But first our wild night. No not that! It was blowing a gale overnight. So much so it woke us both around 2AM. We were perfectly snug in our villa but could hear the wind and the rubbish bins banging against the garage wall. We both read for a while as sleeping was not an option.
When we woke is was totally calm and gorgeous, and Marjan asked why I had not booked the house directly over the sea. Having no good answer I added this to the list of sins I apologise for each morning.
We hit a traffic jam heading to Agrigento, but still managed to get there before it became too chaotic. We were amusing ourselves by laughing at Jamie Lee's (our GPS) take on place and street names. Even Marjan trying to be outrageous could not match JL's take. Our last instruction before getting to our destination was to turn right onto Dirty Dean. I have looked at maps and tried all sorts of thoughts but nothing comes close to Dirty Dean.
We declined the taxi to the Temple of Juno at the top of the hill and decide the walk up and down would be good for our muscle tone, and cheek colour.
The Valley of the Temples is an old Greek town, settled directly from Corinth, we walked mostly along the ceremonial axis, hence the temples. The Romans came a bit later and used the temples for their own gods at various stages, but later settlers (Arabs, Normans, Spaniards preferred the higher ground where modern Agrigento now stands).
The most impressive temple was mere rubble but at 100m by 40m (roughly) it was the biggest in the west. I loved this column/statue of the god Jove that supposed supported the roof.
What is amazing us about these sites is the number of temples, they almost equal the number of churches in Erice......either very sinful or very holy.....or maybe both
We met a nice English couple and swapped photo duties. Hard to gauge from this, but we were actually surrounded by about 60 Spaniards chattering away and taking their own happy snaps.
The walk along the street of the dead with the tomb openings was a little creepy, and at times the crowds were intrusive. 200 people walking abreast along a path and do not get out of the way........we vacillated between rudeness and politeness......that is to say between me and Marjan. Eventually Marjan succumbed and walked behind me as I pushed through the maul.
The site is massive, they have great olive and almond groves and constant views back to the city, or surrounding towns and freeways. A concert was being planned hence the chairs and van. They are reintroducing a species of goats from Afghanistan first brought in by the Arabs.
The good thing about this site is it has plenty of shade.
whilst contemplating paleo christian tombs
.....or the difference between a capitol and capital....Morgan might like that one, given he is a column nut.
We dropped down into the gardens for a look as well, oranges, and quinces, and lemons, and limes, and all sorts of stuff. Including a paleo christian chapel dug into the cliff.
I cannot resist the old v new thing, and the trees looked stunning
Marjan broke the pattern and had a sleep this arvo whilst I went for a swim at our local beach. It is called Marina Bovo. JL calls it Marina Bovo, I call it No Bovvo.
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