Travel Blog: Greece

Happy Valentine’s Day from Athens where Valentine’s day originated. Derived from the Roman god of desire and affection, Cupid and his ancient Greek counterpart Eros. Eros was the godly child of Aphrodite. St. Michael & Company  Spa and Wellness traveled this year to Greece.   The country knows for its ancient history enriched with history and culture, arts  and architecture but most important of all the most versatile essential oil – Olive Oil.

The first stop was the City Center of Athens. where you can see white marbles, high ceiling grandeur entrances with large columns of gold cornices.  These buildings literally takes you back in ancient times.  The stroll was most enjoyable in the evening.

All over city center you will orange trees. Aside olive oils,  Greece is a major producer of high quality orange trees.  No wonder this country is prosperous, orange symbolizes abundance.   Literally you can pick oranges from the trees planted all over the city center streets.

The next morning on our way to Delphi, we stopped to a coffee shop near Mount Parnassus where we enjoyed a cup of cappuccino and scrumptious big slice of baklava.   The significance of Mount Parnassus has been referenced in literature works such as Homer’s Iliad.   Filled with orchards of olive trees, its mountainous area served a great purpose in protecting its Greece’s territories and boundaries.  This scenic mountain view  is great for hiking and during winter is great for skiing and other winter sports.

Delphi is a UNESCO world heritage site for its location of the major origins of the Hellenic society began.   It is  considered a sacred site for the seat of Pythia ,  in which during the ancient time was most sought in making important decisions.  We were told by the guide that a Pythia was served by a woman.   Delphi, historically is where the stone monument called omphalos (navel) and important oracles were found.

We were excited to visit Meteora which three hours train ride from Athen.  From the train station, we rode a bus to drive us through the sites of six monasteries literally situated on top of mountain cliffs.  It was amazingly breathtaking.  Another UNCESCO world heritage site, its is a sacred place in the Greek Orthodox faith. Imagine 15 A.D. building these sophisticated Greek Orthodox monasteries by monks and hermits using bare hands . It took centuries to complete this safe haven with no high tech construction only bare hands and imagination!  Centuries ago, monks at monasteries in Meteora “meaning rocks suspended in heaven” to live a quiet life and to live physically closer to heaven because were inspired by God.

Our visit to the monasteries, gave us an opportunity to explore varieties of aromatherapy products particularly balms and ointments . Bee farms in Greece, naturally derive bees wax which is one of the two main ingredients or carrier oils in balm/ointment making . The other essential carrier oil is of course the Olive oil.  While it is easy to make balms, it must have the proper stove temperature to mix the essential oils in it. High temperatures can chemically destroy or evaporate the medicinal properties.