Trip to Delphi

Back on the Greek mainland, the heat in Athens is overwhelming. Even now, at the end of April, it feels like 35 degrees Celsius. The desire to leave the city and drive to ancient Delphi, located about 180 km away in the mountains, is growing stronger. The significant archaeological site, situated at an altitude of 700 meters at the foot of Mount Parnassus, is known for its breathtaking location. Additionally, I want to consult the famous oracle about the future. :-) However, I am dreading the 7-hour round trip in one of the usual buses with overly enthusiastic air conditioning but no toilet (there is one, but the handle has been removed to prevent it from being used). So this time, I rent a car at the airport and cover the approximately 180 km in just over two hours. The archaeological site is truly stunning, with the remains of the ancient city scattered on a lush hillside. Everywhere, cypresses tower above the ancient columns. To see all the highlights, one must overcome about 300 meters of elevation.

At the lowest point of the site is the Circular Temple of Athena Pronaia, the symbol of Delphi. Then, you ascend via the Sacred Way, passing by former treasuries and the gymnasium (which was unfortunately closed), to reach the Temple of Apollo. In this temple, there was once a crypt-like space where the high priestess Pythia sat and delivered her prophecies. She would enter a trance-like state by chewing laurel leaves or inhaling gases rising from the ground. Her ambiguous predictions about political or personal matters were costly, so the poor were only allowed to ask questions that could be answered with "yes" or "no". When I ask about the future, I hear a whisper through the trees saying, "It will bring both good and bad. Accept everything as it comes!" Above the Temple of Apollo, I come to the ancient theater, which once accommodated 5,000 spectators. At the highest point of the site, I finally discover the stadium from Roman times, where the Pythian Games were held initially every 8 years and later every 4 years. After the Olympic Games, they were the second most important games of ancient Greece. The view during my ascent is overwhelming, with the imposing rock formations, slender cypresses, and traces of a once prominent city that still exudes a sacred aura today, leaving a lasting impression on me.

On the way back to Athens, I briefly stop in the city of Arachova, which is only 12 km away and has become one of Greece's largest ski resorts in recent years due to the construction of ski centers on Mount Parnassus. Once again, the location on the hillside is impressive, and charming alleys invite you to stroll. But there is no time for that anymore, as my flight to Rome will depart in a few hours. So I bid farewell to Greece on the way to the airport and am already looking forward to Bella Italia! :-)