As I said in the previous blog, on Monday we made it back to Port Piraeus, boarded our bus and drove down the coast of Attica to Cape Sounion.
Cape Sounion is the southern most point of continental Europe, at the point of the Attican Peninsula. The Temple of Poseidon, built on a site set back from the sheer cliffs and with its magnificent view of the Aegean Sea and islands, was ideally located for worship of the powerful god of the sea. In ancient times, mariners would see the white marble columns of the Temple of Poseidon and know they were close to home. The temple was built in 444 BC.
We took many pictures of this area, but really, it didn't take long to see all there was to see here. We were supposed to go back to Athens and have the afternoon free. Then on Tuesday, we were to go to Corinth in the morning and have the afternoon free in Athens again. After some begging and coaxing by us travellers, we finally succeeded in getting the tour guides to take us to Corinth on Monday afternoon. Then we had the full day Tuesday to do what we wanted in Athens.
So, we boarded our big, purple bus again, and off to Corinth we went. It was a bit of a drive, so we stopped for lunch when we entered Corinth. Just down the street from where we ate, we could see the Corinth Canal. Before the Corinth Canal was constructed, ships had to travel all around the Peloponnese, which added approximately 185 nautical miles, and several days more travel to their journey time.
The Corinth Canal, which separates the Peloponnese from mainland Greece, connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. The Corinth Canal, though only completed in the late 19th century, was an idea and dream of two thousand years ago. The work on the canal was done by a combination of French and Greek workmen. The Corinth Canal was actually based on the “Panama and Suez Canals”, and has often been referred to as the “step-child” of these canals.
After lunch, we went to Ancient Corinth. It was another site of glorious ruins. After seeing Ephesus though, it was a bit anticlimactic. It wasn't nearly as well preserved. It was awesome still, to picture Paul here in this city.
On Tuesday, some of us got an early start and went to the older area of Athens, called Plaka. We got out our maps, obtained a map of the subway, and set out. We had to walk for several blocks to the nearest subway station, then we rode it to the stop nearest Plaka. (If you go to Athens and ride the subway, watch your wallet. Some of our fellow travellers lost theirs to pick-pockets!)
We spent the whole day walking, and walking all over Plaka taking pictures and enjoying the beautiful old buildings and sights. We were absolutley, totally, exhausted by the end of the day, so we opted to take a ride on a miniature sight seeing train. We sat in the back, and Gypsy children kept hopping aboard begging for money, and trying to sell us trinkets. We made sure our purses and bags were tightly held in our laps. It was very annoying and I finally turned around and loudly told one child to get down. He wasn't startled at all, and looked me in the eye, and loudly told me something in Greek...and did NOT get down! They were very brassy, bold children.
While walking about in Plaka, we came upon a "demonstration". We gleaned some information from a policeman, who told us that a factory had closed and these people had lost their jobs. They were protesting the loss of their jobs. I don't know if they expected the factory to re-open, or what. They parked themselves, including tents in the middle of one of the busiest intersections in downtown Athens. It was quite a sight. The terrible economy situation is world wide, it it not just an "American" thing.
After an exhausting, but exciting day in Plaka, we headed back by subway again, to the hotel. There we had our last dinner together in Athens. It was sad to leave after seeing old friends, and making new ones. My friend Joyce, made a very apropos statement. She said "This trip 'ruined' me!". I found that statement quite funny after seeing ruins, after ruins.
Early, early Wednesday morning we boarded our bus for the last time. It took us to the Athens airport where we had to wait a couple of hours before they would check us in. Apparently our flight was delayed a couple of times. This was April 1st, so Bro. Saiz took the opportunity to tell us that our flight had been cancelled and we would have to stay another day. Then he said "April fool"! We believed him, because they kept delaying our flight, so it was believable. I was disappointed when he said "April fool". I wouldn't have minded staying another night!
Our flight home was extremely LONG, but uneventful. It was another wonderful and great trip that the U.P.C. Single Adult Ministry (SAM) put together. Thank you Bro. Erickson, Sis. Saiz, and Bro Walls for all you do for us singles!
