Athens - Delphi- Thermopylae - Meteora

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Left Athens around 08:00and battled through the rush-hour traffic to the motorway, high quality, 120kph limit in places. Came off just north of Thiva and cross country to Delphi. Very entertaining drive into serious mountains with some spectacular scenery. Went through Parnassos, a ski resort in winter, and eventually arrived at Delphi.

An extraordinary place with ruins spread out over a wide area of steep mountain hillside,, surrounded by huge steep edifices of rock. It must have been an amazing place in its day, home of the 'Oracle' etc, and there is a model of how it once looked outside one of the shops in the local village where we stopped for lunch.

More challenging driving down switchback roads before descending into Thermopylae, best known to many as the location of King Leonidas' stand with his 300 Spartans against the might of the Persians (in the movie '300'). Not much to see there other than a monument to Leonidas.

North through Lamia, a busy looking industrial town and then the inland route directly to Meteora, a good route with generally good roads. Left the mountains, crossed a huge fertile agricultural plain, into mountains again, then as we left Kalambaka the huge rock formations that are the unique attraction of Meteora came suddenly into view.

Stayed at the Hotel Adracti (also known at 'Pyrgos Adracti' in the village of Kastraki, fabulous 10 room hotel, helpful owner, difficult to find but well worth it. Our room has a balcony and we are dwarfed by the massive rock formations all around, many with monasteries perched precariously on the top.

Followed the proprietor's recommendation and enjoyed a brilliant traditional supper in the Gardenia taverna a few minutes walk down the hill. This feels like a secret bit of real Greece, in spite of the dozens of other tourists who have also discovered a spectacularly picturesque and hospitable location.

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Comments

[fiona]

sounds ace!
Sounds like you guys are having a brilliant time! V jealous, as would rather be exploring rural Greece than writing an essay about the occupational deprivation of an Eastern European dentist...! xx

[Ed]

Sounds like your having fun... how many km on the car now i wonder!