner together in our hotel and then sat on our balcony and listened to the rain we got in the evening falling on the streets outside our window.
