August 30 – Vergina and Pella

A "garden" at the hotel.

The day started with about a 3 hour drive through some truly fantastic mountain areas...

eventually arriving in Vergina.  The main goal of this visit was to complete Jim’s top priority bucket list item, the visit to the tomb of King Philip II of Macedonia.  Today is all things Macadonia, including King Phillip II (father of Alexander the Great).    

The tomb is now surrounded by a museum that encompasses four tombs and features many of the finds from the tomb.  

Unfortunately no photos were allowed inside the tomb.  The exhibits were extremely well presented and we all very much enjoyed the visit.  The highlights were the very intricate and gorgeous gold leaf head wreaths that were found in the tombs.

We then proceeded to Pella, capital of ancient Macedonia. 

Our first order of business was lunch at a lovely taverna, and then we were off to the archaeological grounds where we visited the agora (this photo is of the step to the agora with the original stone steps on the left and new ones on the right), 

some of the large homes,

the treasury, 

and a structure protecting the baths and the potters shops.

There were also several of the impressive mosaics under shelters.  The mosaics were made of various colored natural stones (no colored glass tiles).  It was amazing the amount of detail that they can get in a picture just using colored stones.

Of course all of the buildings were only walls a stone or two high but there were a few random columns around the grounds.

We then went to the archaeological museum where we saw many artifacts from the area…including more mosaics,

a massive number of amphorae,

and lots of gold items and items with some gold detailing.  

And a wide variety of other items.

Fortunately we were able to take photos in the museum.  After have our fill of all things ancient we had a two hour drive to the city of Thessaloniki where we are spending a couple of nights.