A 'Summer' Holiday and Zeus' Sanctuary at Dion.

Our ‘season’ opened with our first guests, Marina and John arriving while weather was still unsettled with thunder and lightning storms –organized purely for their entertainment!                                              So off we went, anyway, to the Katerini beach area, to find weather much the same there.

 On our first evening stroll, we chanced upon a cultural exchange performance – the young Russian dancers stole the show. Intricate choreography, impeccable training and the wonderful poses these wee dancers struck really made their performance special. Later we go to Ta Binelikia where we enjoyed a nice meal-with-sea-view. To my delight later on we saw the little dancers enjoying their suppers too. The blondest, cutest, most cherubic of all sat, amid gales of laughter from his fellow-dancers, doing an extreme-chip-face-stuffing stint- - well, you gotta do naughty some time! 

                                                         

                                                   

 

  We were staying at the Principal New Leisure Hotel – I felt there was a ‘Marigold’ missing somewhere in there! Here are internet shots, but I fear the use of a wide-angled lens gives an extended sense of space. Z and I even braved their pool twice though it was a bit ch-ch-chill still.

 The Greek spirit is a naturally hospitable one: get the right people in the right place and Greek tourism is seen at its best. We were well taken care of by Eleni and Manolis, who cheerily worked long hours and brought that personal touch to our stay.      

                                                                    

  Z gladly befriended Gino, a wee stray that Eleni had adopted and who had recently been run over by a car. He wore his scars well and could throw the saddest glance, but was totally mobile, with no loss of appetite, so all good.

                                                             

On our second day we were chased off the beach, without so much as a toe-wetting, by a fast-approaching storm, so we took refuge at the Capetanios Taverna Ouzeri for meze. Now something clearly got lost in translation for we were served a banquet and I bitterly regret having no pictorial evidence of it. We had whitebait, prawns, mussels, roast vegetables, dips and chips, beers and wine, with excellent, friendly service. I could not believe we paid 21 euros all together for what really a substantial meal. Waddling home, we determined there would be no evening meal, so decided to go to the nearby Cosmopolitan Hotel and Spa. Our charming waiter not only whizzed up some mean cocktails but also proffered this artistic fruit platter – mmm! All this to the background sound of 60s and 70s disco music – magic!

                                                           

                                                                 

Next day the weather improved so we went for a stroll round Dion, sanctuary of Zeus. Another dear green place, one understands why in ancient times people believed the gods resided near such verdance. I love this place, where dark-blue butterflies flitted about, while frogs gave up rasping croaks, as if someone had just told them a very dirty joke! As you can see we had some sunshine and as we walked along a column would suddenly appear or a forlorn little statue. 

                  

                                                        

 

My favourite philosophers are now housed in the museum. Shame, really - to me they seemed more reflective in the green marshland.  And these ancient peoples were into their bling.      

                                                     

 

Here are our intrepid tourists still smiling after tramping vast distances. So, time for a spot of lunch. Now both Z and I have great reservations about establishments that resort to touting outside for custom; it’s either suspicious or smacks of desperation. This time, however, instead of going with gut reaction, we thought of our gut needs and went to the café directly opposite the museum- you have been warned! Here we are smiling there …. before receiving the bill! Their fare was meagre and unimaginative, the establishment basic in every sense. They had the gall to charge us more than the Capetanios which had had served generous, impressive dishes in a wonderful setting. That, sadly, can be, another aspect of Greek tourism where providers think they have an endless stream of clients so make no real effort. They do their country such a disservice.

                                             

But let’s end on a positive note: Mount Olympus continued to be reticent about showing its magnificence and its peak remained shrouded in cloud. So here is a shot taken earlier, and by someone else, of that awesome, mystical mountain.