PROLOGUE to our GREEK ODYSSEY
Prologue Photos 1
Prologue Photos 2 Bottom
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This Prologue site (Home page & 2 pages of pictures) is by way of an introduction to our trip. The Home page shows an outline map of our planned route in Greece after crossing the Adriatic (blue line on map) from Ancona on the Italian east coast to Patras, the main port in the NW Peloponnese (that's the southernmost extension of the Greek mainland with the 3 projecting fingers at the bottom). We intend to camp at Mycenae village (where we made friends on a previous visit) for the Easter weekend celebrations. After that, we shall travel (red line on map) over the Arcadian mountains to Ancient Olympia and down the West coast (wonderful wild beaches) to 'sandy Pylos' to visit the archaeological excavations there. The journey from there will take us to Sparta (to re-visit the Byzantine city of Mystras), southern Laconia and the east coast up to Argolis. After crossing the Isthmus of Corinth at the famous Canal, we shall continue into Central Greece (green line on map) to consult the Oracle at Delphi and travel through Phocis northwards over the mountains into Thessaly and Epiros, finishing at the northern port of Igoumenitsa, just short of the Albanian border, for the ferry back to Italy. Before re-crossing the continent, we shall end the trip with a few days revisiting Tuscany and Umbria. So these are the outline plans. But this isn't just a sight-seeing venture. In visiting this fascinating country, we are anxious to learn more of contemporary Greek society, culture, politics and of course language. Doubtless we shall be drawn into discussions on the issue of the Parthenon Sculptures being restored to Athens during 2004 when Greece is hosting the modern Olympics. We shall delight in giving our view that the British Museum has acted as custodian for long enough - time for these icons of Western civilisation to return home. What do you think? send us your views by e-mail please. Now follow the links below for 2 more pages of photos from our previous Greek trips. We were then reliant on public transport or hire-cars for moving around; our transport now is our faithful VW Camper, known affectionately to us as George. He functions as mobile photographic laboratory, e-mail café, travelling library, and of course our home while we are away - see pictures below. |