Today I visited the Oracle at Delfi. I contemplated the mark that I would leave on the world, perhaps a similar contemplation was taken by another man who stood there ~2,300 years ago. Given he’d go on to conquer the known world, I’m sure we came to different conclusions.
Delfi is gorgeous! And the nearby town of Aravaho was absolutely picturesque. I love mountains. That said, Delfi has a LOT of bees. I’m scared of bees (and all flying insects that sting or perhaps buzz loudly). In contrast, the Attican countryside (before you climb into the mountains) is boring. If it weren’t for topographical variation and signs in Greek and sheep, I would’ve thought I was in Central Illinois.
There isn’t a whole lot to say about the ruins at Delfi given there isn’t much left there (like much of the Athenian archaeological sites). For a historian and philosopher, it was a pretty deep experience and one that didn’t even set in at first.
Interestingly, the Delfi museum does not allow you to pose next to the exhibits (but other non-flash photography is allowed). I suppose they don’t want frat boys denigrating “their” millennia-old antiquities by taking “inappropriate” photos. We ate lunch in a restaurant tucked into Mount Parnassus. It was fine but disappointing in terms of what was served. It was chicken, rice, a kind of quiche, and then watermelon for dessert. Dessert was probably the most disappointing; I was hoping for something more Grecian. Oh well. It was included in the tour cost so I’m not going to complain too much. I will say that a doctor from Malayasia was equally disappointed as me so at least I had company.
Some interesting tidbits:
-There are cars and motorcycles everywhere in central Athens but I have not seen any gas stations (I saw some as we got toward the “suburbs”).
-I saw an auto shop called “computer car service”, which either specializes in fixing the computers in cars or there is a translation issue
-I saw sheep and a sheep herding dog! I saw a herd of sheep running down the service road! It was cool.
My favorite comment of the day: How can you be [a white] American and so dark? (from a couple from South Africa) The answer is it’s what happens when you are 3/8 Italian and in the Mediterranean.
Today I achieved a seven-year long dream. I stood where Alexander the Great once stood.
Miles walked: 4.9
Between bees, a central Illinois-like landscape and the standing where Alexander stood, I will go with the latter. And yes, people are confused when you don’t adhere to racial stereotypes from your place of origin… tell me about it.