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| The theater at Epidavros |
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| 5 Euro lunch |
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| View from the drive |
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| View from Fortress |
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| Driving through town |
The
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| Inside behive dome |
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| Mycenae |
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| The entrance to the beehive dome |
Sunday, April 14, 2019
Various Photos from Peloponnese
The
Home The end of the trip
Well, we are now home and obviously I am way behind on the blog so will catch up and then post a few more pictures of ruins after all you can never see enough ruins
We arrive in Ermioni and it is dark. The hotel is adjacent to the port of arrival of the ferry. Only about 6 people get off. Small is the operative word here. Of course I have researched this and we should be 1 block from the hotel. Of course, I again need my google maps to navigate. It amazes me that we can never locate with ease something that is right next to us.
This small hotel has everything we need and is 90 meters from the car rental place. We awake to rain and our breakfast is delivered to us. A great Greek yogurt with honey, some cheese, meat and bread with coffee and juice. Off we go to find the car, of course we walk the wrong direction in the rain and head back after asking directions. There is no sign saying "Pop's Car Rental", turns out it is in an office with the ferry ticket vendor, rental of sail boats and auto. We stumble in the door that turns out was just at the bottom of a short block and next door to the hotel.
I explain we are here to pickup a car and the office manager looks at our luggage and says it won't work. Seems I rented the smallest car there was. This I still need to check, I really don't believe her but to make it right she has a "big car" but no GPS and will give it to us for the same price (which is astronomical anyway). Thank goodness for T mobile. I may have to continue the service just to have the international ability to stream Google Maps for 8 hours while we drive.
We get the car, of course it is now pouring rain and start out. "Just follow the road out of town", unfortunately the low fuel light comes on and now we must also locate a gas station. First station about a mile away can't pump gas because of a computer glitch. Off we go on a prayer this time. After 1 u turn and 2 wrong turns we are headed in the right direction. $62 Euros later we are off again. The best part of Greece they pump the gas so we didn't have to get wet. At the car rental we were advised to explore the peninsula and go all the way to the end that the views are spectacular and tomorrow should be no rain. The end point of the day is the town of Nafplio but at stop at Epidavaros on the way. This is the site of a famous healing center in ancient Greece that began as a temple to Apollo and home to the theater which is the finest and best preserved of all of Greece's theaters. The archaeological site is in ruins but the theater is intact and 2 pluses, a WC and it had stopped raining. The acoustics in the theater is amazing and even more amazing is Dan (who talks to strangers) and winds up in a discussion of politics of the EU and US with another tourist from the Netherlands. Why you have to ask him.
Nafplio is an easy drive from the theater but a rabbit warren of streets. Open parking and there is no parking at the hotel, you just find a spot on the street. We luck out and end up parking with our car going the opposite direction of all the others parked on the street. We discuss this with the hotel and the answer "its good to be different, don't worry". Nafplio is made up of old town with narrow streets and lots of restaurants and shops. The word narrow will come into play in 2 days time. Nafplio's claim to fame is it was the first capitol of Greece after they won independence from the Ottoman's in 1820.
Nice little hotel and they upgraded our room so we have a balcony and view of the sea. Out to shop and find some lunch (yes another bottle of wine consumed, I have lost track of the number so far). The sun is peaking through so its another lazy day for us since the drive was only about 3 hours.
Next morning we are off to explore the Mani Peninsula part of Peloponnese. Today is an all day drive, that is extremely pleasant with great views, nice sunny weather, google maps is tracking correctly but it is almost entirely switch back from up in the mountains to the coast and then back to the mountains. A stop for lunch at a taverna, young woman owner with her 3 year old. Best lunch ever and she even opened early so we could use the WC (is there a theme here?). A trip to the market, the biggest garlic head I have ever seen (3 times the size of ours). Lunch $10 Euro total. Some entertainment since the local middle school released the kids for lunch and it is fun to watch and realize that kids are the same no matter where you are, I wanted to ask them what games they were playing on their telephone. Spent the day driving and got back about 6 PM. Only one time Dan said we can't go this way (it was a short cut to get us back to the main road) but it worked and he managed. I wouldn't ever want to try it at night.
