Our four hour bus journey from Kalambaka to Delphi took us from north to south over two mountain ranges through the centre of Greece. It was comfortable and took us through the Amfissa Olive Grove close to Delphi. It is the largest continuous olive grove in the Balkans with more than 8,500 trees.
All I knew about Delphi before I arrived is that the ancient Greeks considered it to be the centre of the world. So, naively, I was expecting to arrive in a town of significance. The modern Delphi is little more than a village with numerous hotels and sovenior shops catering for the 500,000 tourists it attracts each year. Delphi is situated about one km from the site of the ancient ruins.
Sheila, our billet officer had booked us two nights in Hotel Epic (it wasn’t). Well, it mustn’t have been too bad as we extended our stay for a third night.
On our first afternoon, we visited the impressive Archaeological Museum. That was a good idea, because it gave us both a little background information about Delphi that we were sadly lacking. From there we went immediately to the site of the ruins. The inclusive ticket price was 12€, very reasonable I judged.
On day two we hiked from Delphi at the foot of Mount Parnassus down to the coastal town of Itea (we referred to it as Ikea) through the huge Amfissa Olive Grove. I have developed a fascination for olive trees. The gnarled shape of the trunks of the old trees gives them character. I can’t help admiring trees that not only survive but flourish in the very harsh (hot and dry) mediterrean climate.
When we reached Itea, after an enjoyable downhill saunter through the huge olive grove, we enjoyed lunch in a seafront restaurant and took a public bus back to Delphi.
Day 3 was spent relaxing and planning our immediate movements. We took the 5.30am bus to Athens on route to my favourite Greek island, Kythnos.
Wandering Boomers 