Delphi/Santorini

September 27, 2005 (post delayed due to Internet access)
At Athens airport:
To fill out the rest of our Athens visit, I should mention that we found what is possibly the world’s most fun ouzo bar in the Plaka, a somewhat touristy shopping district with legitimately historic buildings. The bar’s walls were filled with bottles of colored liquor and backlit, creating a cozy effect. The ouzo was stored in barrels and the barkeeper walked up to the nozzles to fill orders. The owner, who was at least in his 80s, got excessively friendly with me while talking to us, running his hands up and down my leg, but I chose to view it as a paternal gesture – nevertheless we quickly settled our tab after that.
We have thoroughly enjoyed our one-day jaunt to Delphi. At first we were apprehensive because it seemed our bus was going to drop us and our luggage off at the ruins with no town in sight, but then we realized the town was perched on the side of the mountain just around the bend, and everything was in walking distance. We lunched overlooking the Bay of Itea, and then walked over to explore the impressive ruins and the museum with its famous life-sized bronze charioteer with piercing eyes and a surprisingly babyish face. Afterward, our dinner was pleasant enough except we were taken aback to see that our shrimp was served with all heads fully intact.
This morning, we got up early to see a portion of the ruins we’d missed yesterday; an Athenian temple and ancient gymnasium, along with a spring the pilgrims to the holy Delphi site once used to purify themselves. Now, we are awaiting our flight to Santorini and hopefully a few lazy days on the beach.