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Ancient sites and mountain gorges

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  Sunday Leave the Magnesia peninsular for Delphi. We are wanting to visit the ancient archaeological site of Delphi so head for a campsite that is close by and offers free transport to the site. We don’t know what to expect – Delphi is a UNESCO world heritage site and after the Acropolis, is the most popular archaeological site to visit in Greece. We get the feeling it will be busy and there is very limited parking so like the idea of getting a lift there.   Monday Get a lift at 8.30am to the site. It is absolutely amazing. It lies between two towering rocks of Mount Parnassus, known as the Phaidriades (shining rocks). It was a sanctuary dedicated to the god Apollo, a meeting place of politics, games and festivities and the home of the most famous oracle (or seer). Pilgrims would journey to hear prophecies from the god Apollo, voiced through his chosen oracle (a woman from the local area). The area was inhabited in the 2nd millennium BCE (1500-1100 BCE). The development of th

Nestos delta, Rhodope mountains and the Magnesia peninsular

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                                                             Thursday and Friday Travel east towards the Nestos delta   - the area is close to the border with Turkey to the east and Bulgaria to the north. Geoff is keen to visit the delta as it is a wetland area (= mosquitoes) and there are also steppe birds – so he is looking for Rollers, Lesser Grey Shrike, Mediterranean Gull to name but a few. Park up on a campsite on the side of a small beach where there are a lot of permanent caravans/chalets and a very welcoming owner.   Saturday People start to arrive with speed boats and kayaks for a weekend of fun just as we are leaving for the Delta .   Stop at Keramoti - a small port where ferries go to Thassos, for a breakfast of coffee and cake before driving down some tracks and into forests around the west of the delta. The area feels very abandoned – there has been a visitor centre and picnic areas but now they are all overgrown. There are plenty of mosquitoes and flies though and to th