Hiking Amongst The Gods at Mt. Olympus

Pretty dramatic title, huh? Well, we just went on a small mountain hike, but it WAS at the base of one of the most famous mountains in the world, Mt Olympus, where the Greek Gods live. It was neither a comedy, nor a tragedy but it was sure beautiful. It was only later that we saw one of the gods.

Our cabin by the ocean is absolutely fantastic. We're doing multiple loads of laundry before we get on the boat in 2 days. The beach is just two blocks away. It's a quiet oasis next to a campground full of European campers.

We got up early to watch the sunrise and although Mount Olympus was still covered in clouds, there was almost a full moon behind it.

After breakfast we drove 45 minutes to the end of the road up to Mt Olympus to start our hike. Ascending the peak takes a little more time and planning. I would like to have have done it but that requires an overnight at a lodge. It's not a hard climb, or even that high (2,900 meters, or 9,572 ft ). We just didn't have the time. We hiked for several hours and didn't quite make it up to the refuge where many people spend the night before ascending to the peak the next morning.

Most people on the trail were non-greek Europeans. I counted at least six or eight languages. And it was quite a coincidence when we met two young Polish guys who lived near Wroclaw, where our friends Bogdan and Beata live. We're meeting them in 2 days, as Bogdan is the captain of our sailboat excursion in the Aegean.

We ate a hearty lunch at a different refuge along the road on the way back: bean soup, pork chops, and local wine. Now we're lounging at the beach in the Thermaic Gulf of the Aegean Sea drinking some beers. This Gulf used to extend all the way to Pella and that's why the city was there. But now it's 26 Km away from that ancient city.

On the way home, we stopped to buy some Mythos beers in Litochoro. Walking on the side of the road was an elderly bearded man wearing a purple robe, an elaborate gold necklace around his neck, and sandals. By Jove! I think it was Zeus! I only recently learned that Jove was another name for Jupiter, which is the Roman equivalent of Zeus. Anyhoo, my theory is that Zeus was buying beers to take back to Olympus.

More photos and videos are here
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rLDmcjEx4keKUEyr7Читать далее