Elizabeth Gilbert once wrote a letter to her former lover about letting things fall apart. In Italy, she observed the Augusteum in Rome and reflected that "ruin is a gift, ruin is the road to transformation." And as I walked through Greece on my own journey, seeing the giant, gorgeous, ancient ruins with my own eyes, I wondered how many times will I get to be rebuilt as well.
Greece was once a place the world traveled to to get answers. They would consult the oracle in Delphi prior to making important decisions or to learn their fates. It was also the place where people aimed to be their best self, to impress the gods through their athleticism, literature, and art. As I toured the country, I saw the archaeological sites of temple of the gods and the ancient Olympic Games. It wasn't far from modern Greek society, in fact, ancient ruins are scattered throughout the city of Athens. There's a sharp contrast between new and old, but changes can be seen everywhere. The locals are crippled by paying high taxes and receiving poor return on their expenses. Amidst the uncertain economy, the locals always appear cheerful and proud of their country. Rightfully so, they have such a powerful history behind them.
In Athens, I met a couple of women who are solo travelers, equipped with lessons and fuel from their pasts and are now embarking to create the next part of their lives. Through broken relationships and new ones, they each have their own individual strengths that got them this far. Perhaps the answer really was in front of us all along. When Oedipus arrived in the city of Thebes and the monster Sphinx asked him a riddle: What is the creature that walked on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three in the evening? Oedipus answered, Man, killing the monster and became king.
Maybe, without having to venture to Delphi, we can be assured that we are the keys to our own destinies. We can forge a path that allow ourselves to change and have the strength that enables us to adapt. Maybe I was a great monument at one point, adored by someone a long time ago. Maybe, as time went on, nature sculpted me from a ruin to a part of the earth. And from there, I grew into something new.
the new Acropolis Museum, located below the Acropolis
Parthenon - still trying to hold shape
Athens from a panoramic viewpoint on the Acropolis
Gyro and souvlaki
Quaint town of Nafplio
Archaeological site of Olympia
Wine and olive oil tasting. Greece has seas of olive trees.
Seaport town of Nafpaktos
Greece has a leisurely way of drinking their coffee. The total time they consume it is around 90 minutes, to allow time to enjoy company and the coffee.
My hike in Delphi. The view from the hillside.
My adventure ended in Meteora. These are monastaries on top of the rocks. They look as though they are naturally formed there.
If you look closely, you can see two adventurers on the top. It shows the relative scale of how large the rock formations are.
