O for Olympus

Oh wouldn't it be fun to hang out with the Greek Olympic Gods? Be right up there with them, while they were playing around with the destinies of the mortal people down at earth? Sit there with them at their thrones at the grande palaces at Pantheon. Join in on their meetings and stormy discussions and party on with them in their vivid celebrations. Yes? Then let's go! Olympus awaits us!

Mount Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece, placed on the mainland about 80 km south of Thessaloniki. The highest peak, Mytikas ( = nose), is 2,917 meters. It is known for its rich flora and it was the first National Park of Greece (since 1938).

Every year, thousands of people visit Olympus to admire the nature, to hike and reach up at its peaks. There are a lot of organized routes and you can spend the night at a hut on the way. And enjoy the magnificent sunset from high up there... divine.. The shape of the mountain, the high peaks, the changeable beauty of its nature and lots of mist and low clouds, (and frequent thunderstorms), caused awe and admiration to the pre-historic man, who lived at the foothills of Olympus'. They were the people who would create the first legends of the Gods...

Because, hiking in the mountains... Sure. Fun. But I am dreaming of hanging out with the gods at Mount Olympus. Of course I wouldn't think of daring Zeus, King of Gods and ruler of Olympus. And I would not try to sit on the throne of Zeus (I think). It hosts only him, and from there he unleashes his thunderbolts, expressing his godly wrath. I would bow for the the Queen of Gods, Hera who as the goddess of marriage and family, is constantly on a quest to get revenge on her husband Zeus' lovers and their children. I would greet Demeter, Goddess of fertility, agriculture, nature, and the seasons, who would be there and I would probably be a bit intimidated by the powerful Poseidon, God of the seas, earthquakes, and tidal wave.

I could learn some tricks from Athena, Goddess of wisdom, handicrafts, defense, and warfare. Not so strange perhaps - as she was born from her father Zeus' forehead - fully grown and in full battle armor after he swallowed her mother (!)

I would love to meet Apollo, God of light, knowledge, healing, plague and darkness, arts, music, poetry, prophecy, the sun and also Artemis, Goddess of the hunt, virginity, childbirth, archery, the moon, and all animals. Hermes, the God of commerce, thieves and games (!) seems like a funny guy to hang around, and so does Aphrodite, Goddess of love, beauty, and desire. She was married to the God of fire and forge, the craftsman of the Gods, Hephaestus, although she had many adulterous affairs, most notably with Ares, God of war, violence and bloodshed. Ah, those Bad Boys ...

But the real party will not start until Dionysos, God of wine, theater, celebrations, and ecstasy joins us! He got his place among the 12 Olympic Gods from the goddess Hestia, and he sure seems to keep the party going..

Oh, how fun. Can you image, dear reader - being up there at Olympus with those? That's where my mind went today. Whatever motive you might have, I can recommend Mount Olympus, for the hiking or for partying with the Greek Gods...:-)

So, it was hard to leave the breathtaking New Zealand yesterday, and I am not yet sure if I will be able to leave the Godly party at Olympus, especially now when Dionysus joined in....:-)

But if I move on, we will head off to a lovely new dream destination tomorrow... starting with a P...

1-30 April I participate in the A to Z blogger challenge, and this post is written as a part of that challenge. Check out some amazing participating blogs here. My theme for the challenge is Dream Destinations. I hope you had fun coming along? Please stay tuned for a new destination tomorrow. 

Go to a-to-zchallenge.com