When people think about Greece they often think of Islands and beaches. That is mainly because that is what tourist agencies want you to think about. But it is also because there are a lot of beaches in Greece and the water is beautiful and warm.
The Peloponnese is more than an island. It is a big landmass on the south of Greece, which used to be connected by a small bit of land. In the 19th century a canal was cut through that land and an isthmus was created. This made the Peloponnese like a BIG island.
The Peloponnese is named after Pelops. Here is the story:
Pelops was the son of the conniving Tantalos who invited the gods to a feast and served up the flesh of his son to test their omnicience. Of course the all-knowing gods knew what he had done and refrained from eating the flesh. However, Demeter, who was in a tizz over the abduction of her daughter, Persephone, by Hades, accidentally ate a piece of Pelop’s shoulder.
Fortunately, the gods reassembed Pelops, and fashioned another sholder of ivory. Tantalos was suspended from a fruit tree overhanging a lake, and was punished with eternal tantalising thirst. There is more to the story of Pelops, but that is enough for today!
We did get to enjoy a Greek beach yesterday. It was beautiful. I took some pictures of the beauty, but I couldn’t resist taking a picture of a small sign that was on a post near me. I have never seen a sign like this!
Did you go swimming at the beach? Are there dangerous animals in the water that you have to watch out for? Is there anything else to see in the water? Do people go snorkeling in Greece?