Greece: Day 9

This morning was the first morning that I walked out to breakfast and it was still a tad dark and chilly. We left the hotel at 8:15 and drove down the zigzag road and began our trek to Delphi. We made a picture stop in Thermopyles at the Memorial of Leonidas, a famous Spartan warrior.

​We continued driving through the Parnassus Mountains arriving to Delphi at about 4,600 feet. We first had lunch where I enjoyed a decadent dish of grilled octopus! Everyone at our table enjoyed wonderful seafood! A friend of mine emailed me yesterday asking if I had had octopus yet and I shared all my fish and mainly octopus pictures with him via email. Hopefully we will hang out for sushi when I get back! Thank goodness for good WiFi in the hotels!

After lunch we went to the ruins of Delphi. First we enjoyed a guided tour of the museum where there are so many ancient statues. We continued the guided tour outside in the ruins. Might I mention it was a clear day, VERY HOT, walking in the sun with little shade. I know I’ve been to a lot of ruins but these were pretty rad! Once the guided tour was done, I took off on my own to the top to go to the stadium. The climb kicked my butt, but when I arrived to the top it was incredible. The stadium was almost intact. And the view from the top of the entirety of the ruins was spectacular. I’m so happy I want to all the way. Several people from my tour group began to go up but only 6 of us made it to the top. On the way down from the stadium, I found a patch of beautiful yellow flowers growing, so I decided to spread Chris’s ashes there. A wonderful couple from Michigan caught me up at the stadium and we took pictures of each other there. I shared a lot of my story with Chris with them and they’ve been so wonderful to talk to and get to know. Once we made it down to ground level we got on the bus, and made our way to Galaxidi.

In Galaxidi there are mainly homes, no real hotels. So half of our group stayed at one B & B, and the rest of us went to another. At other high end hotels we have stayed at during the trip they sometimes welcome us with a drink or something. This place gave us water, and the most incredibly strawberry liqueur I’ve ever had. It was DELICIOUS and they make it at home. I asked if they sell it but they don’t. They also gave us these sweet caramelized orange rinds. Once a lot of our group had left to their rooms, I asked if I could have more of the strawberry drink. Then the few that were left also asked for more! So glad I asked!! When I walked in to my room it was the cutest thing ever! I even have a balcony!! I promptly turned in the AC and took a shower. We met with our Tour Director at 7:20 in the lobby to walk to the pier/port to have dinner.

We went to a restaurant where we enjoyed a ton of seafood!