Corinth

Corinthian Canal

 We are pooped!  It has been a good but long day with lots of climbing and walking.  Our bus rolled out at 7:00 this morning with our first stop being the Corinthian Canal.  We were even lucky enough to get to watch a boat pass under us while we were out on the walkway.  There were people on the deck waving to us as we waved back to them.  The students enjoyed shopping with the vendors and at the gas station.  Several came back to the bus with new dresses or fun food!

Heart biscuits!

Hiking up the Acrocorinth

 The bus had to wind through some pretty nail-biting curves to get to the base of Acrocorinth.  On this picture here, we are already through the first of three different gates.  The people used these high places for protection from their enemies.  You could easily see an army coming from miles or days away!  The climb was pretty steep but everyone did it fine and no one complained.  I think we even pushed our guide to go further than she had been before.

At the Top of Acrocorinth

 We took a group picture at the temple of Aphrodite.  I can’t imagine trekking up that far on a whim, you would have to be pretty set on some temple worship.

Reading Acts at the BEMA

 After we hiked back down, we went to the ruins of the biblical city of Corinth.  Scott read the story of Paul from Acts 17 where he is taken before the BEMA.  It was neat to be standing right where he would have been taken before the city officials.  We went across the street and found an engraved marker of Erastus that is mentioned in Acts as a city official.  The inscription names his city office so it is quite certainly the same Erastus.  Notice Acrocorinth in the background of the above picture and you will have some appreciation of our morning climb!

Chacos in Corinth

 Chacos are definitely the shoe of choice here.  This picture is taken on the Lechaion Road.  The actual road that Paul would have walked to enter the city. 

The HUHA men in Corinth

Epidaurus

We were all tired, hungry and thirsty by the time we arrived at lunch.  Our restaurant was on the Corinthian Canal and had a bridge you walk acoss to get there.  We had to wait while the bridge lowered to allow a boat to pass before we could cross over and eat. 

Our last stop of the day was Epidaurus.  It is known as a healing place and also contains a very well preserved theater with perfect acoustics.  It is built into a hill with a beautiful view.  The students divided into two groups and took turns singing for each other.  The theater seats 13-14,000 and you can hear just as well on the top row as the first.  It was impressive to all of us!  We had a small audience scattered throughout that clapped after each song.

We returned home to a wonderful meal of homemade lasagna, bread, fresh watermelon and yet another Greek salad (this one had cashews and raisins in it).  The students didn’t seem to eat much of the salad but I think the watermelon was a hit! 

Tomorrow we will have class in the morning, freetime in the afternoon and a picnic supper to watch the sunset at Sounion, the Temple of Poseidon.  Most importantly though,  my husband Brooks is due to arrive after lunch.  Yeah!

That’s all for now… Jill