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Greece 2010 - Delos


On October 8th about 7 of our group joined about 60 other passengers from the ship for an optional excurson as soon as we docked in Mykonos to go aboard the tender,the Orca, and make the 30 minute crossing to the uninhabited island of Delos. We arrived about 4pm,and hour after the island "closed" for visitors. Roxane, the guide for English speakers (about 30 of us) informed us that we had the special priviledge of an off-hours visit to the ruins of one of ncient Greece's most sacred sanctuaries. This meant no one at all (except the caretakers) besides us had the freedom to follow along with Roxane or to roam at will among the classical temples devoted to Leto, the mother of twins Apollo and Artemis.

The bareen island is overlooked by a mountain whose stairway to the tp looked inviting to those of us inclined to such folley - too bad (maybe?) there was no time, and we had plenty of other distractions - the herd-scented air under a blue sky (although it was windy) and Hellenic Greek mansions whose central courtyards still contained mosaics and stairs to a lost second story.

We sat in the theater - what Greek ruins lacks a theater?! Peeked into ancient kitchens - it appears the Greeks only grilled or boiled their food. (Frying they considered unhealthy!)

Particularly interesting to me was the sacred lake, now just damp, with a date palm in the middle, recalling the moment when Leto grabbed it as she gave birth to her divine twins.

By 6pm, in the twilight, the Orca returned us to the fleshpots of Mykonos and later, dinner on the Cristal.

Thanks to guest blogger, Prof. Mry Joan Leith for this entry!

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