We drove out from Nafplio about an hour and visited Mycenae, a hill-top fortress, from a Greek culture of 1600-1200 B.C. We find a huge gate, the Lion Gate, with very large carved and precisely placed stones.
The heads may have been made of gold, which of course would have been "borrowed" long ago.
Remains of a tomb where nineteen graves were uncovered.
Looking back out the front gate...
The royal palace with not much more than the foundations remaining.
Overlooking the territory of the Mycenaen people.
Part of a group of about 50 German students with their study leaders covering the grounds.
Entrance to a deep cistern cut down deep into a cave-like structure; and the simple rear gate.
 |  |
And another museum to show off treasures found from excavations.
Just outside the museum, the remains of a bee-hive shaped burial chamber with the top part missing.
For some reason, fire-rescue crews were at the standby at both sites we visited today - hmmm, not sure what the danger is, tourists falling off edges or tourists flicking cigarettes into the flammable dried brushes.
A short drive nearby brought us to an intact bee-hive shaped tomb. Looters have long ago removed any thing remaining inside - the tomb was never hidden from view of future civilizations.
 |  |
 |  |
After an hour twenty minutes we arrive at Epidavros, an ancient Greek healing center, from 400 B.C. The center piece is a large amphitheater, the best preserved of 132 known amphitheaters in Greece. It could seat 15,000, after the Romans added the upper tier in 50 B.C.
 |  |
The man at center stage is dropping a coin onto a center stone - you could actually hear it striking down from the top seats.
VIP row seats, with back rests and carved end pieces.
An amazing place to take in a play.
As our tour book said to watch out for this, a visitor "took the stage" and sang some opera-like lines. We could hear him easily from the top - fortunately he could a carry a tune quite well.
Our view of the performance, unaided by a camera zoom.
The show is over, time to hit the exits.
And to the museum...
...and nearby, a sporting stadium.
Some rebuilt temple parts, with the darker stone we assume being the originals.
Another fire crew at the standby - we learned there have been wild fires in the recent past threatening the grounds.
Time to head "home", we fire up our trusty sea-blue Volkswagen.
It's time for a wine tasting - we joined an actual "Rick Steves" tour group of 18. No, Rick Steves didn't seem to be there, but there was one dude who bore a striking resemblance, purely a coincidence???
The store owner running the show, with his son doing the pouring.
Back to our lodging, in time for sunset.
 |  |
RSS Feed
