Smooth 2 hour flight from Rome to Athens with Agean. Caught a taxi to the Royal Olympic Hotel & were given a lovely room overlooking the pool. Went up to the bar area & saw the most wonderful view of the Acropolis. Prime position! Tried the local ouzo.
Up early for breakfast outside with that amazing view again & then off on our tour of Delphi & Meteora. Suburban Athens soon gave way to rural areas that grow cotton, olives & figs. Headed for the Alps. When you think of Greece, you don't think of their ski season, especially in 35C heat, but we drove though alpine villages that cater for thousands of skiers. So pretty across the valley and out to the village of Kira, part of the Agean Sea.
Arrived at Delphi, Mount Parnassus. What possessed them to build the Temple of Apollo in 4th-century B.C all the way up here? Home to this legendary oracle & Athena Pronaia, it would have been so so difficult, but how majestic set amongst the Alps, complete with political arena, stadium, amphitheatre and other columned structures. It was wonderful to be at the actual place of so many of the myths I studied at Uni.
Went into the museum to see the many artefacts that had been rescued.
The new town of Delphi was completely moved & rebuilt, as they had no idea they had built on such ancient ruins.
We were dropped off to our first night's accommodation- Delphi Palace, which though old, was clean, bright, comfortable & afforded the most spectacular view over Kira (the beach resort/town) & the mountains, & down to the pool.
We were going to swim but we went into town for a 'light' lunch, which ended up as a Greek salad, souvlaki (pork!) bread, wine & also a Greek cake on the house, which was delicious. He even wanted to give us more! So friendly. We were full & ended up having a snooze till 8pm!
This place is a ghost town in summer, as it's primarily a ski town & everyone goes to the beach. Absolutely wonderful to experience this.