Today (Wednesday) our last full day in Greece. A trip up to the Palamidi Fortress, one of the 3 in the city of Nafplio. This is where the small rabbit warren of streets comes into play. Since streets are narrow it is almost impossible to make a left turn. We head straight, following a water truck making a delivery, it is a little on the early side so there are few tourist walking. I actually thought this was a pedestrian only zone since the streets are so narrow. The truck stops and parks, they move some markers for the restaurant and wave to us to go ahead a pass. I closed by eyes, Dan cleared the trucks side mirror with our side mirror by less than an inch. It was amazing. We continue and turns out it was market day. I wanted to stop but we did have things to do and then drive to the airport. I think Dan just didn't trust being able to find a parking spot since everyone was double parking as it was and there were 4 buses in the lot. Lots of tourist and school field trips.
The fortress like all good fortresses was built on a hill. Only 999 steps to get to the fortress or drive. (guess what we did). There were enough stairs inside since the fortress is actually a collection of bastions inside the walls and as each one was built a new elevation was obtained. Now off to Mycenae.
Mycenae was the capital of the Mycenaeans who won the Trojan War and actually dominated Greece 1000 years before the Acropolis and the Golden Age of Greece. Everything was built over 3600 years ago. We learned a lot about the Mycenaeans while at the Archaeological Museum in Athens. They were amazing engineers and builder. Their artwork is advanced and creation of weaponry and the use of bronze. The Mycenae site is very well preserved and guess what on a hill. There is alos the Treasury of Atreus which is a huge domed tomb. This is also known at the Tomb of Agamemnon. It is amazing inside and still stands a beehive shape that has a family of bees living inside. (only 1 quick photo and we were heading out). We leave all of ancient Greece and head to the airport where the car will be returned to the hotel parking lot to be pickup up by the rental agency.
A great trip, we are getting better as travelers. Our fall trip to the east coast will be uneventful considering the first part of the year. Thank you for reading and spending time with my ramblings. The last post will be just photos.
Ellen
We arrive in Ermioni and it is dark. The hotel is adjacent to the port of arrival of the ferry. Only about 6 people get off. Small is the operative word here. Of course I have researched this and we should be 1 block from the hotel. Of course, I again need my google maps to navigate. It amazes me that we can never locate with ease something that is right next to us.
This small hotel has everything we need and is 90 meters from the car rental place. We awake to rain and our breakfast is delivered to us. A great Greek yogurt with honey, some cheese, meat and bread with coffee and juice. Off we go to find the car, of course we walk the wrong direction in the rain and head back after asking directions. There is no sign saying "Pop's Car Rental", turns out it is in an office with the ferry ticket vendor, rental of sail boats and auto. We stumble in the door that turns out was just at the bottom of a short block and next door to the hotel.
I explain we are here to pickup a car and the office manager looks at our luggage and says it won't work. Seems I rented the smallest car there was. This I still need to check, I really don't believe her but to make it right she has a "big car" but no GPS and will give it to us for the same price (which is astronomical anyway). Thank goodness for T mobile. I may have to continue the service just to have the international ability to stream Google Maps for 8 hours while we drive.
We get the car, of course it is now pouring rain and start out. "Just follow the road out of town", unfortunately the low fuel light comes on and now we must also locate a gas station. First station about a mile away can't pump gas because of a computer glitch. Off we go on a prayer this time. After 1 u turn and 2 wrong turns we are headed in the right direction. $62 Euros later we are off again. The best part of Greece they pump the gas so we didn't have to get wet. At the car rental we were advised to explore the peninsula and go all the way to the end that the views are spectacular and tomorrow should be no rain. The end point of the day is the town of Nafplio but at stop at Epidavaros on the way. This is the site of a famous healing center in ancient Greece that began as a temple to Apollo and home to the theater which is the finest and best preserved of all of Greece's theaters. The archaeological site is in ruins but the theater is intact and 2 pluses, a WC and it had stopped raining. The acoustics in the theater is amazing and even more amazing is Dan (who talks to strangers) and winds up in a discussion of politics of the EU and US with another tourist from the Netherlands. Why you have to ask him.
Nafplio is an easy drive from the theater but a rabbit warren of streets. Open parking and there is no parking at the hotel, you just find a spot on the street. We luck out and end up parking with our car going the opposite direction of all the others parked on the street. We discuss this with the hotel and the answer "its good to be different, don't worry". Nafplio is made up of old town with narrow streets and lots of restaurants and shops. The word narrow will come into play in 2 days time. Nafplio's claim to fame is it was the first capitol of Greece after they won independence from the Ottoman's in 1820.
