Today we will be headed back to Athens not by train, due to the strike, but by bus which will take longer but will provide us an opportunity to see more and to have more teaching time with Kay. As a real benefit Kay is going to "look" at the book of Daniel with us. It will help us in our understanding of Revelation when we "look" at it on the island of Patmos. We are taking a "look" at these books as Kay was quick to point out because you could never teach them in the short amount of time we have!
This is our last morning in Thessaloniki and we have just had breakfast and our bags our being loaded in the buses! We are being taught Thessalonians and Kay had warned us that she would be her own power point presentation! Who said Bible study isn't fun!! (That is Jesus in the back with the tablecloth wrapped around him and the woman next to him is filled with the Holy Spirit - the napkin coming out of her blouse :-) I was fortunate to have a front row seat!
Jesus is standing on a chair over me and I believe I'm about to be snatched up to Heaven if he can stop laughing! (It is fun to travel with people with similar senses of humor! We laughed a lot!)
We are on the buses and headed to Athens! Our guide, Andy, is with us and though we are studying Daniel she is politely interrupting if she feels there is anything that we wouldn't want to miss! Shrouded in the clouds is Mt. Olympus. It is the largest mountain in Greece. In Greek mythology the mountain was regarded as the "home of the gods", specifically of the Twelve Olympians, the twelve principal gods of the Classical Greek and Hellenistic worlds.
In the distance you can see Platamon Castle.
The Byzantine castle of Platamon is one of the finest and best preserved castles in Greece which is situated on the southeast foot of mountain Olympus on a hill overlooking the sea, a position that has commanded the shortest route between Macedonia and Thessaly since ancient times.
Platamon Castle was built in 1204 A.C. Inside the castle there are two churches from the Middle Byzantine period and Early Christian period. From the tower Mt Olympus and the sea (Thermaikos gulf) can be seen.
We pulled in to what looked like a truck stop! We had been so well fed up to now that going in for a sandwich and chips was not going to be too disappointing!! But what a surprise - it was a family run business and they met us at the door to walk us through and interpret for us their Greek dishes in their cafeteria line. We were asked to choose a bread, a salad, an entree, a dessert and a drink. There was a variety to choose from but Tony and I wanted to try the traditional Greek dishes. Those who chose the fresh Cod said it was the best they had ever eaten!!
Tony chose the Moussaka. He had started eating before I could take the picture!Moussaka is a casserole made by layering eggplant with a spiced meat filling then topping it off with a creamy bechamel sauce that is baked to golden perfection.
I chose the Pastichio (the fries came with it?!) It was delicious. Also called Greek Lasagna, Pastichio is prepared with macaroni, ground beef, traditional Greek seasonings and a creamy custard béchamel sauce. While I am talking food let me just say that Greece had incredibly fresh vegetables. I have not had tomatoes like theirs since we pulled them off the vines ourselves!! And I believe I ate my weight in Greek salad while I was there it was so much better than any I have had here in the states! And though I am not a chocolate person my dessert was incredible and sadly I made the mistake of only eating half of it!! What was I thinking?!
This is the Pass of Thermopylae. The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states, led by Sparta, and the Persian Empire of Xerxes I over the course of three days, during the second Persian invasion of Greece. It took place simultaneously with the naval battle at Artemisium, in August or September 480 BC, at the pass of Thermopylae ('The Hot Gates'). I won't go into detail of the battle because it is easy enough to research and the movie "300" was based on this battle.
I chose the Pastichio (the fries came with it?!) It was delicious. Also called Greek Lasagna, Pastichio is prepared with macaroni, ground beef, traditional Greek seasonings and a creamy custard béchamel sauce. While I am talking food let me just say that Greece had incredibly fresh vegetables. I have not had tomatoes like theirs since we pulled them off the vines ourselves!! And I believe I ate my weight in Greek salad while I was there it was so much better than any I have had here in the states! And though I am not a chocolate person my dessert was incredible and sadly I made the mistake of only eating half of it!! What was I thinking?!
