Corinth to Ithea 11 June

Another early morning preparing for a 5-6 hour trip to Ithea. We have to visit Ithea for two reasons. Delphi (leslie last here 1976 and Carl 1978) and Carl visited brother Lars who was working on the mine here about 40 years ago.  A good sea today, much better than yesterday. Passed two fisherman just outside Corinth.

Two small fishing boats for the daily catch. 

Carl had been asking for Dolphins for more than a week. Last time we saw them was when we came close to Skiathos on the 27 May. Now he spotted a few and started calling them to come closer. Watch what an animal friend he is!

We reckon that there were about 10 dolphins playing around the boat for about 30 minutes. They were in front of the boat, it felt like we were going to hit them. They were diving under the boat, across our path and alongside. It was a fantastic show.

Coming close to Itea. Ithea is a wonderful place. Lovely promenade, friendly people, and not at all run down. 

Took a taxi up toDelphi. Price 30 Eur and option to return for a total of 60 Eur. It was rejected. The bus back was 3,80 Eur. 

Another charging bull! Maybe the same one we saw in Orei?

So much to see, hear and learn. We are way behind. Have in any case learnt one new thing, omphalos. This is a conical shaped stone which sacred to Delphi. What we have understood, but think tbat some facts are missing, is that Zeus was to mark the centre of the universe. He sent two eagles flying in opposite directions, tied to the omphalos and the place it hit the earth was Delphi, which became the centre of the universe. We need Brother-in-law Pete to help out with historical facts!

The theatre with Carl delivering his speech.

Another view of the theatre.t

One side of the stadium, and...

The other side of the stadium. One of the main events in the ancient athletics was the 100 "fathom" race. In Swedish one fathom is the same as a "famn". A famn is 1,78 m. So the race was 178 metres. Carl figured this out remembering that in Ethiopa cloth was measured in fathoms. But a fathom is a variable measure. The Ethiopian buyer used a giant with at least two metres between the fingertips while the seller had a much smaller person to measure out the cloth. Big palaver of which measure was the correct one. 

A bit dark, but showing the engineer with the waterworks.

A drink with a view in Delphi, with Ithea in the bay in the distance. Beautiful.

Sun setting over this perfect little town, Ithea.