We’re in Boston, having a look around before my reunion gets underway, and it happens to be Memorial Day Weekend. The city is in high gear, as this is the official start of summer. On Thursday, I saw the display of 37,000 American flags planted on Boston Common to honor Massachusetts residents who died inContinue reading “Boston on Memorial Day”
Author Archives: winifredcreamer
Peloponnese (5): Ancient Messene, Nestor’s Palace, Pylos
We woke up to a clear day in Kalamata and set out for Messene, ancient capital city of the SW Peloponnese, a rare ancient city that was abandoned and not covered with later structures. Founded during the Bronze Age (3000-1000 BC) at the foot of Mt. Ithome, the settlement prospered based on agricultural richness ofContinue reading “Peloponnese (5): Ancient Messene, Nestor’s Palace, Pylos”
Peloponnese (4): More Sparta, Mystras
The Temple of Artemis Orthia is in a different part of Sparta, and waiting until the next morning to visit gave us a moment of sun at the site. This temple goes back to the 9th century BC and was in use for over 1000 years. It is where people went to make offerings toContinue reading “Peloponnese (4): More Sparta, Mystras”
Peloponnese (3): Nafplio, Epidaurus, Sparta
We began the day with a stroll through Nafplio, a lovely seaside town, where I could easily imagine spending a couple of weeks in the summer. There’s even a seaside rock swimming pool that reminded me of the Sydney area. Nafplio was the first capital city of the modern Greek state, 1823-1834. It would beContinue reading “Peloponnese (3): Nafplio, Epidaurus, Sparta”
Peloponnese (2) Corinth, Nemea, Mycenae
Ancient Corinth We started the day with ancient Corinth, Akrokorinth, a very large site, an ancient city. When I read a brief history of Corinth, I found there is no brief history. Corinth was founded by a descendant of Zeus, the Triton Oceanus, or Sisyphus, depending on what myth you like best. The city wasContinue reading “Peloponnese (2) Corinth, Nemea, Mycenae”
A Week of Ruins in the Peloponnese (1)
We booked a week-long private tour to see archaeological sites in the Peloponnese, home of Sparta and Mycenae, the “sandy Pylos” of Homer, and other wonderful spots. One of the reasons we tried a private tour is that we are such terrible tour participants. We’ve each led more tours than gone as participants, and weContinue reading “A Week of Ruins in the Peloponnese (1)”
About Athens
While it’s still fresh in my mind, here are a few impressions that might help you plan your visit to Greece. We stayed for six weeks: a month in Athens, and a week plus in the Peloponnese. We didn’t visit the islands, but for some great information about Greek islands I recommend posts by https://thegenxtravels.com/Continue reading “About Athens”
The Benaki Museums
Athens has a renowned Archaeological Museum that holds treasures of ancient Greek culture, but it also has an impressive group of museums started by the Benaki family. The collections started out in a large family house, and the family’s cultural interests seem to have struck a chord in Athens. Expansions were made to the originalContinue reading “The Benaki Museums”
Day Trip to Aegina
Everyone assumes that you’ll visit Greek Islands. They are all so famous, Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, and many others. We decided to stick with a one day trip from Athens to Aegina, one of the islands in the Saronic Gulf very close to Piraeus.* We could take the metro from Omonia all the way to Piraeus,Continue reading “Day Trip to Aegina”
Mar. 25, Greek Independence Day
I was startled out of my sleep on Friday by the sound of low-flying jets–a terrifying sound. It happened again a while later, and when we emerged from the apartment, I asked Sassa, our local cafe owner, what was going on. She smiled. “They’re practicing for tomorrow, Independence Day.” “There’s a big parade.” “You shouldContinue reading “Mar. 25, Greek Independence Day”
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