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Selasa, 23 Agustus 2016
archaeology
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beaches
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castles
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excursions
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explore
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friends
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Greece
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historic sites
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islands
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London
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photography; exhibits
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vineyards
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MAKING TRIP PLANS, 2016
ENGLAND AND THE IONIAN ISLANDSI've started to verify and plan my trip to Europe this year which will begin September 4 when I fly to London. From there I will go right away to Caerphilly, Wales to spend a couple of days visiting with my cousins and touring my castle. It's a quick trip due to me having to take advantage of cheap air fares.
Caerphilly Castle
Windsor St. Where my Dad used to live.
On Sept. 7 I'll head into London again, early, in time to take in a special exhibit at the British Museum. I'm really excited about seeing EGYPT'S LOST WORLDS, which are artifacts found under the see, some off of Alexandria which was the city founded by Alexander the Great and occupied but the first Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt.
The British Museum
Early the next morning I fly to Corfu, my first stop in the Ionian Islands off the west coast of Greece. I was only there briefly back in the early '80's so I wanted to spend a few days there as Corfu has an interesting history with lots to see. I've check out the tours and will try and take one of them so I can see as many of the special sites as possible. This will include the palace where Prince Philip was born and the home of the Durrell brothers of literary fame.
Corfu, Kerkyra
Mouse Island
Kerkyra
I'm staying on Corfu for 3 days then taking the quick ferry over to the tiny island of Paxis where I'll spend two days exploring. There are a couple of interesting museums and a Venetian Kastro on an islet off shore that was reputedly designed by Leonardo da Vinci.
Paxi, Gaia
Paxi harbour
From Paxi I must take a ferry to the mainland and then a bus to Lefkada where I'll head south to the town of Vassiliki (the surf-boarders paradise). Not sure yet if I'll spend a night there. It depends on the ferry service onward to Kefalonia where I will visit the seaside town of Fiscardo, established and named for a famous pirate.
From there I will head by bus to Athens, and will stop there to visit friends for a few days before heading on another island adventure, this time to the islands of Paros and Naxos. I decided to stay two days on Paros as it is another island that I've only visited briefly back in the '90's.
My favorite island is Naxos, so I'll stay there five days in a bed-tent at the Maragas Camping, a campsite and beach that I just love going to. I never get tired of visiting Naxos as it's a big island and lots to see besides having the most fabulous beaches! I can hardly wait to have my dinner at one of my favorite sea-side tavernas there to watch the sunset!
From Naxos I will head south to Crete. I haven't been to Crete since the '80's and wanted to see the Minoan site of Knossos again as well as exploring around Iraklion. I'll be there a couple of days and hope to get up to a mountainside resort owned by a FB friend.
When all my Cretan adventures are over, I head back to Athens and that's where I'll be for the month of October, until the 20th when I head back home. There's lots to see and do in my favorite city besides visiting with my friends. I'll go over to Salamina island for a few days to explore with Christina and probably make a few day trips around If finances enable it, I might even go up to Pelion for a few days as I've been wanting to explore that area for quite some time now.
Some of my Athens friends
Zoe and me
Carola, Christina and Kim
I'll be posting along the way and sharing all my adventures with on-line friends and family. So stay tuned for the next installment!
Sabtu, 30 Juli 2016
adventure
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excursions
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friends
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fun
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Greece
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hikes
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historical sites
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monuments
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travel
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MEMORIES OF ALL THE FUN I HAD IN GREECE (Sept/Oct 2015)
I didn't do much blogging after I got back from last year's trip to Greece and here it is, time to embark on another. So while looking through my photos I came across many of the adventures I enjoyed, from the islands to visiting archaeological site and hanging out with my friends.
Then I moved into a lovely pension in the town with a room right by pool-side.
Then, back to Athens, an on to many more adventures. These included a couple of day trips with friends, a visit to the island of Salamina, an afternoon at the Temple of Poseidon, Sounion, and many others. Here's a sample of a few of them.
Maragas Camping, Naxos
The most beautiful beaches!
A margarita for lunch at the Picasso Beach Taverna
Spectacular Naxos sunset
I started my holiday adventures on my favorite island NAXOS, at my favorite spot, Maragas Camping, Agia Ana. The most fabulous beach, and fun staying in a bed-tent for three days.Then I moved into a lovely pension in the town with a room right by pool-side.
The "Something Else" Pension
There's lots to see on the island of Naxos and I like to go back there every time I visit Greece.
The walk out to the "Portada"
The Portada "Apollo's Temple"
I love the Venetian influence on Naxos with these vaulted streets.
The Corinth Canal
A day trip to the Peloponnese: Fish farms
The small ancient theatre of Epidaurus.
The Big Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus
Then some trips around Athens and the mainland. There is so much to do there and many choices of where to spend your time. You really need to allow for this when you visit Greece.
Athens, the Acropolis
The Temple of Poseidon, Cape Sounion
The Temple of Poseidon (try to get there for sunset!)
One day I made a trip to Marathon, where the famous battle took place between the Greeks and the Persians. This is where today's marathons begin, just as the runner who bore the news of the Greek victory ran from there to Athens (and then died of exhaustion!)
Grave mound of the fallen warriors
Marathon, monument for the runners
Then I made a trip to Salamina island, also the scene of a famous naval battle between the Greeks and Persians. My friend Christina lives there so we always go exploring and this year was a very special archaeological adventure!
Monument to the fallen warriors
Monument for the Battle of Salamis
I had heard from my friend about a cave up on the mountain where the dramatist Euripides had once lived. I was determined to make the climb up there, and I did! (It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!)
