Ready for takeoff

Appetizer

The Acropolis

Mount Lycabettus

Dinner at rooftop bar

Real Greek olives

Dinner

The view from my bedroom at apartment.

It is pouring rain as we get ready to retire for the night. We have a covered patio where tomorrow night I will sit and enjoy the scenery. \240

The area to the left is from 2500 years ago.

This is later years.

The clay tubes indicate bathrooms and more modern from 2nd or 3rd century AD.

Hospitals in bicentennial Greece were always next to the Amphitheatres. Medical tools and cupping were around 2500 years ago.

Porch of Korai where ancestors of the gods were buried.

Nike adjusting her sandal.

All temples and churches face east which indicates power.

The oldest courthouse bench. This is also the place The Apostle Paul preachered when he came to Athens.

Agora- the oldest market in Athens

Temple of Zeus

Ancient Amphitheater

Porch of Korai

The Changing of the Guard - the skirts have 400 folds to symbolize 400 years of Turkish occupation.

The oldest church in Athens

Outdoor movie theatre

Today 18,567 steps.

Tomorrow - Meteora and another 15,000 steps possible.

The Grand Monastery

The Grand Monastery close.

The original kitchen until 19th century.

St Valaam Monastery

St Stephens Monastery

This bridge used to be a draw bridge

St Nickalaus Monastery

Olive Trees- each family has enough trees to provide olives and olive oil for that family. Our guide has 140 olive trees. 100 provide olives for olive oil and 40 provide olives for the table. These are Kalamati olives. The olives are harvested in November and December. The trees are “combed” and the olives fall into nets to take to refinery.

Typical Greek dinner of moussaka

These caves are where hermits lives.

The rooms are a little smaller than we usually book but for 1 person, they are very nice.

Heading to Temple of Poseidon this evening for sunset.

Lake of Vouliagmene 70% fresh water and 30% salt water. Alway 62 degrees. It is hot springs.

55,000 Greek Jews died in World War II. Greek was an important location for Nazis as the mountains contain silver.

Sunset at Temple of Poseidon

Hadrian’s Arch

Roman Agora (market)

Wine with cookies.

Syrian children protesting that Greek government not doing enough for them with winter coming.

Santorini donkeys

The blue doors on right are cave homes.

View from my balcony

Philippeion - the only circular building in Altus.

Temple of Hera

The oldest temple of the Sanctuary. According to legend, here was kept the disk of Sacred Truce.

Hera’s Altar - the lighting of the Olympic flame takes place here.

Bases of Zane’s - bronze statues of Zeus erected with fines imposed on athletes who cheated. The inscriptions held their names and the nature of the infringement.

The Olympic Stadium. Capacity 45,000 seating on grass.

Base of Paronio’s Victory. On this triangular shaped base stood the winged Victory statue.

Temple of Zeus

Gymnasium

1st century AD

4th and 3rd century BC

2nd half of 2nd century AD

Hermès of Praxiteles - found during excavation of Temple of Hera. In his raised right arm he was probably holding grapes, a symbol of association with future god of wine.

The Nike of Paeonios

Upper left - end of 8th century BC

Middle - beginning of 7th century BC

Bottom left, center and bottom right - mid 7th beginning of 6th century BC

Olympialand Winery

Monastery of Virgin Mary at top.

At Monastery of Virgin Mary

First stop Kanoni

5th Century BC Byzantine Church

The Old fortress 5th Century BC

The Venetian occupation started in 14th Century BC \240and lasted 4 centuries.

In WWI, it served as shelter for Serbian soldiers.

Sea moat of old fortress

Guilford founder of first university in Corfu.

Tomorrow is celebration of alliance with Greece.

The tallest bell tower in Corfu

Palace of St George and Michael

The gates around town closed at night and opened in morning to separate townspeople from country people.

The arch on left Dedicated to St George. The arch on right dedicated to Arch angel Michael.

In 1968 the monarchy ended then it was under dictatorship until 1974. Now they are democracy. \240 During WWII all of Greece was under German occupation.

