Field Trip!

Today

Wow what a full, long and exciting day! We left school at 7:00 this morning and drove North-West for 2 hours and stopped at the monasteries at Ossias Loukas. Driving through the green mountains reminded of the Tuscan countryside and visiting the monasteries took me back to the mass amounts of churches I visited during my time in Florence, making me very happy :) The monasteries and scenery were beautiful, though, regardless of the fact that they reminded me of Florence. It was nice to visit a church and learn about its different features from someone who actually knows instead of just looking around and making my own inferences and judgements. The most spectacular feature of these monasteries were the mosaic ceilings.

Monasteries of Ossias Loukas

Mosaic domes

After this brief stop we continued for another 45 minutes to our main destination: Delphi. History Lesson (from Wikipedia): In Greek Mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphi Oracle, the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god Apollo. We had lunch in a shady area at the foot of a rocky mountain overlooking more mountains and valleys. After lunch, we trekked down to the old gymnasium and saw the Thelos (circular temple), bath house and running track.

Thelos

Then we climbed back up and hiked through the main archaeological site of Delphi. We saw various treasuries, the Temple of Apollo, theater, and at the very top, the stadium. Then we made a quick descent and flew through the museum in order to get back on the bus and make it back to Athens by 7PM. Today was a scorcher but there were so many remains to see both on site and in the museum and I enjoyed the trip very much.

I am utterly exhausted.

Treasury of Athena

If you look closely, you'll notice there is Greek inscribed on all of the rocks making up the wall.

Polygonal Wall

Temple of Apollo

This is one of my favorite pieces I've seen in a museum in Athens. I love the reality and clarity of his facial expression.

Charioteer of Delphi

Lesson of the Day

I love the countryside

Photo of the Day

Chairs in the monasteries

The Count

Glasses of wine drinken: 89
Churches toured: 13 + 2 synagogues

Men's restrooms used: 2

Photos taken: 2924

Tomorrow

National Museum, Day 2--finishing up what we didn't get to on Monday...the museum is gigantic!

And then it's the weekend!

I hope to do some shopping in the afternoon (I desperately need new sunglasses...I finally threw mine away today: the tape wasn't holding up any longer).

Saturday Fushia and I are taking a day trip to the Peloponese, making stops in Mycenae, Napflion and Epadaurus. I hope to make it to the beach at some point over the weekend as well.