Another long (3 hour) drive from the western Peloponnese to Delphi. First a 60 mile drive to Patra, which is a 2 lane road. The locals make it into a 4 lane road which makes life interesting, particularly when cyclists, pedestrians, tractors etc become involved. Carol stayed very quiet. I think she was in shock. (EDGES OF ROADS, BIG DROP, OLD GREEK LADIES AND MEN WITH DONKEYS WALKING ON THE HARD SHOULDER WHICH TIM IS DRIVING IN, MAD DOGS RUNNING TOWARDS YOU AND DEAD CATS AND DOGS TO WEAVE IN AND OUT OF.)Then at Patra a new and very spectacular bridge, the Rio Antirro or Charlilaos Trikoupus (so good they named it twice) appears. (ALSO KNOWN AS THE A55) It really is an impressive piece of engineering, take a look at the photos. When you get ... read more

SO NOW WE ARE OFF ON OUR WANDERINGS A FEW DAYS SEEING LOADS MORE PILES OF STONES BEFORE SETTING OFF TO THE ISLANDS. THURSDAY DAWNS (8.30AM) GLORIOUSLY SUNNY AND WE FIND OURSELVES MEANDERING ALONG THE NARROW STREETS OF ANCIENT ATHENS DRAGGING ALL OUR WORLDLY POSSESSIONS (HOLDALLS) BEHIND US, DODGING THE TRAFFIC AND DOGS AND OLD LADIES TRYING TO SELL US STUFF. WE CATCH THE METRO TRAIN TO THE PORT OF PIRAEUS ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF ATHENS. YOU CANT BUT NOTICE ALL THE GRAFFITI IT IS EVERYWHERE PLASTERING ANY SURFACE WITHIN REACH OF THOSE THAT SPRAY. IS IT STREET ART THEY CALL IT? AS WE ENTER PIRAEUS WE PASS 2 OLYMPIC STADIUMS AND THEN WE ENTER THE CHAOS OF THE PORT OF PIRAEUS. FIRST THING WE DO IS BOOK A FERRY TO SERIFOS. WE PAY, WE ARE ... read more

The earth moved for us at 4.55am. A loud earth tremor which sounded like a bomb going off shook the hotel. Carol said, "What are you doing, stop shaking the bed." Now I have been told off for quite a few things over the years but why she would think I would choose our 25th wedding anniversary to start nocturnal furniture rearranging I'm not sure. Things didn't improve though when I told her I wasn't shaking the bed, it was an earthquake. The receptionist later told us this was quite a big tremor for Athens. (IN MY DEFENCE I WAS DEEP IN SLEEP AND IT DIDN'T HELP WHEN TIM SUGGESTED IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN EXPLOSION OR BOMB GOING OFF AND TO BACK IT UP IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS THERE WERE LOADS OF SIRENS PASSING NEARBY.) In the ... read more