Timeless Places: Greek Isles

Rating:
Summary: Stepping Back in Time
Review: Anyone who's ever visited the Greek Isles knows there's no other place like this on Earth. To visit any one of the hundreds of Greek Islands means stepping back in time, immersing oneself in antiquity. TIMELESS PLACES THE GREEK ISLES is one of the best books I've found in presenting a really good overview of the Greek Isles along with stunningly gorgeous photography.

One of the first things a visitor notices about these sun-drenched islands is their intensity. Blindingly white buildings stand boldly against a backdrop of brilliant turquoise sky and sea. Nothing here is muted, and, if you stay long enough, you'll soon learn that the inhabitants of these gorgeous islands are as intense as is the landscape on which they live.

Western civilization was born in the Greek Isles and is it any wonder? Minoan ruins can be found beside Byzantine churches and fortresses built during the Crusades. And, although you might not expect it, each island is quite different from the others and each boasts a special charm. Crete and Rhodes are large and boast modern, bustling towns; Folegrandos and Karpathos are quiet; Mykonos is a fun-loving place and Europeans know it as a "party island;" Corfu, the northernmost island is known as the "green" island because of its abundant rainfall; and Santorini is, of course, extraordinarily special.

About 3500 BCE, scientists now tell us, the largest earthquake ever to take place happened on the Greek island of Santorini, causing part of it to sink into the sea. Many scholars now believe this to be the "mythical" Atlantis. While the eastern side of Santorini is flat, the western side still boasts an active volcano, with many small earthquakes. Homes and luxury hotels are built right into the side of the caldera and the beaches are composed of black volcanic ash. Although it is not noticed during the day, there is volcanic ash in the air as well, and, when sunset arrives, the brilliant white and blue landscape becomes bathed in glowing orange. Santorini is famous the world over for the sheer beauty of its sunsets and no visit to the Greek Isles would be complete without seeing at least one.

It's nearly impossible to choose which islands to visit and equally as impossible to visit them all, but tourists can comfort themselves with one fact: each is so special, and so unique, that no matter which they choose, they can't possibly go wrong.

As early as the third millennium BCE, the Greek Isles were visited by the Phoenicians. They were soon followed by ships from Greece, Rome, Venice and Turkey. Each culture has left its unique imprint on the islands.

The Greek Isles actually occupy several major groups of islands in the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean Seas. The Cyclades include more than 200 separate islands, the Dodacanese, 163...and that's just the beginning.

The Greek Isles have always been particularly rich in myth. Homer tells us that ships sailed from the harbors of Kos and Rhodes during the Trojan War. The Argonauts sought refuge from a storm on Anafi. The god Helios watched as the island of Rhodes rose from the sea, then chose to make his home there. Daedalus and his son, Icarus, soared over Crete (the island that gave birth to Zeus). And Aphrodite, the epitome of womanhood, emerged from the sea on a beach near Paphos in Cyprus. Today, you can visit "Aphrodite's Rock" and see where this miracle took place.

Visit any of the Greek Isles today and you will take a giant step back in time. Temples, city squares, baths and other ruins remain, a testament to a thriving life in antiquity. It is believed that St. John the Evangelist wrote the Book of Revelation on Patmos during his exile from Rome.

Today, the inhabitants of the Greek Isles still live life in much the same way as they did hundreds of years ago. There is a deep dividing line between the activities of the men and the activities of the women. Superstitions abound and elderly women take great pride in being able to read your fortune in the coffee grounds you leave at the bottom of your cup. Rituals flourish and ancient crafts are still practiced.

Religion is an important...integral...part of life in the Greek Isles and churches and monasteries can be found in nearly every corner of every village, no matter how large or how small or how remote. It was Crete who gave the world one of its most intense painters of religious subjects ever...the 16th century Domenikos Theotokopoulos, better known as "El Greco."

Although you might not expect it, there are quite a few castles in the Greek Isles, built by the Venetians of long ago before surrendering them to Suleiman the Magnificent, sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

The Greek Isles boast some of the most spectacular and dramatic geography on the face of the Earth. Black sand beaches can be found as can sparkling white ones. Volcanic formations send cliff sides plummeting into the waters of the turquoise sea below. Not to be missed is the Valley of the Butterflies on the island of Rhodes. During the summer, thousands of butterflies blanket the sky above this valley, literally blocking the sun from view. Corfu is lush and green; on Crete, forests of palm trees greet visitors on the beaches of Vai and Preveli; Rhodes is often blanketed with wildflowers.

Fishing, of course, dominates daily life as well as the economy and the Greeks certainly appreciate good seafood. Every island has its own specialty, seafood or not, but the centerpiece of lunch (the main meal) is almost always lamb or goat. Olive oil and lemon flavor everything from Souvlaki to Baklava. On Corfu, the fig pie is a treat not to be missed. Sardines, octopus, squid and sea urchins abound as do nougat and honey. Grapefruit and lemons are plentiful and bigger than in any other place in the world.

Just one trip to any of these magical, mythical islands will tell you why the Greek Isles are truly the "home of the gods."

In TIMELESS PLACES THE GREEK ISLES you can learn all about the history or these glorious islands. I think the author has done a superb job of giving us a detailed overview of the history, the culture and the geography of these rich and beautiful islands. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in Greek culture or travel.