Vergina and Philip's Tomb

We left Thessaloniki this morning after a quick visit to the fortress at the Top of the Hill overlooking the large and beautiful harbor. We did not have to climb this time; the bus took us up there. It was a very difficult drive for the bus driver and when he had to maneuver the large bus at an angle through a large arch, we all looked out our windows. Only 3 inches between bus and stone on each side; we spontaneously applauded his successful completion.


Then we were off to Vergina, the original capitol of Thessaly, before it was moved to Pella. Here Philip II was assasinated on the day of his daughter's wedding. His son, Alexander (the Great) gave him a funeral appropriate for a king. Many centuries later when his tomb was unearthed the government created a earthern hill to enclose his tomb and to serve also as a museum for the artifacts found in his tomb and that of his wife (which one is not known). This museum is very dark in order to preserve the colors that the stone still retains. I had some trouble navigating and seeing any of the placards explaining the contents of the lighted cases. But I had no trouble seeing the glorious golden wreaths and the gilded burial chests into which the bones and remains after cremation were put. So much gold and so beautifully restored, so intricately woven.


From there we drove several hours to Kalambaka, which sits at the foot of the mountain upon which is perched the monastery of Meteora. Tomorrow we will drive most of the way up to it and climb the rest of the way.


The thing about Thessaloniki that delighted me the most and what I had not expected was the wide plains around it and as we moved further into the interior of the country, we would have to go up, up, up the mountain and then down the other side. Going in each direction it was interesting to see the changes in farming. Between the mountain ridges would be valley floors or uplands upon which there were great fields of wheat, orchards, grapevines, beans, and other things I could not identify from the bus. But in this area for the first time I saw modern tractors, rakes, discs, reapers, sprayers and long buildings that look like they must house animals of some kind, though I saw only one herd of cows. I did see a horse occasionally, usually just outside a farmhouse, more for pleasure than work.


This computer is timed to go off at the end of 30 minutes so I'll not risk losing what I have already written and stop now. We will be back in Athens on Wednesday. More then.