Delphi

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We headed out to Delphi around 9AM, as early as we could manage. Fearful of being unable to find a parking space at Delphi, we went straight to the site without breakfast. We found parking reasonably easy, but food was limited and water completely absent. We found a small café and obtained some survival rations (crackers, juice, nuts, coffee, guidebook to the site) but no water. In Istanbul, inexpensive cold water was always available from street vendors, and we were in disbelief that one could not buy water at this tourist attraction in Central Greece. We headed up toward the sanctuary of Apollo, passed the ancient agora where the shops used to be and wondered whether any of them had sold water in ancient times. Fortunately, the weather was relatively temperate with a gentle breeze and occasional respite from the sun provided by the scattered clouds and we were able to tour the site for about thirty minutes before we decided we were driven back by thirst. After briefly considering taking a drink from the ancient Castalia Spring (where the priestesses purified themselves before entering the Temple of Apollo), we decided to head over to the Museum instead. We were directed to the museum café which sold every drink known to mankind (slushies, juices, Perrier, etc) but no still water. We were begrudgingly given some tap water with our 16 Euro purchase of Perrier and Lemonade, and decided we would need to make due. After photographing more cats, we headed into the small but very interesting museum to see informative examples of Greek art that had once adorned the site. Then we made our way back to the sanctuary of Apollo and climbed rapidly up to the point where we had turned back and continued our tour. We stopped to admire the temple of Apollo, the amphitheatre and the stadium, taking altogether too many photographs for the kids liking. The air was pleasant but it was quite hot in the sun, so we took frequent breaks in the shade. We descended back down to the road and walked about a quarter-mile to the entrance to the Sanctuary of Athena which was located below the road. The views of the small round temple were spectacular as we descended. Only a few columns are still standing and it was sad to hear that there were fifteen still standing until a rock slide smashed them in the early part of the twentieth century. The kids themselves had become ruins and we got them to hang on just a bit longer with the promise of ice cream. The promise was fulfilled at the same café where we started the day and it was soon time to start our trek back to the airport. We stopped for food and cash in Arachova and found some tasty savory pastries (and cheap!) in a small café. Refueled and flush with Euros, we were off to the airport. The drive back was pleasantly uneventful and we smoothly transitioned to our short flight to Chania (pronounced Han-ya) Crete. The flight landed at dusk and it was dark by the time we had rented our car and exited the airport. We had failed to obtain good directions and got lost for a while in the maze of city streets. Driving through the busy town of Chania was very much more challenging than driving on the emptier freeway between Athens and Delphi had been, and we were very happy to have reached our hotel without incident. Our hotel, Thalassa Beach Resort, is on the beach a bit West of the city of Chania. The street is lined with tourist shops and bars in what is clearly a party street for young adults. But the hotel is a lovely refuge from the nightlife. We settled in and got right to sleep.

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