Ancient Tiryns, Mycenae, Lessons, Beach Sunset, Stings and Prizes: In and Around Nafplion Day 14

We started off with a slow morning - we all moved real slow and took our time.  There was some drama as Neil slept on the couch and then the early risers, I'll let you guess which two, came in to the living room and jumped on his bed.  After some almost real coffee (the realist we've had) and some eggs and food, we we headed out to the acropolis of Tiryns.    They are not completely sure of the city's relationship to Mycenae but it could have been anything.  Seems like there is not a ton of info and most of it seems to be about mythology - but, it was noted in the Odyssey.   This site contains some brief information on where we went and what we saw.  The huge walls were built by the giants - cyclopses to be precise and they were pretty massive - impressively wide.   I was really bummed because my camera was not charged and I had to rely on the cell - which is not terrible, but I do not get to frame things the way that I always want to.  

We headed back to the apartment for bathroom and some snacks.  Jess laid down for a bit and the plan was to head to Mycenae for the second of three stops today.  

Off we went...to Mycenae - and it was a great site.  It also had the Cyclops walls.  It was larger than Tiryns.  When you drive up or away from it, you don't expect to see something so large an compleex hidden behind the mountains so it must have been a surprise to anbyone who made their way there by accident - or even on purpose.

This is the Lion's Gate at Mycenae - it is where they wanted everyone to enter from.

This was the royal burial site.

Lesson:  You're the oldest and you know I find it funny so if you are going to do it, know that pictures will be taken.  It's pretty scenic and I have pictures of them doing it everywhere.

Isla:  "Take my picture near the prison."  It was a burial site.  

I hope you enjoyed the picture above as I had to wait for some stupid people to realize that I was waiting for them to move to take the picture.  

They have been dying to get their hands on some feral animals - and they got this guy.  He was cute and he let them pet him - but he barely opened his eyes if at all.  I thought maybe he didn't look too good but I guess he was ok.  Somehow they got a cucumber slice from grandma and decided that the cat would like it.  I said I do not think cats like cucumbers - but they just kept moving it closer.  I poured some water our for it to lick up - but he didn't see towant that either.  Then Malcolm poured some water on the cucumber and when we left the cat looked up a little with a look on his face saying, "Thanks for the wet cucumber you idiots!"

We got some slushies and then stopped at the Treasury of Atreus - now, let's clear up the wording - it was not a treasury, it is a burial site rumored to be either Atreus or Agamemnon - but the truth is that there is no evidence for either and it probably belonged to a wealthy family from the city.  It is a really cool structure and apparently there are more in the area.

Lesson:  If you allow your brother to take pictures of you doing dumb things, they are open for posting.

Lesson:  I'm pretty sure that we all know this - but the higher you get the better the view and the top did not disappoint.  I really wish there was more to the site and that they could excavate some new stuff, I can't imagine that that was all that there was - I am sure that there is a ton hidden in the hills.

We headed back to the house for naps, dinner and planned our last stop for the evening: Karathona Beach.  Much to Malcolm's dismay, this one does not allow nudity.  

We got there with no issues and had a great start.  Everyone was behaving, they were having a good time and were playing with one another.  

THe water was clearer and warmer than it was in Croatia, despite the change in temperatures.  They were watching out for anemones so they didn't step on them - then Isla screamed.  Nothing out of the ordinary but then she was making her way out of the water sobbing.  You can tell when she is just pissed and angry with her brothers or if it is something else.  It was something else.

She had two thin cuts on her leg and I thought that's what she was screaming about - but then she showed us her arm and another part of her leg - it looked like a jellyfish sting.  It was raising pretty quickly too.  The area was white and it was red all around it.    She got out of the water and Jess and Chris took her to a pharmacy to see what they had.  They said that they wouldn't confirm that it was a jellyfish sting.  They did give them some gel looking stuff that is not approved in the US.  I think Jess said Chris put it on right in the street and it disappeared almost immediately.  Reminds me of the opium they put on my cut at the Chinese restaurant I worked at in HS.  Don't ask - all I know is I woke up with one of the butchers holding my arm over my head.  My pants were down too (just kidding).  So they took Isla to the grocery store to get her some prizes and she was all better.

The boys were throwing the ball around with Grappa and doing some minor wrestling in the water - nothing out of control - everyone was in good shape until their behavior on the ride home.  

Tomorrow is the big holiday.  I think we are headed to a fort in the morning and then probably to the beach or something in the afternoon.  I would feel terrible if she had it happen again.  Liverpool open's their title defense tomorrow - it's 10 pm here.  I think I prefer the 10 am at home.  Hopefully, we won't have any issues getting it and it's not blacked out here because THERE IS NO TV!!!!

Lesson:  Sometimes your wife mistakenly buys non-alcoholic beer!