My Greek Odyssey:
A Rick Steves Journey to the Cradle of Democracy
Our Tour Guide: Filippos Kanakaris
At our first night orientation we met our guide, the incomparable Filippos Kanakaris, a native of Greece. Filippos told us that he was personally hired and trained by Rick Steves himself, and that it is the aspiration of many tour guides to have the privilege of working for his fine organization.
Each morning and evening Filippos would post notices for us in the hotel lobby, advising us of when we needed to be ready to head out in the morning, what we should bring, and offering suggestions for making our day more rewarding.
Our Journey
Our Tour Group
Our group was a diverse mix of couples and singles, and it was a delight to get to know each and every one of them.
We began our journey, of course, in Athens, the capital. Our lovely hotel was within walking distance of the Acropolis.
Our Hotel
Athens is a busy, hectic, bustling city. But the neighborhood we stayed in was beautiful and quiet. It was easy to find nearby cafes to sit and enjoy an early morning latte and Greek pastry.
First Stop: The Acropolis
It is hard for me to overstate the absolute feeling of awe that enveloped me as I stood next to the Parthenon.
On to Delphi !
We travelled everywhere in a modern, comfortable coach, expertly handled by our driver. Since we were in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Filippos would ensure that we were masked when necessary, and as we got on and off the coach, he would come down the aisle and sanitize our hands with a spray bottle. "No one is getting sick on my watch," he assured us. And no one did.
The group photograph above was taken at the amphitheater in Delphi. There are many other fascinating ruins at Delphi, including the curious object pictured here: As the story goes, in an effort to
determine where the center of the
world was, an ancient king started two runners at each end of the earth.
The place where they met - the "center
of the earth" - is marked here.
The well-preserved ruins of the Treasury of the Athenians is at Delphi.
The Serpent Column was originally part of a victory tripod, which was dedicated to the Sanctuary of Apollo in Delphi by the Greeks after their victory over the Persians in the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC. This bronze monument consists of three snakes twisting around each other to form the column shaft. Originally three heads branched out from the top of the intertwined snakes of the column, but they were all knocked off by 1700.
The column at Delphi is a replica. The original was moved to Istanbul by the Ottomans.
The Delphi Archaeological Museum
The museum at Delphi is filled with stunning statuary.
Our Delphi Hotel Accomodations
I found the hotel accommodations for our visit to Delphi almost as impressive as the site itself! (Not really, of course, but they were mighty fine.)
Olympia : Playground of the Gods
From Delphi, we headed next to Olympia, site of the famed ancient athletic competitions.
Even today, excavations continue at Olympia and other Greek sites of antiquity.
At each site we visited on the trip, specialized guides were there to maximize our learning experience. They were uniformly wonderful.
This is the entrance path athletes
would take to get to fields
of competition.
The Stunning Church at Kastania
Our next destination was Kastania, the site of a magnificent medieval church, with frescoes adorning the walls.
Our accommodations were in a lovely building, with an inviting courtyard where we breakfasted and enjoyed each other's company in the morning, and Our room included cooking facilities where, if you chose, you could take a break from restaurants. I used the occasion to pick up supplies at a local grocery to prepare myself an Italian pasta dinner, a nice break from the daily Greek food.
Our accommodations were in a lovely building, with an inviting courtyard where we breakfasted and enjoyed each other's company in the morning, and Our room included cooking facilities where, if you chose, you could take a break from restaurants. I used the occasion to pick up supplies at a local grocery to prepare myself an Italian pasta dinner, a nice break from the daily Greek food.
The Massive Monolith of Monemvasia
Jutting out into the Aegean Sea, the massive bulk of Monemvasia never fails to impress.
As you head on the long walk (or take the available bus if you wish) to Monemvasia, the crystal clear blue waters of the Aegean take your breath away.
There are lovely sites
as well as tourist curio
shops to explore in the
town at the base.
Mystras & Moussaka
A highlight of our stop in the lovly town of Mystras was the opportunity to learn to prepare (and then eat!) moussaka.
Mycenea
The famed "Lion's Gate at Mycenae
The Magic Isle of Hydra
The laid-back island of Hydra is perhaps best known today as the refuge of the famed Canadian singer-songwriter-poet Leonard Cohen. It boasts a small commercial strip, but it is really a place to kick back and relax on its lovely nearby beaches
The magnificant Athens Archaeological Museum
The last day of our tour found us back in Athens, where we got to spend time with the incomparable treasures of the Athens Archaeological Museum
My Post-Tour Adventures:
Crete
The first stop on my-post tour adventures was the island of Crete, where for relatively little cost, I was able to rent a small stone cottage with its own private pool. My gracious host would serve up breakfast each morning.
The Temple of Knossos
Crete's most famous site is the magnificent Temple of Knossos.
The Sublime Beauty of Santorini
Rhodes and the Crusader Knights of St. John
The island of Rhodes is where the crusader Knights of St. John found refuge after being driven from the island of Malta by the forces of Suleiman the Magnificent.
The Timeless Spiritualism of Jerusalem
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IThe Dome of the Rock.
My last stop on my trip was in Jerusalem, to visit good friends. I have been to Israel many times, but the mystical feeling I get wandering the Old City never wears off.
Heading 2
Post-Tour Destinations
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