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FSC_2706.NEF — The Parthenon on the Acropolis, from our hotel in Athens -
ESC_8801.NEF — The entrance to the amphitheater at the base of the Acropolis -
ESC_8854.NEF — Maria Callas sang here, in the 1950s. -
ESC_8804.NEF -
ESC_8805.NEF — Apocryphal “Prison of Socrates” -
ESC_8797.NEF — The first Greek Orthodox church we visited -
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FSC_2686.NEF — The Acropolis -
FSC_2766.NEF — Closeup of the flag flying from the top of the Acropolis -
FSC_2700.NEF — Barbara eating Moussaka at the hotel—delicious! -
FSC_2698.NEF — Cretan (from Crete) pasta in a feta cream sauce -
FSC_2691.NEF -
FSC_2728.NEF — Mushroom risotto with truffle oil -
FSC_2729.NEF — Beef cheek with celery root puree -
FSC_2752.NEF — The Parthenon lit up at night -
FSC_2764.NEF — Arch of Hadrian -
FSC_2722.NEF — Remaining column of The Temple of Olympian Zeus -
FSC_2758.NEF — Restoration of the rest of the temple -
FSC_2774.NEF — The Roman Agoria. or central square -
FSC_2779.NEF — Tower of the Winds -
FSC_2780.NEF — Angel, who brings in good sailing weather -
ESC_8821.NEF — Wall of eyes in the neighborhood of Anaflotika -
ESC_8823.NEF — Bougainvillea, found everywhere -
FSC_2781.NEF — Restaurant dedicatged to Melina Mercouri, Greek actress of the 50s and 60s -
FSC_2782.NEF -
FSC_2786.NEF — Fish & chips, Greek style! -
FSC_2791.NEF — The initial meeting or our Rick Steves Tour group -
FSC_2812.NEF — Angelos, our tour director -
ESC_8832.NEF — Our first dinner together—at Gods’ Restaurant -
ESC_8834.NEF -
ESC_8835.NEF -
ESC_8852.NEF — Today, we head up to the Acropolis. -
FSC_2866.NEF — Mamma Faye, our local guide in Athens -
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FSC_2838.NEF -
ESC_8900.NEF — The Propylaea, the main entrance to the Acropolis -
FSC_2875.NEF — The Erechtheion -
FSC_2907.NEF — The Porch of the Caryatids, with a closeup of the Caryatids, these are copies -
FSC_2885.NEF — The Temple of Athena with Ionic capitals -
FSC_2911.NEF — An olive tree has been here for 2,500 years. -
ESC_8870.NEF — The front of the Parthenon -
FSC_2897.NEF — The other side of the Parthenon -
FSC_2891.NEF -
FSC_2902.NEF -
FSC_2890.NEF — Tourists around the Greek flag -
ESC_8893.NEF — View of Athens from the Acropolis -
FSC_2938.NEF — The Acropolis Museum: two horsemen -
FSC_2941.NEF — Two horsemen showing their likely original coloration -
ESC_8910.NEF — Depiction of the art on the south pediment of the Parthenon -
FSC_2935.NEF — Metops—bas reliefs under the temple pediment. The British Museum has most of these. -
FSC_2950.NEF — An original Caryatid. inside to halt weathering -
FSC_2956.NEF — The hair of a Caryatid was actually used to strengthen the statue for supporting the roof. -
IMG_3643.HEIC — Dinner at the hotel ‘al fresco’ -
IMG_3645.HEIC — Tonight, Barbara is having the beef cheeks. -
FSC_2970.NEF — Our group, on the way to Delphi -
FSC_2972.NEF — The village of Anatova where we stopped for lunch -
ESC_8931.NEF — The view from the Anatova roadside. -
FSC_3096.NEF — Penny, our local guide to Delphi, knew every detail about the Oracle. -
FSC_2987.NEF — The ancient Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle of Delphi prophesied. -
FSC_3084.NEF — Treasury commerating the victory of the Greeks over the Persians in the Battle of Marathon -
FSC_3100.NEF — The ruin of the Temple of Apollo. Gas from the rocks intoxicated the Oracle. -
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ESC_8987.NEF — Amphitheater, next to the temple, for vocal performances honoring Apollo -
ESC_8957.NEF — The Delphi Museum -
FSC_2990.NEF — The sphinx of Naxos -
FSC_2999.NEF — Battle scene between Greeks and Trojans -
FSC_3000.NEF — Ouch! That smarts. -
FSC_3004.NEF -
FSC_3018.NEF -
ESC_8950.NEF — The Twins of Argos -
FSC_3059.NEF — Bronze Charioteer was unearthed intact. -
FSC_3106.NEF — Dinner with a mountain view -
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FSC_3111.NEF -
