Dance To The Music

With Greek music playing, the engaging proprietor of the Corinth Canal souvenir stand danced to our delight. We had to buy the CD.

Corinth Canal

This is a popular tourist sight. We didn't ride the boat but the bridge view is a must.

Farewell, Ermioni

This morning, we left Ermioni behind, with many fond memories of our time there. We really got into everyday life. We went to the market every day, learned to say hello, goodbye, please and thank you, met many wonderful people and relaxed. We lived here and experienced the Greek way of life, if only for a short while. It was everything we wanted.

We're driving to Porto Rafti, a suburb of Athens (believe me, you do NOT want to drive in Athens...yikes), near the airport. We will stay the night at the Sea Sight Boutique Hotel. If we have internet access, you may see a few more photos. Then tomorrow we head for home via Munich and Chicago!

At a bench in the pine forest

When we saw this carving on the bench, we just couldn't resist!

Self portrait on the rocks

Even with a big camera, you can hold it out far enough to take your own picture...cool.

Petrothalassa Beach

Today we went to a nearby beach. While it was a little cool for swimming, it was great for wading and sitting in the sun on the rocks.

Our 35th Anniversary!

Our anniversary dinner-- freshly prepared by the best chefs in town - us! We had Greek salad, broiled lamb chops, fresh green beans and roasted potatoes with olive oil and Greek oregano and fresh bread from the bakery. Delicious! Oh, and wine of course...lots of wine, locally produced. In fact, we're still drinking it!

Our anniversary activity of the day was walking about a mile over boulders and through thorn bushes to visit a prehistoric site called the Franchithi Cave. Impossible to photograph, but very impressive.

And now, we're going for ice cream.

Heading Home

We ended our day with a sunset on the island of Poros as captured in this quiet shot by SandyB.

Gift & Souvenir Shop

This is typical of the many gift shops we've seen. Every thing from T-shirts to a bar of olive oil soap that comes with a free refrigerator magnet.

This particular store brings me back to my old hippie days.

Ready for Grilling

You'll never see this in Kansas City.

Approaching the Dock in Poros

This is the stuff that inspires the artist in each of us.

The Ferry to Poros

Sandy is mesmerized as we approach the hillside village on the island of Poros.

Roadway Shrines--A Common Sight

This is the elaborate Greek version of the make-shift commemorative crosses that dot our roads in the U.S.

Blue Cross Church with Shrine

This beautiful shot by Sandy with her small, simple point and shoot Pentax shows that a great photo comes from the eye of the photographer.

On the way to Poros

After leaving the internet cafe, we headed Northeast along the coast to Galatas Village. From there we took a ferry to the island of Poros.

The views along the way are spectacular.

Internet Cafe

OK. The internet is not working today at our house. So through the wonders of modern technology, we just moved on down the road to the local internet cafe...got some cappuccino and...voila! It's a bit of a pain, though, since there's no place to plug in and we have a really wimpy laptop battery. Here I am, getting online, staying in touch!
Sandy

The Mycenae Experience

Grave Circle

These ruins from about 1550 BC are where the Mycenaen royalty were buried - 9 women, 8 men and 2 children were entombed in 6 different graves. Many artifacts were found here which are now housed in the on site museum--pottery, jewelry, swords, spears, engraved cups, frescoes and carvings. Viewing 5,000 year old objects leaves one speechless.

Mycenae - Lion Gate

The massive stone above the doorway (the lintel) in this impressive entrance to the ancient city weighs about 18 tons. This style of wall construction is named Cyclopean because legend has it that the giant cyclops were the ones who moved the stones into position.

Mycenae Wall

This is part of the wall that originally encircled the entire city. The wall is 20 feet thick, 40 feet high and 3,000 feet long and each of the large stones weighs over 5 tons. Over 14,000 of them were used to build it. It is impossible to photograph the grandeur of it all...it's like trying to photograph the Grand Canyon. It took our breath away. And remember, these walls were built, starting about 1300 BC. Some of the ruins 0n the site can be dated back to 4000 BC - the Helladic period.

Mycenaean Bridge, on the road to Mycenae

This is the whole bridge. There are several of these right off the highway on the route to the ancient archeological site of Mycenae. The ancient Greeks went to this site to see ruins from their early ancestors, more than a thousand years before their time!

Mycenaen Bridge

This gives you an idea of how large these stones are. No mortar - just careful and efficient stacking. You can drive over this bridge. These bridges are from about 1700 BC.

Light & Shadow

Wow.

That's all I got.

Spetses Food Court

Although it's beautiful...for us, Spetses appeared to lack some of the local flavor that we found so appealing in many other villages.

Old Spetses Storefront

This Spetses storefront caught our eye amid those more attractive to most tourists.

Carriage Cam

Our tour guide pointed out many sights along the way.

A Carriage Ride in Spetses

After Thursday's Farmer's Market, we drove to the tiny village of Costa where we caught a water taxi to the island of Spetses--an 8 to 10 minute ride at most.

Then we thought it would be fun to rent an ATV. Well, let's just say the horse and carriage was much more relaxing.

Body Double?

Really, I didn't take a new job.

Thursday's Farmer's Market

I'm fairly certain you won't find some of these delicacies at your local grocery store.

Photographer's Paradise

Yesterday, I got up before dawn and took this shot from the end of the pier.

Photo uploader not working today...stay tuned. Sandy & Dennis