Allies: According to Herodotus “Just how much are you worth?” Xerxes asks Pythius, reputedly the richest man in Lydia, at the entertainment Pythius was holding in his palace for Xerxes and his chiefs of staff. …
Greece
Greece
A poem by C.K. Williams
Rhodes, Greece: island of the knights
Rhodes is probably best known as the island once home to the Colossus of Rhodes, a 98-foot-high statue of the Greek god Helios and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Today, the …
April 23, 2015
Meteora, Greece: The Old Master
In the mountainous interior of Greece near Meteora, gigantic granite outcroppings, most of them topped with Christian monasteries, point skyward like fingers tipped in prayer. They are a stone’s throw from the pass of Thermopylae, …
August 29, 2013
Greek Islands on the cheap
The Greek Islands are on any traveler's list who envisions a Santorini sunset or a gorgeous Milos beach. @media screen and (max-width:479px) { .image-float.half-width, .image-float.third-width, .image-float.fourth-width { width: 100%; } } Santorini. Although prices have …
June 23, 2013
Mesmerizing Mycenae
About 1.5 hours outside Athens, Mycenae is one of the essential stops for any visitor to Greece with an interest in ancient history. Arriving here, you're awed not just by the site and the ruins, …
April 2, 2013
Greek Island Hopping: A How-to
As we took our last ferry back to the Greek mainland, a few general impressions of the Greek Islands came to mind. Overall, the people were genuine, helpful and friendly – a traditional Greek nod …
Delphi, Greece: In Search of Sibyls
I have a confession: I’m crazed about the ancient fortune-telling sibyls. So crazed that I’ve raced through the Vatican to see Michelangelo’s depiction of the sibyls on the Sistine Chapel and I’ve even flown to …
October 4, 2011
Doing Europe: Corfu, Greece
In the summer of 2001 I arranged a job, with my Czech girlfriend, Katka, to work in Corfu, Greece, at Club Barbati. Katka and I worked with a Czech liaison in Praha (Prague) in getting …
August 9, 2011
Doing Europe: Ios, Greece
Leaving Sorrento, Italy was bittersweet. Sorrento was the perfect place for us to get our minds wrapped around the idea of the sea. We’d been landlocked in Prague for months, so we wanted more oceans. …
January 13, 2011
Santorini: Oia and Akrotiri
Santorini is one of the undisputed jewels of the Greek Islands. Two of its most enchanting attractions are the village of Oia and the archeological dig Akrotiri, once a prominent ancient town. Oia and Akrotiri …
January 11, 2011
Timeless Athens
En route to Athens, my flight connected in London with a stopover just long enough to view the famous Elgin Marbles in the British Museum. Greece has been determined to have them returned to their …
November 3, 2010
Meteora, Greece: Monasteries in the Sky
Greece is most often characterized by its idyllic beaches and ancient ruins, which are fantastic and not to be missed. However, on my second trip to Greece we stayed with a friend who showed us …
May 19, 2010
Delphi: Sanctuary of the Ancient Greeks
In the shadow of Mount Parnassus amid olive, pine and cypress trees stands one of the truly sacred spots of the ancient world. About 2,000 feet above sea level, Delphi is one of the best …
April 3, 2010
Treasures of Naxos, Greece
The island of Naxos, Greece, is a six-hour ferry ride from Piraeus, the port of Athens. The “doorway” to the island, the gigantic Portara, was also the portal to the ancient unfinished Temple of Apollo. …
November 20, 2009
Birthplace of the Olympic Games: Olympia, Greece
As a student of ancient Greek history and mythology and a follower of the Olympics since I was a child, the site of the ancient Olympic Games has always held a fascination for me. Olympia …
November 8, 2009
Greek Islands: Mykonos and Delos
Mykonos and Delos lie side by side in the Cyclades chain of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. They could not provide more of a contrast – yet together they provide the quintessential Greek experience. …
October 6, 2009
Art in the Cyclades: Paros, Greece
I enjoyed three glorious months in Parikia, on the Cycladic island of Paros, home to poets, writers, artists and those in love with a peaceful lifestyle. You can study art at the Aegean Center for …
August 31, 2009
Matala Beach, Crete, Greece
When visiting Crete, rent a car and drive to rustic Hotel Eva Marina, about an hour southwest of Heraklion Airport. Nine hundred fifty yards from Matala Beach, it features high-speed internet, an inviting pool, bar …
August 28, 2009
Breathtaking Santorini, Greece
Greece without Santorini is like a Greek salad without Kalamata olives – it just doesn’t taste the same. Santorini’s awe-inspiring Caldera, a sea-filled crater, and its vineyards and unbeatable nightlife make it a popular vacation …
The Acropolis, Athens, Greece
For about $37 a night, you can stay next to the historic Plaka district. The clean, Australian-owned, air-conditioned Athens Backpackers hostel offers free breakfast, communal kitchen, free coffee all day, laundromat, WiFi, movies and tours. …
July 21, 2009