25 June 2018
To view Claire's video montage from our trip click on:
https://youtu.be/llRhXXkVHjw
Monday, June 25, 2018
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Poseidon's Temple / Final gyros
23-24 June 2018, Saturday-Sunday
We all reconnected late in the afternoon--some hit the beach for a few hours and some hit the pillow. Then it was off to mass where our understanding was limited to "Amen" and "Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison." At least we knew when to sit and stand.
Lee, Karen, and Xi set off in search of Poseidon's Temple in Sounio, 30 miles down the coast from Glyfada while Jackie, Caroline, CJ, and Claire braved another day in Athens. They hit the Agora and picked up a few things from some shops and flea markets. Xi, Lee, and Karen loved the views and the breeze in Sounio from atop the hill at Poseidon's Temple. It was gyros for our last lunch in Greece.
We all reconnected late in the afternoon--some hit the beach for a few hours and some hit the pillow. Then it was off to mass where our understanding was limited to "Amen" and "Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison, Kyrie Eleison." At least we knew when to sit and stand.
After mass, we had a great last dinner together. The kids managed to play "20 Questions" for the 2 hours we were at dinner, even when we had to squeeze our seats together during a thunderstorm so that Xi's and Caroline's food didn't get soggy. We grabbed some ice cream on the way back to "the bus."
 |
| Poseidon's Temple/Sounio |
 |
| View from Poseidon's Temple |
 | |
|
 |
| Xi! |
 |
| Poseidon's Temple |
Sunday morning--back to the airport. CJ, Jackie, and Xi' flight to Rome takes off around 10am. The remaining Arnolds head home via Heathrow around 1:20pm. Karen got patted down AGAIN at Athens security. Feeling violated.
 |
| Off they go to continue the adventure! |
Friday, June 22, 2018
Athens & Glyfada
21-22 June 2018, Thursday-Friday
Arrived in Athens amidst some chaos in trying to find the apartment we rented. After we finally got ourselves sorted out, we walked towards the Acropolis in hopes of securing tickets for tomorrow and avoiding crowds. Since that was a no go, we stopped for dinner and then dessert, with a few liters of house wine/beer/ouzo to help us laugh at our misfortune in finding ourselves in the lodging-challenged accommodations we had booked for the next 3 nights. (The place was a bit of dump.) While walking through the city, we marveled at the amount of graffiti--there seems to be no square inch that has been spared.
Chris, Annie, and Abby left Friday morning and the rest of the squad went to the Acropolis. Although it was a little disappointing to find out that the buildings have been disassembled and reassembled a few times over the years, it is still a magnificent site. Afterwards, we headed over to the Lyceum--Aristotle's philosophy school. There wasn't much left to see there but it was still exciting to walk in Aristotle's footsteps and to imagine him strolling around thinking deep thoughts.
A quick ride on the Metro and we went back to the apartment, grabbed our stuff, and left Athens behind. Our destination was Glyfada which is near the Olympic Stadium complex (from 2004). Lee has booked a neat and clean hotel on the beach and the kids enjoyed some beach time. A seafood dinner capped our evening.
Arrived in Athens amidst some chaos in trying to find the apartment we rented. After we finally got ourselves sorted out, we walked towards the Acropolis in hopes of securing tickets for tomorrow and avoiding crowds. Since that was a no go, we stopped for dinner and then dessert, with a few liters of house wine/beer/ouzo to help us laugh at our misfortune in finding ourselves in the lodging-challenged accommodations we had booked for the next 3 nights. (The place was a bit of dump.) While walking through the city, we marveled at the amount of graffiti--there seems to be no square inch that has been spared.
Chris, Annie, and Abby left Friday morning and the rest of the squad went to the Acropolis. Although it was a little disappointing to find out that the buildings have been disassembled and reassembled a few times over the years, it is still a magnificent site. Afterwards, we headed over to the Lyceum--Aristotle's philosophy school. There wasn't much left to see there but it was still exciting to walk in Aristotle's footsteps and to imagine him strolling around thinking deep thoughts.
A quick ride on the Metro and we went back to the apartment, grabbed our stuff, and left Athens behind. Our destination was Glyfada which is near the Olympic Stadium complex (from 2004). Lee has booked a neat and clean hotel on the beach and the kids enjoyed some beach time. A seafood dinner capped our evening.
 |
| I guess someone was drinking on the job. |
 |
| A modern day Peripatetic philosopher. |
Hydra
20 June 2018
Hopped on a noon ferry making our way to the island of Hydra. There are no cars on the island except for a few work vehicles and a pickup truck used by the fire station. Most things are done with hand carts and donkeys and people power. We checked into our pension and dropped our bags then headed to a lovely lunch. Afterwards, we gave the kids full reign to roam about, go swimming, or whatever their hearts desired. They found an open concrete platform to perch on and spent the afternoon swimming and sunning.
Hydra is beautiful, quiet, and serene. Folks take pride in their little family run restaurants and stores and seem content and happy despite not having the accoutrements of city life.
One of the highlights was spotting Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa and their kids. Abby, in a moment of bravery, approached him and asked if he was on Riverdale. He replied, "yes," and asked her if she liked the show. She kept her cool and let him know that she certainly does.
Now, off to Athens.
 |
| The Squad enjoying lunch |
Hydra is beautiful, quiet, and serene. Folks take pride in their little family run restaurants and stores and seem content and happy despite not having the accoutrements of city life.
One of the highlights was spotting Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa and their kids. Abby, in a moment of bravery, approached him and asked if he was on Riverdale. He replied, "yes," and asked her if she liked the show. She kept her cool and let him know that she certainly does.
