December 20, 2007
We spent almost all of Thursday at the Valley of the Temples, which all date from approximately the 5th and 6th centuries BC. First the western side with the temples of Zeus, Juno and the Chtonic Deities.
Ruins of the Temple of Olympian Zeus with the city of Agrigento in the background:
Ruins of the Temple of the Dioscuri. The corner of columns was rebuilt in 1832 using materials from other temples.
Also in the western part was the best surprise of the day, the Garden of Kolymbetra. We spent at least an hour there down in the valley amid orange, lemon, lime, olive and almond trees, picking and eating fruit, taking photos, running our hands through the rosemary bushes and feeding Aldus. Charles doesn't normally eat much fruit. His allergies have made him pretty sensitive to food that doesn't taste good (read: at the absolute peak of ripeness). So it was pretty fun to watch him be so eager to eat so many oranges. The only thing that prevented us from smuggling out armfuls on the way out was knowing that we already had an entire crateful in the car that we bought on the way to Agrigento.
Kolymbetra, with the rebuilt columns at the Temple of the Dioscuri overlooking the valley:
Mmm...lemon blossoms smell good!
Charles and Aldus picking oranges:
Lunch was down near the beach in San Leone, and then we headed back to explore the eastern half with the temples of Hercules, Concord and Hera. We wrapped up just as the lights were starting to come up.
Us in front of the Temple of Hercules. (Amanda, I had "Hercules! Hercules!" repeating in my head throughout the afternoon. What's that from?)
The Temple of Concord:
The Temple of Hera:
Eating fruit in ancient gardens?! Visiting temples! I'm so jealous!
I love that huge wild agave growing in your first picture. I've fallen in love with them after seeing a few at the Belle Isle Conservatory.
Hercules! Hercules! -- The Nutty Professor
:)
Posted by: Kate C. | January 04, 2008 at 03:07 PM
Mmmm...agave...you mean the Wild Tequila Plant? :) Charles and I found some Gin Bushes (juniper) on a recent walk near home. Mmmmm...smells like a gin & tonic.
Posted by: Krees | January 05, 2008 at 07:15 PM
Dang, Kate C. beat me to it!
I do so love hearing people randomly cheer "Hercules! Hercules!"
Posted by: Amanda | January 06, 2008 at 05:57 AM