Day 125 At Sea

Today was a pretty nice day at sea with a pretty fresh breeze.  Once we left the desert the temperature dropped like a rock.  Tomorrow we arrive into the port of Piraeus Greece.  I will be doing an overland tour with Holland America for 3 days and 2 nights.  Could be interesting, I lived here in the mid 70s and will be returning to paces I haven’t seen in over 35 years…..  A little memory lane….  Here is the description:

Day 1
Leave the ship immediately after breakfast for the drive from Athens to Metoera. Meteora is the largest and most important group of monasteries in Greece after those of Mount of Athos. The rock monasteries at Meteora are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meteora literally means “hovering in the air” and of course, perched atop their rocky spires, the monasteries do indeed seem to hover. What created the rare geological phenomenon of the spires is a mystery of nature. But as amazing as these giant rocks are, the buildings on top of them are perhaps even more astonishing. The area was originally settled by monks who lived in caves in the rocks during the 11th century. But as things became more unsure during times of Turkish occupation, theft and lawlessness, they climbed higher and higher up the rock face until they were living on the most inaccessible peaks. Here they built the first monasteries. There were no steps then, and the main access was by means of a net that was hitched over a hook and hoisted up by rope and a hand cranked windlass, to winch towers overhanging the chasm. The monks used the nets or retractable wooden ladders up to 130 feet long. In the 1920s roads, pathways and steps to the top were built. You will see examples of these nets, used today for bringing up provisions. Back in the days when these nets were the only way to get to the monasteries a nervous pilgrim asked his monk host if they ever replace the rope. “Of course we do” he replied. “Whenever it breaks!” Of the original 24 original monasteries, only six are still inhabited, and today you will visit two of them. There are many steps involved, but the views over the other monasteries and the landscape are dramatic and well worth the climb. Both ladies and gentlemen should be modestly dressed for these visits. Ladies must wear skirts covering their knees, no trousers; gentlemen should wear long trousers. Shoulders and midriffs must be covered. Departing from Meteora the tour will proceed to a typical Greek village where lunch will be served. You will stay overnight at the village of Kalambaka, in a four-star hotel. The evening is at leisure and you will find a choice of restaurants offering quintessential Greek food for dinner (at your own expense).

Day 2
After your breakfast you will depart for Delphi. Delphi was considered by the ancients to be the physical and spiritual center of the earth. This shrine of Apollo, set nearly 2,000 feet up on the slopes of Mount Parnassus, exerts a potent grip on the imagination of visitors. Apollo was the most respected oracle of antiquity. Even the most intelligent men—the very brightest in the brilliant civilization of Athens—believed implicitly in the responses of the god. These were given by the inspired priestess, the Pythia, and were interpreted, usually with an ambiguous touch, by the priests. Delphi grew fabulously rich with offerings, and though it has almost all disappeared now, you can admire the ruins and try to picture it as it was during its thousand-year heyday. You will see the Castalian Spring, in which the supplicant first purified himself; the Sacred Way, once lined with statues and treasures; the Grand Temple of Apollo, beneath which the Pythia sat; the theater with its excellent acoustics; and the well preserved stadium with the marble starting blocks in position. To complement the ancient ruins there is a panorama of incomparable grandeur. In the Delphi Museum you will see such treasures as the Omphalos, which marked the center of the world, and the magnificent bronze Charioteer, one of the finest pieces surviving from the fifth century BC. Enjoy lunch at a local village and stay overnight at the village of Delphi in a four star hotel, where you will have the evening free to purchase dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Day 3
Departing from Delphi after breakfast, you will take the coastal road passing by the town of Nafpaktos and its charming little harbor. Stop briefly there for photos; then proceed to Antirio. The famous cable-stay bridge here was completed prior to the 2004 Olympic Games and is worth a quick photo stop. Lunch will be served at a traditional Greek taverna in the city of Patra. After lunch you will drive directly to Katakolon and re-board your ship.