Old and Ancient

How did you bring your automobile across the 250 metre channel from the mainland in days gone by?

You got it rowed across to the island by two muscular greeks.  This is a wonderful photo, taken sometime in the 30s or 40s I would say.  Two water taxis hitched together carrying, is it a volkswagon? 

I'm sure it is one of those invincible volkswagens.  It would need to have been invincible to travel over the roads from the capitol, Athens, to the tiny coastal outpost of Galatas.  The road in those days wound along the coast from Athens, up into the dusty hills and into the rural hinterland of the Peloponese, through scattered agricultural settlements (think sheep and goats), over the mountains and finally down to the coast opposite Poros.  We are now two hours from Athens by road.  It must have taken most of a day back then

This Mycenean bridge was built over 3,000 years ago.  No cement used, just an impressive knowledge of engineering. There are even curbs to prevent fast moving chariots falling off.  It is part of a network of roads and bridges only an hour from us, presumably leading to the ancient theatre and healing centre at Epidavros, the citadel of Tiryns (said to be the birth place of Hercules), the ancient palace and military stronghold of Mycenae and other  castles and temples in this area.  There are four of these bridges still in excellent condition, all part of the same 'highway' and still used by locals.

The olive tree of Vouves in Crete.  It has been estimated to be between 3-4,000 years old and still produces olives.    There are equally ancient olive trees in al Badawi, Bethlehem ( 4-5,000 years old), Lebanon, Montengro, Croatia, Spain and Italy.

Near the tree in Bethlehem archeologists have found pottery with traces of olive oil dating back 8,000 years.   

8,000 years ago the climate was starting to get warmer after the end of the Ice Age and people began to domesticate animals, grow crops, and harvest olives. 

A plane tree on the island of Kos is thought to be the descendant of the tree under which Hippocrates, the father of medicine taught his pupils 2,400 years ago.  The present tree is  about 500 years old.

You can't sit under it anymore.  It is surrounded by a wall and railings.  The tree has become hollowed out over the years and is in danger from wood eating fungus.  A Japanese business man has offered to pay for research to save the tree.