Gulf of Corinth/Galaxadi and Delphi

After Messolongi, we sailed under the Rio-Antirrio bridge at Rion, the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world and an amazing feat of engineering considering the deep water and geologic activity in the area, and anchored off the town of Galaxadi.   A picture perfect town with an ancient history and a nice museum describing its key role in Greek sailing ship building in the 1800’s, it doubles in size in summer with tourists but was wonderful to visit in the off-season.  Our only little hiccup was when we found the bread store closed on October 18 due to the anti-austerity protests.  The weather was amazing, with beautiful blue skies, flat calm water for swimming, and flowers still blooming all around. On one of our walks, we went down some steps to a small pocket of a beach, and I took my shoes off to walk in the water at the bottom of the steps.  I felt a little tickle on my ankle and looked down to see a long skinny shape disappear under the step.  I stepped away and looked down…a curious (hungry?) little octopus came right back out.

We also took a day trip to Delphi, the site of the most important oracle of ancient Greece until it was destroyed by earthquakes and Christian anti-pagan efforts.   Family favorite was the stadium where athletes competed every four years in the Pythian games roughly between 600BC and 400AD. According to the signage, athletes in the final races wore only helmets, shields and greaves.  We all had a bet on whether a greave was A) a Greek type of loincloth or B) a neck kerchief, or C) some other type of full body armor.   We all lost!

 

North half of the Rio-Antirrio bridge

 

Tenho anchored off the town of Galaxidi

Bougainvillea blooms all over town

 

Our friendly little octopus

 

Hugo shakes hands with the octopus

 




All that remains of the Temple of Apollo,

home of the Delphi Oracle

 

The stadium of the Pythian games at Delphi