Blogs from Pelopennese, Greece, Europe - page 14

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 overnight and this morning's temperature didn't seem to change much from when we went to bed last night as the breeze is so warm so it was very pleasant having breakfast on our patio in the front of the apartment. Even though it was warm the sky had clouded over although it didn't look like it would rain and we actually wondered whether the 'cloud cover'was a fog off the sea but not at ground level. Anyway it didn't look like it would affect our visit to Olympia,which was the main reason for us coming to Greece and travelling this far south.It has long been an ambition to visit the home of the original Olympic Games and see where it all started in the 8th century BC. We had intended to drive the 20 odd ... read more

Athens city of history and birth of civilization. We had heard so many stories about Athens and Greece--dirty, unfriendly, broke no services crime demonstrations work stoppages. Well none of that was true during our visit to this historic and ancient city. The graffiti is bad and you notice it from the time the train leaves the airport on your trip into the center of the city. However the airport is efficient clean and easy to navigate and we had no problem locating the train platforms, we did have help from very friendly local Athenians. Upon arriving at Symntagna square we then hailed a local yellow cab to complete our journey to our hotel. Our first night we ventured a few blocks from the hotel and found a great Italian restaurant and of course the ever present ... read more

And another thing ticked of the bucket list,swam in the med sea. Bugger now sitting in the bar with the sea lapping at the outside wall. Lovely littleplace tolo at bottom of Greece Been Olympia ,Venice was fantastic great gondala ride. Bloody hot every day having fantastic time an loving everything Ow in Greece of to Athens tomorrow. They keep us busy so blogs are not going to be to regular. Could easily stay in this lovely sea side town... read more

Since it was Sunday, there was very limited bus service, so I indulged in a taxi to take me to Monemvasia, which is a little over an hour away. This is a Medieval town that sits just out on the water. It was cut off from the mainland during a really intense earthquake in 375 AD. This separation from the mainland, though, ensured that Monemvasia exist largely removed from the world just across the water. So stepping past its gate is like stepping back in time. There are obviously no cars, since the streets are so tiny and cobble-stoned. And the town itself is incredibly compact. You could probably walk the entire length of it in less than 20 minutes. It has wonderful views of the Myrtoon Sea from nearly every part of town, but especially ... read more