The Joy of Greece

I admire the beauty of Iowa winters, but come January and February, I yearn to see green growing things.

This photograph is not Greece. It is on First Street in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It is a stark scene compared to the greenery of Greece.

In Athens, the Parthenon rests on the very top of the Acropolis. I climbed to the Parthenon.














The Theatre of Dionysus located in the Acropolis, Athens holds a mystery perhaps not completely told.






This view of Athens from Lycabettus Hill shows the vastness of the city.










Street vendors and roadside stands are common throughout Athens. In the early morning traffic some vendors walk through the heavy traffic with a tray of pastries to sell.








This Presidential Palace Honor Guard in Athens didn't flinch once when I took his photograph.











The 1896 Olympic Stadium in Athens will soon have a companion stadium for the 2004 Olympics.






The Temple of Poseidon at Sounion, at the southernmost tip of Greece, is hauntingly commanding.

The Sanctuary of Athena viewed from the Temple of Poseidon, Sounion brings to mind thoughts of times long ago.

The plants growing between rocks on the grounds of the Temple of Poseidon, Sounion, remind me of rugged beauty.












The island of Poros in the Saronic Gulf is only a short distance from the shores of the Peloponnesian Peninsula.

I saw a lot of "sea vessels" in the waters of Greece. This boat resting at the shore of Poros is one of the more colorful fishing boats.













The island of Hydra welcomes Jim and me.

I found the island of Hydra very fascinating. The rugged rocky cliffs do not give way to its undaunting relationship with the sea.












These burros are transportation. No cars are allowed on Hydra. I enjoyed Hydra.






The Temple of Aphaia on the island of Aegina hints at more ancient mystery.


The restaurant of the gift shop, just outside the grounds of the Temple of Aphaia on Aegina Island, is one of my favorite spots. The stone tables and benches sturdily stand against the backdrop of very rugged terrain. It was here that Jim and I tasted delicious pistachio ice cream (We have a photograph of that, too.) Pistachios are a main product of the island of Aegina. Umm, umm, good!!!


We wanted to visit Corinth and we did, but we saw much more on a tour of the northwest corner of the Peloponnesian Peninsula. Our trip to Corinth and vicinity took an entire day. We took many pictures. Too many to post here, but these few may give you an idea.



The canal through the isthmus at Corinth connects the Ionian and Aegian Seas and is important to modern Corinth. Corinth has been significant for those of the Christian faith since the days of St. Paul. Paul lived and preached there for two years. Corinth was the ONE land city (other than Athens)I most wanted to see.













The Mikenes archeological site (not to be confused with the island of Mykonos) and the surrounding areas were something to behold. This site was important during the Mycanae dynasty from 1600 to 1200 B.C.

The Entrance to Mikenes Site leads to more climbing.











The Treasury of Artemis near Mikenes Site is very cold inside, but people were sitting in it just the same.















Modern Greece gained its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1828. From 1828-1834, Nafplio was its capital. Athens then became the capital and still is.

Palamidi Castle at Nafplio







Bourdzi Fortress (in the harbor) and Nafplio from Palamidi Castle










View of a side street in the city of Gorio.




Theatre of Epidaurus






Sanctuary of Asclepios(at the Epidaurus site)









On the way to and from Mykonos Island, our ferry, the Adonis, made port at the islands of Syros and Tinos.

Ermoupoli, Syros Island






Tinos Town, Tinos Island










Mykonos Town, Mykonos Island

Mykonos Island is without a doubt my favorite part of the trip to Greece. I am so enamoured with Mykonos that I would like to build another Author's Castle there. My impressions are explained best from a tour guide book excerpt regarding the Little Venice district on Mykonos:

"As regards the setting, the close proximity of the water and the unrestricted view of the sea, so intertwined with stories of pirates, awaken our imagination and transport us to those long ago times, around the end of the Middle Ages, making us feel that even today anything could happen from one moment to the next. The steep alleyways, narrow and evocative, add to this conviction."



This is a picture of the Hotel Marios on Mykonos Island. Jim is standing under the balcony to our room. I highly recommend Hotel Marios not only for its charm, but also for its quality.








The garden in Hotel Marios is one of its many fine features. Breakfast is usually served in the garden. Due to the cool morning, we ate our breakfast on the porch. Greek music played in the background while the breeze gentled our faces.




The waterfront of Mykonos Town.


People buy fresh fish right from the fishermen













The Town Square of Mykonos Town (It really is!)








People going to church. Ninety-eight percent of the Greek people are members of the Greek Orthodox Church.











On our trip from Mykonos to Athens, a group of women boarded the Adonis at Siros. They crowded into one part of the covered deck and presented a skit. Then, the women danced the entire trip back (about five hours). The women invited us to dance and share their food.



Note the woman arching her back very far back as she dances.















Jim is standing in front of The Xplorer Internet Cafe in Glyfada, our Greek office.

















The Xplorer Internet Cafe became Rosemarie's temporary Author's Castle. Here you see Rosemarie sending out her AuthorsDen Newsletter.




Two of the many lovely homes on the Saronic Gulf and elsewhere in Glyfada.













Marina on the Saronic Gulf, Glyfada.


Public showers on the beach,Glyfada.













Lemon tree growing between stores, downtown Glyfada.











And it's back to the Hotel Fenix and the view of Glyfada and the Saronic Gulf we had for the sixteen wonderful days we were in Greece. At this time, the waters of the Gulf had three shades of blue.






If you want to see more, come on over.

If you want to see much more, we highly recommend you visit this beautiful country. You will be awed by its majestic ruins, lifted by its island spirit and touched by its outgoing, friendly people. Your life will be richer for your visit.






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Rosemarie's Author's Castle
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