We were up early today–a long drive ahead of us. Ate breakfast and were on the road by 7:30.

We headed south again (along National Road 75), down through Larrissa and Lamia. A beautiful drive that took us past Mount Olympos (which was on glorious display–so often it is wreathed in cloud and fog). Vistas of the Aegean Sea … fishing boats floating picturesquely on aqua waters … quaint villages tucked into green valleys climbing rocky slopes to snow covered peaks. Traffic was relatively light and we made good time.

South of Lamia, we took the winding (and perilous) road to Delphi. Fortunately the weather was good, the pavement was dry, and the traffic continued light. Arriving in Delphi, we ate a gyros pita (can’t get enough of those things) and then headed straight for the site. The Stadium (at the top of the site) remains closed due to rock slides and unstable cliff faces above the Stadium. I don’t know when they will be opening that part of the site again. But there was still plenty to see, of course: treasuries, the Temple of Apollo, the theater of Delphi, the Stoa of the Athenians. Great stuff.

Then to the museum. This is a fine museum with a good collection of artifacts uncovered during the Delphi excavations. For biblical students, there is a letter from the Emperior Claudius to the Proconsul of Achaia, Lucius Junius Gallio–the very Gallio mentioned by Luke in Acts 18; the one who threw out charges brought against the Apostle Paul by the synagogue leaders. I’m including a picture showing his name (Gallio, in Greek, is written ΓΑΛΛΙΩ). This inscription allows biblical scholars to date Paul’s time in Corinth to a.d. 51/52.

We took the afternoon off. I slept and read. Mike and Rick prowled the town, looking for souvenirs and the perfect cup of coffee. I’m not sure they had much luck with either quest.

For dinner, we ate at the Symposium–a delightful meal shared with about 100 older Greek men and women who were on a tour of some kind.

Tomorrow Olympia. Until then, dear reader, may all your days be as good as the one we enjoyed here at Delphi.