Any addition above 3rd floor is British addition.

Greek Vikars outside church of St Spyridon

Traveling musicians

Our Lady of Rock

Our tour to olive oil manufacturer. He explained that good olive oil should smell like freshly mowed grass and apples. It should also have a peppery taste. The difference between Extra Virgin olive oil and Virgin olive oil is that Extra Virgin the olives are hand picked from the olive trees and processed the same day. Olive oil is best kept in dark glass bottles for best conditions. Keep out of sun and heat.

The rock walls serve multiple purposes. One, it indicates property lines. Secondly, it holds back erosion of the land.

Bar for donkey

St John fort

Lady of Remedy Church

Church of St Tryton. Left spire constructed 1166. Right spire 2016 after earthquake.

Church of St Luke

Overlooking Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik

Pula Gate.

St Nichalus church. The oldest church in town.

Dominican Monastery

City Walls

In 14th century Salt was considered white gold and Dubrovnik was very wealthy. Most of the city was destroyed by earthquake or fire during 17th Century.

You can see the marks from shrapnel

City streets

Bible from 11th century

Tombstones on floor of family coat of arms

Benedictine monastery built 1046

Church built in 820. Inside the short walls was excavated after WWII. Most everything was destroyed during WWII. The Benedictine nuns hid the treasures. There is a traveling altar and crown among many crucifixes. There is a relic of cross of Jesus. Theses treasures were hidden in the bellfrey.

St Simeon’s body is in Zadar since 1270. There is a celebration once per year where they open his cercoficus to confirm his body is there. St Simeon held the son of god in his hand.

Roman column from 1st century.

Altar where they sacrificed animals

Cathedral of Saint Anastasia. 1202 destroyed. 1285 reconstruction started. 1325 it was reopened.

The church of St Lawrence was forgotten about and everything built around it. This is where someone sentenced to death spent their last night.

1st century Roman column

Solar sun with smaller planets of solar system.

Sea organ with benches which simulate keyboard.

Pretoria’s Palace Tito Square

Clock Tower that used to be Watch Tower

Monastery of Medievel knights Ljubljana

Southern city wall of Ljubljana Roman times

Ljubljana Castle

Ljubljana

Lake Bled Castle

Lake Bled Island

Lake Bled Castle Church

Savoy hunting lodge. 137 rooms.

Sacre St Michele

The view from above

Filling up wine jugs

Dinner at Agriturismo

Venice from ship before we took train to Torino

Castello di Masina

Castello di Masina

The banquet hall at our bed and breakfast

Winery at bed and breakfast

Jim and Julie at house no 14 in Navetta, Italy where our great grandparents lived.

The original part of house no 14

The original road in Navetta

Cuorgne, Italy

Wine terrace

Roman remains

Astoa

Cheese house valley de Astoe

Wine casks

Florence wood shop

Peeling and coring pears for pear gelato

Gelato tasting

Pizza oven

Pizza making

Graduation from pizza making and gelato

Tuscany

Some pictures from our villa

Tuscan villa

Monte Dei Paschi - the oldest bank in the world. Founded in 1472 and still operating.

The top is head sculptures

Represent Ramules and Ramos. The only thing that links Siena to Rome is this legend.

Built between 10th and 11th century. Built in honor of St Christopher.

Palace

The Loche gallery

A typical street

Church of Saint Dominic

The Baptistry - dedicated to St John the Baptist. The facade was not finished because 80-85% of citizens died due to Black Death.

The Cathedral of Siena. Started in 12th century. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The floor is a marble mosaic announcing the coming of the Messiah.

Facade of new church which was stopped due to Black Death.

Wine tasting

SAN Gimignano- a UNESCO heritage site. One block long filled with souvenir shops and gelato stores. As you can see, it is pouring rain.

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Straightening it back up

Tuscany

Water taxi to hotel

Venice

View from my room

Gondola

St Mark’s Basilica

Gondola ride

Murano

Had to share final dessert in Italy