The Cave of Euripides
It wasn't all Archaeology on this trip. I even did a reading of my historical novel SHADOW OF THE LION: BLOOD ON THE MOON at the Canadian Institute.
Then there was more exploring and having fun.
somewhere around the Agora
along one of the old walled areas of ancient Athens.
my travel buddies
My Athens pals!
And most of all I love hanging out with my Athens pals. This year there will be lots more adventures too and I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone and being there, in Athens, my second home, and exploring Greece, my favorite place to be!
Kamis, 24 April 2014
THE CROCODILE TEMPLE AT KOM OMBO
Getting ready for another exciting tour!
Kom Ombo was situated at an important crossroads between the caravan route from Nubia and routes from the gold mines in the eastern desert. At one time, during the reign of Ptolemy VI (180-145 BC) it was a training depot for African war elephants.
Kom Ombo
Today Kom Ombo is the home of many Nubians who were displaced after the Aswan Dam flooded their lands. They now work in the tourism industry or the sugar cane fields on the river banks. There are also felucca-building yards at Edfu and many Nubians are helmsmen on the river boats.
On our way to Kom Ombo we passed by the Colossi of Memnon, two giant monoliths that stand by the road guarding the Theban Necropolis all that remains of a temple built by Amenophis II about 2400 years ago.
The Collosi of Thebes?
?
We entered the temple complex through the remains of the monumental Gate of Neos Dionysos. Much of the temple has been washed away by Nile floods so only low walls and stumps of pillars in the forecourt remain. But in the beautiful Outer Hypostyle Hall there are fifteen sturdy columns still standing, with decorated cornices and carved winged sun disks. The papyrus is the symbol of the Nile Delta and the bases of these columns are carved with the heraldic lily of Upper Egypt and the papyrus.
Me at the Temple of Kom Ombo
Kom Ombo Temple is an usual double temple built during the Ptolemaic dynasty, with later additions by the Romans. It has courts, halls, sanctuaries and rooms duplicated for two sets of gods. The right side is dedicated to Sobek-Re (the crocodile god combined with the sun god Re) along with his wife and their son. Sobek is associated with Seth, the murderer of Osiris and enemy of Horus. In the myth, Seth changed himself into a crocodile to escape. The Egyptians believed if they honored the crocodile as a god they would be safe from attacks by the ferocious creatures.
Nubians?
The left side of the temple is dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris �The Good Doctor� (Horus the Elder) along with his consort Ta-Sent-Nefer,�the Good Sister� (another form of Hathor) and Panebtawy, Lord of the Two Lands.
Hanan explains the heiroglyphics to Linda ?
Our Egyptologist guide, Hanan, made the tour through the temples interesting by telling the stories etched in the hieroglyphs. There is a relief of Sobek in his snake form on one wall and another shows Ptolemy II making offerings to various gods. The scene on the face of the rear wall was interesting as it may have represented a set of surgical instruments.
Mummified Crocodiles?
In ancient times, this part of the Nile was known for the crocodiles that basked in the sun posing a threat to the locals. This is likely why one of the temples at Kom Ombo is dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god.
After this interesting tour, we returned to the boat and lounged on the deck for a while before heading off for EDFU.
Linda, Yves and me relaxing on deck
Edfu
Edfu is a small city located on the west bank of the Nile River north of Aswan. This time we were transported by horse and carriage which made it a unique and extra fun experience. We were swarmed by Nubian souvenier-sellers but politely declined their wares. One young boy caught my attention though. As charming as could be, he kept saying to me �You have a lovely smile, lady! Smile again!� Of course he wanted me to buy some trinkets, and eventually I just couldn�t resist his charm!
The Carriage Ride
?
The cute souvenier seller?
The Edfu site has provided archaeologists with more information than many others, dating from as far back as the Predynastic Period right until the Byzantine era. Edfu was the capital of that area of Upper Egypt and one of the few settlements that thrived when others were in decline.
The Temple in Edfu is located on the west bank of the Nile which was known in Greco-Roman times as Apollonopolis Magna, after the chief god, Horus-Opollo. This is one of the best preserved temples in Egypt. It was built in the Ptolemaic period between 237 � 57 BC and dedicated to the falcon god Horus.
Because the temple is so well preserved it is a frequent stop for many of the river cruises and tour groups. The day we were there though there were few others, one of the significant examples of how the tourism in Egypt has suffered in the last two years.
The temple of Edfu is the largest temple dedicated to the gods Horus and Hathor and was the centre of sacred festivals to honour the gods� sacred marriage. The ancient Egyptians believed that each year Hathor travelled south from her temple at Denderah to visit Horus at Edfu. It was an important festival and pilgrimage.
Me and Horus
?
What makes this temple unique are the inscriptions on the iwalls which provide important information on language, myth and religion during that period in ancient Egypt. The most unique thing is the inscribed building texts that provide details of the temple�s construction and information about the mythical interpretations.
Hanan pointed out the important scenes and inscription that told the age-old conflict between Horus and Seth. (Seth was the god who killed Horus� father, his own brother Osiris).
It was such an intense and interesting day of touring that when we got back to the ship in the evening none of us had the energy to join in a �Gallabia Party�. I peeked in to see though. Everyone was dressed in Egyptian costumes and having a great time dancing to Egyptian music. I kind of wished I�d had the energy to attend as it looked like everyone was having a lot of fun. But we needed a good night�s sleep because the next day we were headed for Luxor and the Valley of the Kings!
The Egyptian Party
?
Nile Sunset?
KOM OMBO info: http://www.ancientegyptonline.co.uk/komombotemple.html
EDFU TEMPLE info: http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/edfu.htm
NEXT: THE VALLEY OF THE KINGS AND THE AMAZING TEMPLE OF HATSHEPSUT
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