The owner kept bringing us things to taste - this is a specialty dessert of his. The only way I can come close to describing it is by comparing it to pecan pie filling! It was sweet with nuts inside. Once again it just goes to show you can never judge a book by its cover! Had we been traveling on our own we would never had stopped here to eat and what a wonderful experience it was. I hope Greeks don't come here looking to our truck stops for home cooked meals!!
This is the Pass of Thermopylae. The Battle of Thermopylae was fought between an alliance of Greek city-states, led by Sparta, and the Persian Empire of Xerxes I over the course of three days, during the second Persian invasion of Greece. It took place simultaneously with the naval battle at Artemisium, in August or September 480 BC, at the pass of Thermopylae ('The Hot Gates'). I won't go into detail of the battle because it is easy enough to research and the movie "300" was based on this battle.The battle has been described as one that both ancient and modern writers have used as an example of the power of a patriotic army of freemen defending native soil. The performance of the defenders at the battle of Thermopylae is also used as an example of the advantages of training, equipment, and good use of terrain as force multipliers and has become a symbol of courage against overwhelming odds.
The shoreline along our drive back was beautiful! And, of course, my pictures can't do it justice!
I had to get a shot of Kay teaching on the bus. One of the points she made (not on this particular day) in her teachings was that there is power in grace and believe me I saw the grace of God in Kay and in turn the power of the Holy Spirit in her ability to do all that she is able to do!! And this power and grace is available to all who believe!
We are pulling in to Athens, the capital and largest city in Greece. I read somewhere that its' recorded history goes back some 3,400 years! No wonder I feel so young here!
We have checked into the Diavani Caravel Hotel. (Well, someone checked us in because the bus pulled in and our keys were passed out to us! Could it get any easier than that! Well, yes, when your baggage is removed from the bus and delivered to your room for you! :-)
The shoreline along our drive back was beautiful! And, of course, my pictures can't do it justice!
I had to get a shot of Kay teaching on the bus. One of the points she made (not on this particular day) in her teachings was that there is power in grace and believe me I saw the grace of God in Kay and in turn the power of the Holy Spirit in her ability to do all that she is able to do!! And this power and grace is available to all who believe!
We are pulling in to Athens, the capital and largest city in Greece. I read somewhere that its' recorded history goes back some 3,400 years! No wonder I feel so young here!
We have checked into the Diavani Caravel Hotel. (Well, someone checked us in because the bus pulled in and our keys were passed out to us! Could it get any easier than that! Well, yes, when your baggage is removed from the bus and delivered to your room for you! :-) I thought you might like to see the inside of our room. You might notice that it is not a queen bed but two twin beds pushed together which was only a problem when I couldn't kick (nudge) Tony to stop snoring.
Our room was very nice and the bathroom was as well. Little did we know how we should appreciate this bathroom considering the one that we would be using on the ship!
Dinner the first night was on the rooftop of our hotel. The hotel had a beautiful roof garden and pool from where you had 360 degree view of Athens which included the Acropolis.
Another view from the rooftop of our hotel. That is Lycabettus Hill with the highest elevation in the city centre of Athens. On the summit is the small church of St. George and a restaurant. The summit can only be reached by cable car or a strenuous walk via stairs!
More of Athens. Obviously, our hotel is in the middle of downtown and very convenient to the subway and a variety of shops.
Our room was very nice and the bathroom was as well. Little did we know how we should appreciate this bathroom considering the one that we would be using on the ship!
Dinner the first night was on the rooftop of our hotel. The hotel had a beautiful roof garden and pool from where you had 360 degree view of Athens which included the Acropolis.
Another view from the rooftop of our hotel. That is Lycabettus Hill with the highest elevation in the city centre of Athens. On the summit is the small church of St. George and a restaurant. The summit can only be reached by cable car or a strenuous walk via stairs!
More of Athens. Obviously, our hotel is in the middle of downtown and very convenient to the subway and a variety of shops. This is a picture of the Acropolis at night. The end of another day and I can't tell you how many times Tony and I would look at each other and say, "We're in Greece!" After 35 years of marriage, we were like two young kids on their honeymoon!!
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." 1 John 2:15
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