To borrow a phrase from PLU's famed freshmen orientation guides, today was basically "THE BEST DAY EVER!" And I mean that quite seriously. Everything about today was perfect. There were so many jaw-dropping, awe inspiring moments that I don't even know where to begin with this blog post.We began our day bright and early at 7:30 AM. Our class boarded a tour bus in front of the Olympic Stadium and we headed out into the Greek countryside for Delphi. I'd been looking forward to this trip ever since I learned it was happening. I clearly remember learning about Delphi in my high school English class when we studied the Oedipus plays.
As we drove out of Athens, it was exciting to catch a glimpse of Greece I'd never seen before. We were breaking new ground, and with every kilometer we drove the scenery got more spectacular. Finally we found ourselves surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountains I'd ever seen. As the bus wound through the valley, Dr. Finitsis announced we'd be making a surprise stop at a 1,000 year old Byzantine monastery. The side trip was definitely worth our time. This beautiful, quiet monastery was located on the side of a hill overlooking a green, gorgeous valley. We took our time exploring the grounds and taking photos. Several of us took a moment to light a candle in honor of loved ones.
Then it was back on the bus for the final stretch to Delphi. When we finally reached our destination, I was in shock. The ruins are more beautiful than you can possibly imagine. Sadly, I think it is impossible for me to convey how amazing Delphi is to someone who has never seen it. Even the greatest picture in the world couldn't capture the splendor of Delphi.
The class spread out as we walked through the ruins toward the stadium at the top. The famous theater was just as amazing as I expected it to be, and the Temple of Apollo was an incredible sight to behold. The stadium was also very exciting to see. Even though it's in ruins, it is incredibly beautiful.
After our tour of the ruins, we hurried down to the museum for a quick walk-through of the exhibits. Unfortunately the museum was about to close, so we didn't spend nearly as much time there as I would have like. Ah well, I guess that just gives me an excuse to come back some other time! Our group also took some time walking around the Sanctuary of Athena, about 1/4 mile away from the main Delphi site. Athena's sanctuary provided an excellent view of Delphi looking up from the bottom.
Finally, our exhausted group headed back to the bus for the ride to Athens. First, however, we stopped at one of the quaintest mountain villages I've ever seen for some delicious dinner. My table was feeling particularly adventurous, and we ordered pig entrails as an appetizer. Apparently this is a delicacy in parts of Greece. The pig entrails actually tasted delicious, if you ignore the fact that they are pig entrails. More delicious food followed, and by the time the meal was over everyone was in a good mood.
Today truly was one of the most incredible days of my life. Visiting Delphi and the Byzantine monastery might even trump my future wedding day/birth of my children as the greatest day of my life. Tomorrow we go back to our familiar life in Athens, and in several weeks we head back to PLU. However, even though I may not see Delphi again for a very long time (or the rest of my life), today will always hold a special place in my heart.
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