When I was young I read the old stories of Heracles, Zeus, Aphrodite and the
other Greek gods and heroes and I fell in love with the idea of this magical
country.As I got older I learned of the City-States of Athens and Sparta, the
great civilisations of Minoa and Mycenae and was even more fascinated.
In those days, going abroad for holidays was still quite rare, and I never dreamed that I would actually visit this country of myth and legend.
I was 23 when I first set foot in the Greek mainland and although things had obviously changed from the stories and history lessons I wasn't disappointed. Not only was the history still tangible with the wonderful remains at Delphi, Corinth and Athens itself but the whole aura of the country is so peaceful and welcoming – at least until you try to get on a bus or drive a car!
You can stand in the agora in Corinth and know that St Paul preached there – maybe he stood on the very stone that you're standing on now!
If you haven't worked it out by now,
Greece is probably my favourite place in the whole world. Not convinced? Well,
I defy you to sit in a Taverna in Rethymnon, Crete sipping a glass of chilled
wine over a Swordfish steak, while you watch the sun setting over the Venetian
fortress on the hill and listen to the Aegean gently lapping against the shore,
without at least understanding my point of view.