Notes from Abroad: Corinth

The above pictures don't quite do justice to the grandeur and height of Acrocorinth.  We began our climb early, before the sun had a chance to warm the rocks, and laden with water bottles.  Still, we roasted as we ascended, and Little M sat down at several points, refusing to budge.  Thank God for a young, strong big brother, who heard her wails and offered a ride for part of the journey.  We hiked to both peaks and stopped at the church dedicated to St. Demetrios on our way back down.  I didn't make it to the church, but heard the rest of the family chanting his apolytikion from my spot near the path.  It was beautiful.  We saw many almond trees bearing fruit, and M tells me the nuts were very sweet.  I couldn't get any of the shells open, so will have to take his word for it.  

As grueling as this hike was (my fitness app recorded 57 flights of stairs!), this was my favorite part of our stay near Nafplio.

Refreshed by cold drinks and some time in the car's AC, we drove to the site of Ancient Corinth.  In a bizarre coincidence that only happens to us in Greece, we ran into a Canadian priest who is transferring to the US this summer.  T's godparents had told us about attending his last day at the parish in Greece, and how beloved he is.  The priest and his family were at the playground near the parking lot for the site; he noticed my husband's Ionian Village T-shirt, and struck up a conversation.  What were the chances that we would both be there at the same time?  Numbers were exchanged, and I am confident we will be in touch.

At the site, we listened to the words of St. Paul, and saw where he would have addressed the Corinthians.   The children, hot and tired, were not very impressed about that.  They did notice the toys and tools in the museum on the site, though!

 We didn't stay long at Ancient Corinth, as we had to get M to his train to Athens. After we saw him off, we stopped briefly at the isthmus/canal and had a late lunch in quaint Loutraki.