Arachova

Today was a travelling day from Larissa to Arachova via Thermopoly to see the statue of Leonides, king of Sparta, who defeated the Persians even though they had multiply more men. My grasp of classical history is pretty much non existent but I have looked it up on google and he was 60 when he died which was ripe old age at the time! The legend is that he died with his brave man because someone betrayed them and md they were slaughtered. He is THE Greek hero! It is impossible now to imagine the scene as the river has silted up and the land is now cultivated!

From thermopoly we travelled to Mpralos, a village in the mountains, for lunch in a local tavern. In Larissa yesterday there had been torrential rain which had brought snow on the mountains. The mountains in this area are mostly densely tree covered with many varieties of shrubs. The villages which we passed through seem prosperous which may be something to do with being near Delphi.

Then we travelled through the mountains to Arachova, which is a ski resort but for a very short three month season. They dismantle the lifts out of season! Our guide Emilia left us today and we will be getting another guide tomorrow for one day! Yet another the following day then another for our last three nights in Athens!

Extras: view over the plain from the mountains above thermopoly, view across to snow capped mountain from the tavern, an artefact on the Main Street in arachova which looks oddly human carrying a lantern!