Postcards from Greece: from Athens to Hydra – A Toast to Ancient Stones, the Sea, and Simple Pleasures!
A visual celebration of Greece, the birthplace of Western civilization: now a living museum with the most delicious food, engaging citizenry, and feral cats galore!
The contributions of ancient Greece have been so deeply embedded in our modern culture that it is easy to take for granted the enormity of her influence on Western civilization. She gave us the philosophers Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle… the mathematicians Euclid and Pythagoras… the scientists Hippocrates and Archimedes… the poet Homer… and conquistador Alexander the Great… to name but a few. She gave birth to a pantheon of gods, scores of mythical creatures, and heroes that permeate our language and culture to this day. Just ask Atlas, Zeus, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Orion, the Sirens, the Cyclops, Sisyphus, Oedipus, Odysseus, Achilles, Medusa. Not to mention enduring contributions in the worlds of cuisine, language, music, art, literature, theater, architecture, and the Olympic Games to boot!
Near the finish line of the Athens Marathon, which I just happened to stumble upon that very day, no kidding! (By the way, the very first marathon I’d ever witnessed, and one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever experienced as people from all walks of life, with all kinds of bodies, from all around the world crossed the finish line to the enthusiastic cheers of all!)
No trip to Hellas (only we English speakers call it Greece) would be complete without seeing Olympia, Delphi, Epidavros, and everyday life in the beautiful countryside…
Prepare yourself for the almost total absence of road signs, accept that driving rules are merely suggestions, get ready to meet some colorful characters, and don’t be afraid to pitch in with the olive harvest.
Yikes, the lines on the road (if they exist at all) are merely suggestions.
Typical traffic in any medium-sized village
Write your own caption!
Greece is delightfully dog-friendly (and as you can see elsewhere very cat-friendly, too)
Rio–Antirrio Bridge
Greek Parking Lesson (1. Notice the absence of their side-view mirror, 2. This was literally the main road through town, 3. I eventually squeezed past, just barely)
An easy ferry ride from the enormous Port of Piraeus, the Greek island of Hydra (pronounced ee-drah) is a delightful change from the hustle and bustle of Athens…
Sharing the crossing with some colorful and sleepy characters
Upon arrival, one cannot help but slow down to the natural speed of life..
Roam the serpentine alleys and see what you discover…
Cars and trucks are nowhere to be found.
Donkeys do the heavy lifting…
… including collecting the garbage.
a place where dandelions are salad, not weeds!
Feral cats are everywhere…
perfectly healthy and approachable…
all very well fed and cared for…
So well cared for, in fact…
… that the pigeons have no need to fear them!
Local Fishermen proudly displaying their catch and looking for a buyer!
A moment to consider all the civilizations, for better or worse, that have come and gone this way over the millennia.
2 thoughts on “Postcards from Greece: from Athens to Hydra – A Toast to Ancient Stones, the Sea, and Simple Pleasures!”
Great stuff, Frank. Indeed, the Oracle at Delphi is famous for her advice, which always leads to disaster. Remind those who do of Oedipus, if you can find him.
Thanks, Gerald. Sound advice indeed! It’s amazing how much Greek mythology still survives and permeates our culture. BTW, any thoughts about whether Freud’s Oedipus Complex Theory has any merit or usefulness? All the best, wise friend.
Great stuff, Frank. Indeed, the Oracle at Delphi is famous for her advice, which always leads to disaster. Remind those who do of Oedipus, if you can find him.
Thanks, Gerald. Sound advice indeed! It’s amazing how much Greek mythology still survives and permeates our culture. BTW, any thoughts about whether Freud’s Oedipus Complex Theory has any merit or usefulness? All the best, wise friend.