TLCTravels

On our cruise around Greece in February, we stayed overnight in Thessaloniki which gave us another day to explore this interesting town. We toured the White Tower on the first day and on the second day, we toured the Arch of Galerius and the Rotunda.  The White Tower was built in 1430. It had a number of names including the Lion Tower and the Tower of Blood when it was used as a prison. Inside the White Tower, there are 92 very long steps. I've always enjoy seeing artifacts from the Roman Empire and when I heard there was a Roman Quarter, I wanted to see the ruins. Sadly, the ruins weren't kept very well through the ages but the Arch of Galerius was somewhat surprising. The carvings were still very clear and intact.   The original Arch had 4 pillars and 8 arches. Today, there are 2 pillars and 1 arch.   The Rotunda was built by the Romans as a house for worship. It has a diameter of 24.5 metres and has walls that are 6 metres thick. The Rotunda used to be connec...

When we stepped on the grounds of Ephesus, we were transported back to the Roman era because Ephesus fell under control of the Romans in 129 BCE. Surprisingly Euphesus was a thriving port city back then but today, it is very much inland with no sight of the sea for miles. Ephesus was eventually abandoned because the city gradually declined due to the silt accumulating in the harbor. Ships were turned away and could not sail in. Less trade and supplies came in that led to the city's demise. Intricate mosaic floors. Library of Celsus. Nike relief The city also had a strong Christian influence because Saint Paul was said to had lived and preached there. Also apostle John and Jesus' mother Mary lived there after Jesus' ascension. Saint Paul was imprisoned in a cave after him and some of his followers had challenged the cult of Artemis. Ephesus is reached from Kudasai, Turkiye.  After visiting the Library of Celsus and the city of Ephesus, we proceeded to the Ephesus Archaeologi...

When we visited Heraklion, Crete, we toured the Knossos Palace. Some say there is a labyrinth there that was used to house the minotaur, a half-man, half-bull monster. To date, no physical labyrinth has been found. You may be asking, why does archaeologists think a labyrinth exists at Knossos? The myth goes as such: Poseidon sent King Minos a white bull to sacrifice. King Minos didn't want to sacrifice the white bull so he let it go and replaced it with another bull that he sacrificed. Poseidon found out and was displeased with the king so he put a spell on King Minos' wife, Pasiphae to fall deeply in love with the white bull. The union created a monster, a half-human, half-bull known as a minotaur. Pasiphae nursed the minotaur but he became a ferocious monster. The king had no choice but to hire Daedulus to build a labyrinth to hold the minotaur. When we toured Knossos, our tour guide pointed out a symbol of a double axe. Interestingly enough, the double axe in Greek is Labrys...

If you are looking for a quaint place to visit and possibly return to when you retire, you must go to Nafplio or Nafplion. When flying into Greece, plan on an Athens to Nafplio day trip. You won't regret it. Nafplio is one of the most beautiful towns to visit and is only 2 hours from Athens by bus or ferry. There is an Old Town in Nafplio that is very pedestrian-friendly meaning people can enjoy daily life without needing a car. The pace is slower there, with less cars meaning cleaner air. And its low crime rate makes Nafplio more livable, safer and more relaxed.   Today, Nafplio is popular for retirees and remote workers. Like tourists, they enjoy the cafes and shops that line the narrow streets. Shops like the Feelwood Concept Store, a bag shop that sells unique handmade products of the highest quality. Or the 'Agnythes' Hand Woven Textiles store that carries clothing and accessories, mostly one of a kind designs. People who have lived and worked in busy, hectic Athens ar...

The best time to visit Mycenae Greece is when you can walk uphill without panting. The archaeological Mycenae site can be reached from Nafplio or from Athens. It is one of the best sites to visit and will show you the Mycenaean civilization.  After meeting at the tour office located across the Temple of Zeus  in Athens, we checked in to our tour to visit three Greek historical sites including Mycenae, Atreus and Epidaurus.  We would drive to Corinth where the ancient Corinth Canal existed. We would stop by the bridge that spans across the canal and take pictures of the canal below. The isthmus was first crossed by boats in 600 BCE. It would not be built until 67 AD when Roman Emperor Nero used Jewish prisoners captured during the First Jewish-Roman war. However the project ceased upon his death. In the centuries subsequent, no one including the Venetians followed suit. Construction finally recommenced in 1881 but it was hampered by geological and financial problems. It wo...

As soon as I stepped out of the taxi, I knew we chose the best hotel in Athens, Greece. We have been to Athens before but we have never stayed the night and explored the city ourselves. On this visit, we flew in a few days before our cruise and plan to tour around before getting on our cruise around Greece, Turkey and Crete. The hotel we chose was the Herodion Hotel. It was perfectly located. It was on the same street as the Acropolis Museum and it was practically on the foothills of the Acropolis. First night was rough because I could not turn down the thermostat. It was like an oven in our room. I had to complain to the front desk and ask for help with the thermostat but they said it is central heating in the winter, meaning the hotel sets the hotel thermostat centrally and overrides each thermostat in the room. That did not make sense. They gave me an electric fan to cool down my room. We had to open the window to let the cold air in, but on ground level, we could not leave the wind...