In primary school, by eldest son loved the “Percy Jackson” books by Rick Riordan.

Even now, they will be a fun/quick re-read for him when he’s looking for a comfort-read.

These books gave him an interest in ancient Greece. I’ve purchased a few books for him over the years to kindle the interest, e.g.:

And I’m sure I’ll buy more. Probably the rest of Stephen Fry’s series.

Anyway, this interest in Greece has lead to a planned trip there. Just him and myself with the goal of seeing the ancient sights, then relaxing on some islands in the Aegean.

Out of interest, I asked gpt5 to list all places in Greece mentioned in the Percy Jackson book series, to ensure we visit places knows from the books.

Here’s what I got:

  • Athens – central location in The Blood of Olympus; the site of the final battle against the giants.
  • Delphi – referenced as the ancient site of the Oracle of Delphi, whose spirit later inhabits Rachel Dare.
  • Olympus (Mount Olympus) – described as the home of the gods; physically located above Mount Olympus, Greece (though in the modern world, it’s magically relocated to the Empire State Building in New York).
  • Delos – the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis; visited in The Blood of Olympus.
  • Sparta – referenced in discussions of Greek heroes and mythology.
  • Mycenae – mentioned in connection with ancient heroes like Agamemnon.
  • Dodona – site of the Oracle of Dodona, featured prominently in The Dark Prophecy (Trials of Apollo).
  • Epirus – location of the Necromanteion, the ancient Greek oracle of the dead, visited in The Blood of Olympus.
  • The Necromanteion of Ephyra – ancient temple of Hades/Persephone where the heroes encounter ghosts.
  • Delphi Valley – the region surrounding the Oracle’s cave.
  • Mount Parnassus – home of the Muses and sacred to Apollo; near Delphi.
  • The Parthenon (Athens) – referenced as a major temple to Athena.
  • The Acropolis – location of the Parthenon and the final confrontation with the giants in The Blood of Olympus.
  • The Aegean Sea – mentioned frequently, especially as Percy’s ancestral sea domain (Poseidon).
  • Crete – mentioned in reference to King Minos, the Labyrinth, and Daedalus.
  • Knossos – ancient palace associated with the Minotaur and Daedalus.
  • Rhodes – referenced in the context of Greek geography and myths.
  • Delphi – again, associated with the Pythia and prophecies.
  • Mount Othrys – the base of the Titans during the Titan War.
  • Thessaloniki – briefly referenced in The Blood of Olympus as part of the heroes’ travels through Greece.
  • Corinth – mentioned in the Heroes of Olympus series.
  • The River Acheron – an underworld river located in Epirus, part of Greek myth and geography.

Nod.

And the top 10 tourist attractions (gpt5):

  • Acropolis of Athens – the iconic ancient citadel in Athens with the Parthenon.
  • Santorini – the beautiful volcanic-island destination known for its white-washed villages and caldera views.
  • Meteora – the dramatic clifftop monasteries region in central Greece.
  • Delphi – ancient sanctuary of the oracle, set in mountainous terrain.
  • Crete – Greece’s largest island with Minoan palace sites (like Knossos) and beautiful beaches.
  • Rhodes – an island rich in medieval heritage, beaches and ancient sites.
  • Corfu – an Ionian island featuring lush landscapes, historic old town and seaside charm.
  • Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion – a scenic coastal ancient temple south of Athens overlooking the Aegean.
  • Mykonos – one of the popular Cyclades islands, known for its vibrant nightlife, beaches and scenic windmills.
  • Zakynthos – an Ionian island famed for its shipwreck beach (Navagio Beach), turquoise waters and dramatic cliffs.

Lots of overlap.

Lots to visit :)