Now, off to Athens.
 |
| Another way goods are ferried to and fro |
 |
| How goods are ferried to and fro |
 |
| view of Hydra town |
 |
| Looking good AND Mark Consuelos in the background! |
 |
| EVERYONE needs a giant rubber ducky on their sailboat. |
 |
| CJ jumping off cliff |
 |
| Transporting deliveries from the harbor |
 |
| They even carry roof tiles! |
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Mystras
Today we traveled out to Mystras, a walled city close to Sparta, developed by the Franks around 1200 A.D. and later enhanced and expanded by the Byzantines. The last residents were relocated in 1950! According to Lee's GPS, we descended 55 flights of stairs. However, bonus points should be given for navigating the uneven, rocky terrain. We lunched at a charming restaurant beneath a winding grape vine then made our way back to Samantha's Paradise with a brief stop in Niveri to skip stones in the harbor.
Mycenae and Nafplio
18 June 2018, Monday
Mycenae was the hub of Mycenaean civilization around 1600 B.C. The Mycenaeans are a bit of a mystery but the hunch is that they were influenced by the Minoans on Crete. They seemed rather advanced utilizing a writing system and developing their own monetary methods. After walking around "more rocks" (per the kids), we headed to Nafplio for lunch and a gentle, small town tour. Later, it was laundry and a home cooked meal of sausages sautéed with peppers and onions, and cucumber feta salad courtesy of Lee, and fresh oranges for dessert.
 |
| Lions Gate |
 |
| view from Mycenae |
 |
| Tunnel to the cistern--very dark and spooky |
 |
| Mycenae ruins |
 |
| Street view, Nafplio |
 |
| church ceiling in Nafplio |
Monday, June 18, 2018
Ancient Corinth and Paradise
17 June 2018, Sunday
On the road by 9am headed toward Kiveri with a stop in Ancient Corinth.
 |
| AcroCorinth |
 |
| Zeus |
 |
| Caroline standing where Paul stood trial |
 |
| Temple of Apollo |
Landed at Samantha's Paradise villa, our home for the next 3 days. Had a lovely dinner harbor side in Kiveri and picked up a few items from the back of a fruit vendor's truck.
 |
| Sunrise at Samantha's Paradise villa |
Sunday, June 17, 2018
Rocks, Hills & Monasteries
16 June 2108, Saturday
Today we allowed ourselves a short lie-in before starting the day. There are six monasteries and nunneries that comprise a sort of development on these great rock formations. We started off at the Holy Monastery of the Great Meteoro which is the largest as well as the highest of the group. The icons are beautiful and the church ornate. We even caught one of the monks in the midst of vacuuming! In all of these monasteries, the ladies are required to wear long skirts supplied by the monastery - neither pants nor shorter than knee-length dresses are sufficient (unless you are Caroline and can slouch just the right way so that your dress covers your knees).
They use a cable system to ferry supplies in and out of the monastery. One of the unique wall paintings features prophets and Greek philosophers and historians. A description:
Next, we went into Varlaam Monastery. Although it is considerably smaller, it is just as beautiful with its’ ornate icons and church. Additionally, this monastery raised and lowered a net to bring supplies in and out as well as people!
The next monastery we tried to go to is actually a nunnery and was closed for lunch. So, we did the same and found an accommodating location in Kalambaka for a late lunch. We were finally able to move beyond gyros and try a few different items. We got back to St. Stephens Monastery/Nunnery around 4:30pm or so and did a quick tour. It had similar features as the other two (icons, beautiful church) but also had a wall painting that appeared, as Annie put it, to have been painted by someone still trying to perfect his/her skills because the faces all looked the same. The principal difference I noticed at this nunnery was the presence of more greenery—flowers, shrubs, and trees.
Hours of icons was a little tiring so we returned to the hotel, rested, and watched a little World Cup, while the kids went for some walks around Meteora, went to a cafe, and then managed to gather every child in the village to play a game of soccer. The kids were all younger than ours at first and it was nice to watch Jackie, Xi, Caroline, CJ, Claire, and Abby engage with them. They were all having a blast together and getting on beautifully. The ‘rents found a small restaurant for a little nibble (since our lunch was large and late) and some drinks. Although Karen had meatballs that contained dill that has lingered well into the next morning, she was happy to have experienced a gyro-free day.
Today we allowed ourselves a short lie-in before starting the day. There are six monasteries and nunneries that comprise a sort of development on these great rock formations. We started off at the Holy Monastery of the Great Meteoro which is the largest as well as the highest of the group. The icons are beautiful and the church ornate. We even caught one of the monks in the midst of vacuuming! In all of these monasteries, the ladies are required to wear long skirts supplied by the monastery - neither pants nor shorter than knee-length dresses are sufficient (unless you are Caroline and can slouch just the right way so that your dress covers your knees).
They use a cable system to ferry supplies in and out of the monastery. One of the unique wall paintings features prophets and Greek philosophers and historians. A description:
Next, we went into Varlaam Monastery. Although it is considerably smaller, it is just as beautiful with its’ ornate icons and church. Additionally, this monastery raised and lowered a net to bring supplies in and out as well as people!
 |
| View of Meteora from Varlaam Monastery |
  |
| Chris & Lee demonstrating the mechanism used for raising and lowering the net. |
 |
| Outside St. Stephens |
Hours of icons was a little tiring so we returned to the hotel, rested, and watched a little World Cup, while the kids went for some walks around Meteora, went to a cafe, and then managed to gather every child in the village to play a game of soccer. The kids were all younger than ours at first and it was nice to watch Jackie, Xi, Caroline, CJ, Claire, and Abby engage with them. They were all having a blast together and getting on beautifully. The ‘rents found a small restaurant for a little nibble (since our lunch was large and late) and some drinks. Although Karen had meatballs that contained dill that has lingered well into the next morning, she was happy to have experienced a gyro-free day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)