FSC_3131.NEF — This was a roadside rest stop—reflecting European standards. -
FSC_3180.NEF — Overlooking a mountain valley, from the bus -
FSC_3146.NEF -
FSC_3167.NEF — Museum commemorating the Nazi murder of all men and boys over the age of 12 -
ESC_9001.NEF — Farm in a forest, where we stopped for lunch -
FSC_3196.NEF — Herding sheep and goats, by truck -
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ESC_9007.NEF -
FSC_3210.NEF — We approach Lagkadia in the Menalon Mountains. -
ESC_9014.NEF — The view from our hotel room -
FSC_3215.NEF — We visit the Lagkadia cemetary—similar to ones we saw in Italy. -
FSC_3216.NEF -
ESC_9049.NEF — We visit Olympia, the site of the world’s first Olympic Games. -
FSC_3229.NEF — Niki, our tour guide of ancient Olympia -
ESC_9048.NEF -
FSC_3239.NEF — A griffon -
FSC_3279.NEF — Hermes carrying baby Dionysius, considered the most beautiful statue found intact. -
FSC_3285.NEF — It is believed that Hermes is holding a bunch of grapes that Dionysius wants. -
FSC_3276.NEF — The statue of Zeus—now destroyed. It was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. -
FSC_3265.NEF — Centerpiece of the pediment of the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. -
FSC_3301.NEF — Model of the complex at ancient Olympia -
ESC_9071.NEF — Niki showing the original structure of The Temple of Zeus -
ESC_9076.NEF — Puzzle pieces—Build a column. -
ESC_9077.NEF — Bases of the statues of the “The Walk of Shame”—Olympic cheaters -
ESC_9079.NEF — Tunnel of Krypti, the entrance to the athletic stadium -
ESC_9082.NEF — Starting line—We could pretend to be an ancient Olympian. -
ESC_9092.NEF — We stop at a olive oil factory for a taste. -
FSC_3336.NEF — We approach our next stop, a seaside village on the Mani Peninsula. -
ESC_9096.NEF — Views from our seaside hotel room -
IMG_3665.HEIC -
IMG_3660.HEIC — We enjoy an easy pizza. -
ESC_9110.NEF — The next day, we walk up the hill, where the locals hid from pirates in the 1600s, to see this church… -
ESC_9112.NEF — …an original tower house. -
FSC_3344.NEF — Icon in the church -
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FSC_3349.NEF — Under the bougainvillea -
FSC_3351.NEF — Oranges you could pick right off a tree -
FSC_3357.NEF — and figs -
FSC_3366.NEF — On this day off, we enjoy an Italian dinner for a change. -
FSC_3369.NEF — The moon from our room -
ESC_9144.NEF — Up a hill of a remote town with well preserved Byzantine churches -
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ESC_9180.NEF — We stop for a snack in the remote town. -
ESC_9195.NEF — We approach a town by the sea, where we have lunch. -
ESC_9202.NEF — Angelos -
FSC_3388.NEF -
FSC_3387.NEF — One of our traveling comanions has a pile of mullet, our lunch by the seaside. -
FSC_3400.NEF — The rock of Monemvasia, much like the Rock of Gibraltar. -
FSC_3397.NEF — The ship that will take the Olympic Torch to Marseilles the next day -
FSC_3403.NEF — Whole shrimp: They were a little overcooked, I’m afraid. -
ESC_9212.NEF — The rock of Monemvasia in the morning. We’re going to take a bus to the old town. -
FSC_3420.NEF — The ship departing for Marseilles. Yes, the water really is that blue! -
ESC_9219.NEF — The lower and uper towns are walled. Strong men with carts, take all the goods in and out. -
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ESC_9227.NEF — We circumnavigate the walled lower town. -
FSC_3428.NEF — Crystal clear water: We could see the bottom. -
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FSC_3431.NEF -
ESC_9233.NEF — Cannon balls litter the town square. -
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FSC_3452.NEF — Our cooking lesson at the hotel that afternoon. It was a blast! -
FSC_3543.NEF — We make authentic Greek dishes—Moussaka. -
FSC_3561.NEF -
FSC_3675.NEF — Baklava -
FSC_3685.NEF -
FSC_3698.NEF — On the road again. We approach the mountains of Sparta in Mystra, our next stop. -