Nice little hotel and they upgraded our room so we have a balcony and view of the sea. Out to shop and find some lunch (yes another bottle of wine consumed, I have lost track of the number so far). The sun is peaking through so its another lazy day for us since the drive was only about 3 hours.
Next morning we are off to explore the Mani Peninsula part of Peloponnese. Today is an all day drive, that is extremely pleasant with great views, nice sunny weather, google maps is tracking correctly but it is almost entirely switch back from up in the mountains to the coast and then back to the mountains. A stop for lunch at a taverna, young woman owner with her 3 year old. Best lunch ever and she even opened early so we could use the WC (is there a theme here?). A trip to the market, the biggest garlic head I have ever seen (3 times the size of ours). Lunch $10 Euro total. Some entertainment since the local middle school released the kids for lunch and it is fun to watch and realize that kids are the same no matter where you are, I wanted to ask them what games they were playing on their telephone. Spent the day driving and got back about 6 PM. Only one time Dan said we can't go this way (it was a short cut to get us back to the main road) but it worked and he managed. I wouldn't ever want to try it at night.
Today (Wednesday) our last full day in Greece. A trip up to the Palamidi Fortress, one of the 3 in the city of Nafplio. This is where the small rabbit warren of streets comes into play. Since streets are narrow it is almost impossible to make a left turn. We head straight, following a water truck making a delivery, it is a little on the early side so there are few tourist walking. I actually thought this was a pedestrian only zone since the streets are so narrow. The truck stops and parks, they move some markers for the restaurant and wave to us to go ahead a pass. I closed by eyes, Dan cleared the trucks side mirror with our side mirror by less than an inch. It was amazing. We continue and turns out it was market day. I wanted to stop but we did have things to do and then drive to the airport. I think Dan just didn't trust being able to find a parking spot since everyone was double parking as it was and there were 4 buses in the lot. Lots of tourist and school field trips.
The fortress like all good fortresses was built on a hill. Only 999 steps to get to the fortress or drive. (guess what we did). There were enough stairs inside since the fortress is actually a collection of bastions inside the walls and as each one was built a new elevation was obtained. Now off to Mycenae.
Mycenae was the capital of the Mycenaeans who won the Trojan War and actually dominated Greece 1000 years before the Acropolis and the Golden Age of Greece. Everything was built over 3600 years ago. We learned a lot about the Mycenaeans while at the Archaeological Museum in Athens. They were amazing engineers and builder. Their artwork is advanced and creation of weaponry and the use of bronze. The Mycenae site is very well preserved and guess what on a hill. There is alos the Treasury of Atreus which is a huge domed tomb. This is also known at the Tomb of Agamemnon. It is amazing inside and still stands a beehive shape that has a family of bees living inside. (only 1 quick photo and we were heading out). We leave all of ancient Greece and head to the airport where the car will be returned to the hotel parking lot to be pickup up by the rental agency.
A great trip, we are getting better as travelers. Our fall trip to the east coast will be uneventful considering the first part of the year. Thank you for reading and spending time with my ramblings. The last post will be just photos.
Ellen
Thursday, April 11, 2019
Since this is catch up day. On to Hydra
So I already discussed almost missing the boat quite literally we arrived in low clouds the rain had stopped but as we got off the boat with a million other people we located the hotel porter to take our bags to the hotel. It is up hill as most accommodations are in Hydra but the walk isn’t too bad. About 5-100 minutes. As we pass a couple of open air restaurants they are packed with people, it is party time on Saturday night. After seeing our room we head back down to get something to eat, all the shops are open and people are all over
Next morning at 7am the church bells sound and we hear people talking over a public address system. Dan seemed to think they were broadcasting church services but it was intermittent and would start and stop. We also had whistle blowing which we had never heard in any church service (not that we are experts)
Down to breakfast. I never talk much about breakfast until today’s. It was wonderful. The dining room was set with china, there were 3 hot freshly made items including spanakopita, Brie in puffed pasty and an apple strudel to die for. Fresh orange juice, and all the other traditional breakfast items, breads, cold cuts and more pastry. Some eggs, bacon and sausages. I actually took pictures. It was terrific. Our room had some view and it is a great place. Too bad we are only staying 1 night.
