Athens

We loaded up the bus and departed Poros for Athens. Another rest stop at the Corinthian Cut and we arrive around 11:00. We tour Athens by bus checking out the “old” Olympic Stadium and Plaka District. We enjoyed lunch at Tabepna Vizantino in the Plaka. After lunch we check into the Athens Plaza hotel.

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Poros Island by ATV

Today was a free day on the island of Poros. We rented ATV (4-tracks) and went touring the island. Achaia Claus Winery

Map Photos

Hydra

Today we catch a hydrofoil from Poros to the Island of Hydra (see map). Hydra is home of the Greek Naval Academy and our first stop is the Naval Museum. Sailors from Hydra played an important role in winning Greek independence from the Turks. After the museum we wandered the streets and this very picturesque town. No automobiles or mopeds are allowed on the island so all transport is by mule.

After returning to Poros, I went for a quick dip in the Agean. It wasn’t much warmer that Chrissy Field in San Francisco.

Map Photos

Poros

We are staying in the Hotel New Aegli a nice place about 2 km out of town right on the water. I’m up early and after breakfast mom and I walk into town. I’m scouting out places to rent bicycles and kayaks. At 10:00 am we catch a water taxi from the hotel to downtown Poros. Poros is the home town of Marie the AHI guide who is with us the entire trip. She gives us a tour of downtown finishing with a trip to the museum of archeology. We have lunch at Taverna Apagio where the owners Spyros and Liz entertain us with tales of how they met and got into the restaurant business.

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Mycenae & Epidaurus

We depart Patras and the Hotel Achaia Beach for good this morning. We retrace our route along the south edge of the Corinthian Gulf and pick up a new guide Kristina in at the Corinthian Cut. We roll into Mycenea at 11:00. Mycenae dating from the 16th Century BC is the legendary palace of Agamemnon, leader of the Greeks in the siege of Troy. This is where the Mask of Agamemnon was excavated. Just down the hill from Mycenae we visit the Treasury of Atreus. After lunch at Kolizeras Restaurant we on the road again.

We arrive at Epidaurus at 3:00 pm. Epidaurus is known for the best preserved theater and the Asklepion a sanctuary where ancient Greeks came for healing by snakes. After Epidaurus we made for our final destination on the Island of Poros.

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Olympia

We bus out to Olympia watching a super cheesy DVD on the first Olympics. Today’s guide is Ioanna Papakosta. We check out the museum first. There are helmets from the battle of Marathon both Greek and Persian, also the classical sculpture of Hermes. After the museum we tour the grounds of the early Olympics. Archeologists are currently excavating the Hippodrome where horse and chariot races where held.

Map Photos

Delphi

Lecture on the history of Greece (part II) by Dimitris again. At 9:30 we depart for Delphi with a new guide named Konstantina. She tells tales of sea battles, occupation by the Turks, and extra virgin olive oil. We stop at Clovino Beach for a break, the roads are relatively quite as this is day six of a truck driver strike so petrol deliveries are limited. At Delphi we hike up the Sacred Way past the Athenian Treasury to the Temple of Apollo. Some of us continue up to the Stadium at the top. Afterwards we climb back down to the museum that houses the famous bronze of the charioteer. Map Photos