KCA

It was not hard at all to see why Delphi was revered as a very sacred site. If I was a spiritual person, I would say something like “I felt very close to God” there. But I’m not, so I’ll just say it was breathtaking. :)

Like my entry about Vergina, I’d have to say that the Macedonian region of Greece is not for every tourist. If you go to Athens, or the Greek islands, there is PLENTY to do and see in Southern Greece, and a long train ride up to Macedonia might not be on the top of your to-do list. But if you want to see where Alexander the Great and Philip II are from, Macedonia does not disappoint. It’s much harder to navigate (as a tourist) than the Athens area, so be prepared, and rent a car. But unlike the ‘popular’ ruins in Athens, the ones in Macedonia are in situ and nearly untouched. Some of the archaeological sites are still being excavated, so it’s definitely different than visiting the Acropolis, which has been built and rebuilt many times.

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…But maybe not for many people otherwise. Seeing the tomb of King Philip II, and the artifacts inside, was outstanding! But to be honest, if you don’t know or care much about him or his history, Vergina might not be worth the drive from Salonica.

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I only spent a couple days in Athens, and barely set foot outside of the Plaka. So I didn’t see much of the modern city, except while looking down from the hill near the Acropolis. But the old city was maybe the most beautiful city I’ve ever visited. Every crooked alley and marble staircase and random dog…I can’t imagine what it must be like to live in a city with so much history. You turn down an alley and literally stumble across ancient ruins, or the guts of a 12th-century church. Plus, the city was as beautiful, safe, and fun to explore in the middle of the night as it was during the day. And the metro is top-notch.

Vladimir is obviously a historical site, and has a collection of beautiful ancient churches. But what struck me about the place was the natural beauty. The air, water and land were clean in a way that I rarely experience as a city-dwelling American. A place that made all five of your senses happy. Without being overly corny, I’d say it was an enchanting place, like the settings of old, old Russian children’s tales.

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