Wisdoms (Greek Vacation Adventure Journal, Day 15)

Alright, on the agenda today is leaving beloved Nafplio (love you), heading to Epidavros, and then Corinth, and then ending the day in ATHENS.  Chris is super excited about Corinth, because this is where Paul spoke to the people of Corinth, hence the Corinthians chapters in the bible.   I personally am not well-versed in all things Bible, but Chris knows quite a bit.  And Paul was always his favorite apostle, and was most impacted by how the Corinthians chapters talk about love and basically teaching people how to be good people.  And I'm on board with that.  As I understand it, the people of Corinth were in need of guidance, and Paul addressed the people from a speakers platform of some sort.  And that platform is what we're hunting for.  So, putting back on my Indiana Jones hat, and here we go!!!  ADVENTURE!

Good night's rest.

Filling up with breakfast for an adventuresome day.  Final breakfast in Nafplio.  Byeeee. love you.

Epidavros (a.k.a. land of the puppers.  There were dogs everywhere!!!)
This is reportedly one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in all of Greece, a theatre from the 3rd century.  (Wrong.  Messene is most definitely the most beautiful archaeological site in ALL OF GREECE.  But whatever. Amateurs. 🤔 or Delphi.  THAT place was lit.   Yo.)  The tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides were performed here until the 4th century BC.  It is perhaps the most acoustically perfect in all of Greece.  (I'll believe that one.)

We also visited the remains of the other buildings on site, one of which was the place in which patients were cured, through contact with the healing god Asklepios.  This kind of healing was a mystery.  The building was impenetrable for those who had not prepared themselves to encounter Asklepios.   Some interesting medical practices going on here.... Supposedly people would go into a special chamber and then go to sleep expecting Asklepois to visit them and heal them in a dream.  They would then wake up, leaving their ill selves behind them.

Epidavros museum

chillin' behind the ice cream cooler at the snack shop

I THINK I KNOW WHY THERE ARE ALL THESE SLEEPING PUPPERS EVERYWHERE.  They are all napping, hoping that Asklepois will come visit them in their dreams and heal them of all their ailments.  Mystery solved.👍

Onward to Corinth!  We did the museum first at this one, and then explored the site afterwards.

Corinth Museum

So Corinth was an adventure in the sense that we REALLY had to hunt for that speakers platform of Paul's.  Like, I don't know what I was expecting, maybe a huge banner or something.  Haha....but Chris and I spent a lot of time walking around and going, Where is this thing?!, and then asking questions and pointing to maps, and finally we found it.  On the map, it has an usual name, the "Bema" I think.  We did not know this.  And looked at everything except "Bema".  Until finally, oh hey, look, there it is.  The platform.

FOUND IT!

Chris having a moment

Satisfied with our hunt, we moved onward in our journey to Athens.  Outside of Athens, we stopped at a fast food place, where I ate a mediocre but still yummy spinach pie, to use wifi and download directions to the hotel.  We were going to have to be ready to hop out and go, because NO PARKING and BIG ASS CRAZY CITY.  And we were getting rid of our car for the rest of the trip.  

I kept my eyes closed, but we made it and madly drug our things out into the street and into the hotel.  And there waiting for us was friendly hotel staff and a flagon of raki!  I didn't partake, but what a warm welcome.  Love the raki.  

The view from the hotel rooftop bar.

Photo credit: Brent

We met our travel agent Uli for a drink.  She was super nice, and casually mentioned that tomorrow would be a super busy day in Athens.  We knew that there was a Pride parade happening, but also half a million people were getting off the cruise ships to visit all the touristy places.  (it wasn't half a million, but in my mind I'm like, WHOA, OK, WE GOTTA GET UP AND GO EARLY TOMORROW).

We did a little bit of exploring before dinner.  Chris and I walked through the Plaka district and started planning our shopping excursions for the next day.

Photo credit: Chris

And dinner was at a delicious place with a beautiful back patio, except we didn't get to sit out there because they were full to capacity.  We unhappily sat inside, and our pouting earned us free desserts.  Mmmmmm....lava cake.

Then we walked around for a short bit after dinner, and then back to the hotel.  I was getting nervous about the next day, with ALL THE TOURISTS coming in.  Athens is definitely a big, crowded, bustling city.  Like, a european New York City.  For realz.   

I have to say, today was an eventful day, full of hidden little wisdoms:

(Epidavros)

(Corinth)

(Athens)

Big plans for tomorrow:  Acropolis, Museums, Ancient Agora, Shopping, SO MUCH TO DO.  The couples decide to go our separate ways for big city adventures.   So, Chris and I plan to get up at the crack of dawn and be on the doorstep of the Acropolis as soon as they open.  Ready, Set, SLEEP.