Day 7 - Nafplio to Athena

Nafplio to Athens via Epidavros and Mycenea. Tomb and Kingdom of Agamemno, Citrus Farm, Pottery Making

Epidavros was a community centered on healing the body holistically named for Epidurus - God of Medicine- who believed in holistic medicine which included theatre, hydrotherapy, physical activity, and spirituality.

This healing center included a temple, a stadium for sporting events, and a large theatre which is still used for annual festivals. We got to test the acoustics of the theatre with a clapping exercise and talking since singing was not allowed. We loved scaling the stairs to get the full effect.

From Epidavros, we made our way to Mycenea where we saw the hive shaped tomb believed to have belonged to King Agamemnon of Illiad, Odyssey, and Trojan Wars fame. Agamemnon was real. Although the story about the war being about Helen of Troy. it likely was not. Homer probably took creative license mixing history with his present day experience.

Just up the road were the remains of Agamemnon kingdom up on the hilltop, and we were treated to more amazing views. Beautiful jewelry, pottery, and tools were on display in the museum giving us a sneak peak into life at the time.

Our day continued with a visit to an orange grove. Most of the scholars agreed it was the BEST orange juice we've ever had. What made it special? The sun, no chemicals, and plenty of hydration. The 3 acre property had 150+ trees and trees live up to 80 years. New saplings take 4-5 years to produce fruit. A glass of juice contains 5-6 oranges. Then we had lunch in a lovely Greek Restaurant owned by the same family who owns the grove.

After the grove, we moved on to our next destination to enjoy pottery making. We made our versions of a traditional doll called a Plagona. It was hilarious and so much fun! Our creations will be dried, fired, and given to local children. We love ❤️ that we left behind something made with our hands for others to enjoy. Service is at the core of the Close Scholars Program.

Our drive to Athens was about a three hour drive. Our final stop of the day in route to Athens gave us the opportunity to grab a snack, shop, and visit the Aquaduct. We didn't see any ships pass, but still enjoyed the view!

Once back in Athens, we headed back to Hotel Illisos to drop our bags then headed to dinner. We did a bit of last minute shopping (You knew this would be here! ) then called it a night. We need our rest because we have another big day planned for tomorrow, and it begins early!