ESC_9269.NEF — The Palace of the Despots, shown by our local tour guide as Nick climbs down the mountainside. -
ESC_9278.NEF -
ESC_9247.NEF — An abondoned 1ancient church from the Byzantine Empire -
ESC_9254.NEF -
FSC_3715.NEF — The invading Moors whited out the eys of the icons, since depicting people was forbidden. -
ESC_9284.NEF — We stop at a surviving nunery. There are six nuns there. -
FSC_3726.NEF — Representing the power of the Byzantine Empire -
FSC_3733.NEF -
ESC_9330.NEF — We stop at a local winery. -
FSC_3738.NEF — Casks used for an ancient winemaking process -
FSC_3752.NEF — Hotel in Nafplio, this unique room had a stone interior. -
ESC_9332.NEF — Our room was not stone, but still beautiful. -
FSC_3755.NEF -
FSC_3768.NEF — Nafplio was once ruled by the Venetions. -
ESC_9351.NEF — Entrance to a stone royal tomb before the entrance of Mycenae -
ESC_9337.NEF — These were the largest unsupported domes before the Romans. -
ESC_9360.NEF — A funerary tomb, shown by our local tour guide at Mycenae -
FSC_3791.NEF — A copy of the apocryphal Mask of Agamemnon. We’ll see the original later. -
FSC_3794.NEF -
ESC_9363.NEF — The Lion Gate entrance to the ruin of Mycenae -
FSC_3809.NEF — The movie production company is named after this gate. -
FSC_3804.NEF — You can just pick up an ancient shard off the ground. -
FSC_3821.NEF — “PSARO” is the origin of “Pisarro” our surname. -
FSC_3825.NEF -
FSC_3826.NEF — We dine at a family restaurant—celebrating the Greek resistence of the 60s. -
FSC_3849.NEF — Troubadours played and sang classic folksongs. -
FSC_3829.NEF -
FSC_3856.NEF — Surprise birthday celebration for two of our companions -
ESC_9366.NEF — At Epidavros, we visit the best preserved greek amphitheater—holding 14,000. -
ESC_9376.NEF — From the top row, you could hear clapping on the stage below due to the great acoustics. -
FSC_3889.NEF — Asklepios the god of medicine. -
FSC_3884.NEF — A medical center, Epidavros offered cures. Here are medical instruments. -
FSC_3891.NEF — We preserved Corinthian capital -
ESC_9383.NEF — Medical comples ruin -
FSC_3917.NEF — In the afternoon, we take this ferry to the Isle of Hydros. -
FSC_3946.NEF — Donkeys and mules are the baggage service. -
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FSC_3928.NEF -
FSC_3930.NEF — Hydra is not so overrun by tourists like some of the other islands. -
FSC_3932.NEF — …made up by feral cats. -
IMG_3692.HEIC — A sandstorm from the Sahara made the sky turn red-orange. This was not normal. -
FSC_3969.NEF — It made the front page of the NY Times the next day! -
FSC_3974.NEF — Seafood risotto -
FSC_3982.NEF — We did a walking tour of the town, the next day. -
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FSC_3987.NEF — The Monastery of the Dormition -
FSC_3989.NEF -
FSC_3993.NEF — Another Psaro seafood restaurant -
FSC_3990.NEF — Where we enjoyed these big squid. -
FSC_4001.NEF — The large ferry that took us back to Athens -
FSC_3995.NEF -
ESC_9390.NEF — The Archeological Museum of Athens, with world famous artifacts -
FSC_4005.NEF — Mamma Faye outlines the history of the artifacts. -
FSC_4095.NEF — Fabuous bronze statue of Zeus or Poseidon (ca 460 BC) -
FSC_4096.NEF -
FSC_4113.NEF — The Antikythera Mechanism—the most complex instrument made in ancient times (ca 150–100 BC) -
FSC_4013.NEF — The original apocryphal Mask of Agamemnon -
FSC_4053.NEF — Ancient safety pin -
FSC_4065.NEF — The Dipylon Vase—painted with a funeral scene (ca 750 BC) -
FSC_4069.NEF — The Kourous from Sounion—an idealized young man (600 BC) -
FSC_4123.NEF — Representation of the Athena Varvakeion as it was in the Parthenon -
FSC_4134.NEF — The Artemision Jockey (ca 140 BC) -
FSC_4135.NEF — Statue of a woman from the classical period of sculpture (ca 400 BC) -
img20240521_07483767.jpg — Here we are for our last portrait. -
FSC_4152.NEF — Angelos and the restaurant owner -
FSC_4142.NEF — We gather for our find group dinner. -
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