This is really a pretty down day for us the sun is shining and we have nothing planned. Hydra is a small laid back place and is known for its number of beaches. Unfortunately it is not beach weather and although the sun is out it is still cool. Down to the main shops we go to look for fun things and take a walk. We are still curious about why all the whistles which continue and as we get closer to town there is cheering and clapping. Turns out it is “race day in Hydra”. They have a 7 k, 10, k, and marathon. There are several different heats for the children. The whistles were to warn the shoppers and tourists who are out strolling to get out of the way. One young girl caused a runner to stumble and grab her so she wasn’t knocked to the ground.
We spent the day doing nothing, some walking, lunch in the sun a nice decompressed day. One think about all of the parts of Greece we have seen is that cats abound. They lay in the sun, will beg at tables where people are eating and there is no competition or fighting with dogs. The dogs are just as lazy and have no desire to chase the cats.
Our ferry across the bay does not leave until 7:40 pm. We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening as the Greeks by sitting in a cafe with a glass of wine watching the runners catch some of the other ferries for other islands, ports or back to Athens. We are in good company sitting and all the shilops are closing since it is Sunday night and Monday will be back to normal for the Hydraians
Tonight we take the ferry to the town of Ermioni, we will rent a car for the next 2 days and explore The Peloponnesus. It is supposed to rain tomorrow but we are thankful for the great day we had in Hydra
Next morning at 7am the church bells sound and we hear people talking over a public address system. Dan seemed to think they were broadcasting church services but it was intermittent and would start and stop. We also had whistle blowing which we had never heard in any church service (not that we are experts)
Down to breakfast. I never talk much about breakfast until today’s. It was wonderful. The dining room was set with china, there were 3 hot freshly made items including spanakopita, Brie in puffed pasty and an apple strudel to die for. Fresh orange juice, and all the other traditional breakfast items, breads, cold cuts and more pastry. Some eggs, bacon and sausages. I actually took pictures. It was terrific. Our room had some view and it is a great place. Too bad we are only staying 1 night.
This is really a pretty down day for us the sun is shining and we have nothing planned. Hydra is a small laid back place and is known for its number of beaches. Unfortunately it is not beach weather and although the sun is out it is still cool. Down to the main shops we go to look for fun things and take a walk. We are still curious about why all the whistles which continue and as we get closer to town there is cheering and clapping. Turns out it is “race day in Hydra”. They have a 7 k, 10, k, and marathon. There are several different heats for the children. The whistles were to warn the shoppers and tourists who are out strolling to get out of the way. One young girl caused a runner to stumble and grab her so she wasn’t knocked to the ground.
We spent the day doing nothing, some walking, lunch in the sun a nice decompressed day. One think about all of the parts of Greece we have seen is that cats abound. They lay in the sun, will beg at tables where people are eating and there is no competition or fighting with dogs. The dogs are just as lazy and have no desire to chase the cats.
Our ferry across the bay does not leave until 7:40 pm. We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening as the Greeks by sitting in a cafe with a glass of wine watching the runners catch some of the other ferries for other islands, ports or back to Athens. We are in good company sitting and all the shilops are closing since it is Sunday night and Monday will be back to normal for the Hydraians
Tonight we take the ferry to the town of Ermioni, we will rent a car for the next 2 days and explore The Peloponnesus. It is supposed to rain tomorrow but we are thankful for the great day we had in Hydra
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Catch up time
Well time to catch up!!
Athens: we spent 3 days on our own and I think I am caught up on all that happened. My impression of the city is it is amazing to walk around with ruins, tourists and residents all around. A lot of street people with cups and tons of graffiti all over. They haven’t touched major sites because they are locked but everywhere else is covered. It is not really artistic. Apparently Athens is only second in the world for graffiti just behind Berlin. I just feel it really degrades the city. The graffiti isn’t limited to just the city but in other parts of Greece. It makes it hard to read street signs that have been spray painted over. Not to mention I have no Greek
One of the street people scams is to hand you a flower. In this case a really pretty rose. They usually work in teams and crowd the tourist. Yes it happened to us. These were kids probably 15 and 10. The scene is crowded Dan on one side with a rose, I am walking next to him like a good tourist my hand on the top of my purse when I feel the brother’s (?) hand on my arm. At this point it had 2 glasses of wine and no food. I started yelling to have him not touch me. Since kids must be very inexperienced or we looked like an easy mark. Needless to say he then apologized “sorry, sorry” and they promptly disappeared. We actually walked the same way bake from dinner. No other excitement in Athens just very tired after walking and stone steps.
