Warm but wonderful

This type of trip is different from the other great adventures we’ve taken--it’s sort of a vagabond trek through Greece. Though Anna knows where she’s leading us and feeding us and has everything arranged, we have no specifically detailed itinerary--just a vague list of dates and places we’ll stay. So each day is an adventure for us. A monastery? A winery? A historical site? A beach? She leads and we follow. Sometimes we’re on time; other times we might be somewhere around the targeted hour. The tempo is slow and easy, and I’m learning to go with the flow--I like having someone else take charge; I like discovering something new around every corner; I like having to pinch myself to to realize this is no fantasy--it’s real, baby. Real. I marvel at the Greek language--often sounding like Italian to my ear, though far from it, I’m sure. The signs aren’t often in any other language than Greek, and the alphabet...well let’s just say my sorority days didn’t prepare me well for conversation or understanding Greek at all.

So what’s a June morning in Greece like? Sunny, sunny, sunny. Dry, warm (turning hot) air. Still--barely a ripple on the water before us. People stroll the sidewalk along the beach, and cars, bikes move lazily past. Jane and I sit on the balcony of the dining area--she with her breakfast of bread, cheese, tomato, and olive; I with my Greek yogurt (sweetened with honey) and freshly squeezed orange juice. This is the life…

LATER: After breakfast, the day began with a trip across the Corinthian canal, which joined the Adriatic to the Aegean. Built from 1891-1893, the canal cut 131 nautical miles between the ports of the two seas.  The work of the Hungarians in the late 1800s is astounding.

Then on to the the Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus--a grand ampi-theater.  Standing in the middle on a designated spot, one's voice projected clearly to the entire space. This UNESCO site's info tells us, "The facilities that have been discovered in the Sanctuary... include the acts of worship, the procedure of healing with a dream-like state of induced sleep known asenkoimesis through the preparation of the patients, the facilitating of healing with exercise and the conduct of official games."

The heat rose to over 45 C  and we melted in the dry heat, yet by walking slowly, drinking lots of water, we acclimated and enjoyed the sites.

Then on to an exquisite winery where we sampled whites, a rose, and reds.  This winery, Skouras, touted a 1000 barrel cellar, one of five such cellars in Europe.  It has won multiple awards, even first in the world-wide gold class for its 2015 Syrah.  Our presenter, Domitrious, entertained and informed us of his vineyard's wine, and we all loved the passion he shared with ease.  Very fun.

Then...well why not a major hike to a fortress atop a former capital of Greece?  Anna and 3 others (including me) discovered the fortress built by the Venetians.  The rest of the group stayed seaside and enjoyed gelato.  The fortress, hugging a cliff or hilltop, gave us a glorious panoramic view.  Though the heat nearly did us in (over 45 C!), we drank water, walked slowly, and imagined the laborious work of constructing, and then defending, the fortress.

After fetching the gelato crew, we zoomed to another fantastic meal.  The highlight was lambchops, and even those who thought they didn't care for lamb were raving over the tender, flavorful meat.  Tomato salad, bread with dips, amaranth greens, fried Feta cheese, then the lamb served with lemon and fries, and finally fruit.  Sensational wine throughout the meal.  I delicious experience--one chosen by Anna to draw us in to Greek food.  And we were smitten.

Now for a shower to wash the salty glaze from our skin and off to bed.  We leave tomorrow at 8 for...I guess Anna will let us know when we get on the bus!