Eating in Greece is not the adventure we usually see. Yes a few street vendors selling nuts and olives but not a lot of street food. Lots of vendors selling souvenirs. The kids should be grateful that the trinkets didn’t come from them. There are lots of cafes and everything is outside tables and only a few inside tables. Supposedly there is no smoking inside but it is Greece. Lots of cigarettes. The way it is done is the customer just picks any table and sits down to be served. There are sometimes people out in front tempting you with there menus. You are served water and given a menu. The Greeks sit for hours at a table after maybe only a coffee or glass of wine. The Greeks like there coffee although I didn’t find it special at all. Sitting in a cafe is also a way to have access to a WC. It is not unusual to see a person leave all their belongings, take care of nature and continue sitting, reading, texting or looking at Facebook. Food in the cafes seems to have 2 levels, a tourist level which tends to be Western fare, pasta, pizza, salads, bruschetta, cold cuts and the famous sandwiches pitas and hamburgers. There is also a Greek option usually moussaka, or souvlaki. Greek salads are tomatoes cucumbers feta cheese and olive oil. All menus have been in English as well as Greek. Language has not been too much of a problem with the exception of Dan talking with the guy in the lumber company. The most amazing part is there is always a snack brought to the table if you order a glass of wine. Usually olives and sometimes even meat and cheese. There has been no problem with food this trip and I am probably 10 pounds up. 😩
Athens: we spent 3 days on our own and I think I am caught up on all that happened. My impression of the city is it is amazing to walk around with ruins, tourists and residents all around. A lot of street people with cups and tons of graffiti all over. They haven’t touched major sites because they are locked but everywhere else is covered. It is not really artistic. Apparently Athens is only second in the world for graffiti just behind Berlin. I just feel it really degrades the city. The graffiti isn’t limited to just the city but in other parts of Greece. It makes it hard to read street signs that have been spray painted over. Not to mention I have no Greek
One of the street people scams is to hand you a flower. In this case a really pretty rose. They usually work in teams and crowd the tourist. Yes it happened to us. These were kids probably 15 and 10. The scene is crowded Dan on one side with a rose, I am walking next to him like a good tourist my hand on the top of my purse when I feel the brother’s (?) hand on my arm. At this point it had 2 glasses of wine and no food. I started yelling to have him not touch me. Since kids must be very inexperienced or we looked like an easy mark. Needless to say he then apologized “sorry, sorry” and they promptly disappeared. We actually walked the same way bake from dinner. No other excitement in Athens just very tired after walking and stone steps.
Eating in Greece is not the adventure we usually see. Yes a few street vendors selling nuts and olives but not a lot of street food. Lots of vendors selling souvenirs. The kids should be grateful that the trinkets didn’t come from them. There are lots of cafes and everything is outside tables and only a few inside tables. Supposedly there is no smoking inside but it is Greece. Lots of cigarettes. The way it is done is the customer just picks any table and sits down to be served. There are sometimes people out in front tempting you with there menus. You are served water and given a menu. The Greeks sit for hours at a table after maybe only a coffee or glass of wine. The Greeks like there coffee although I didn’t find it special at all. Sitting in a cafe is also a way to have access to a WC. It is not unusual to see a person leave all their belongings, take care of nature and continue sitting, reading, texting or looking at Facebook. Food in the cafes seems to have 2 levels, a tourist level which tends to be Western fare, pasta, pizza, salads, bruschetta, cold cuts and the famous sandwiches pitas and hamburgers. There is also a Greek option usually moussaka, or souvlaki. Greek salads are tomatoes cucumbers feta cheese and olive oil. All menus have been in English as well as Greek. Language has not been too much of a problem with the exception of Dan talking with the guy in the lumber company. The most amazing part is there is always a snack brought to the table if you order a glass of wine. Usually olives and sometimes even meat and cheese. There has been no problem with food this trip and I am probably 10 pounds up. 😩
Monday, April 8, 2019
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Various Photos from Peloponnese
The theater at Epidavros Beach town at Kardamyli 5 Euro lunch View from the drive View from Fortress Driving...
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Since I am 2 days behind in blogging and really tired tonight I will post the photos and write more in the AM