We rolled out of New Corinth and headed for more of the excellent countryside of the Peloponnese, first stop was at a roadside restaurant with a stunning view of the water and village below, after this, we made our way to Epidavros, site of and ancient and enormous amphitheater and archaeological site- majestic and awe-inspiring. Greek authorities are in the process on re-constructing part of the ancient town and temples, etc. very cool
Next we head to Nafplio to and unexpected treat on this trip. Though Greece is usually about the Ancient History, we encountered a fine medival/renaissance era castle overlooking the harbour here. High above the bay and lowlands, the main (existing) fortifications date from the early 1700s when Venice (yes that Venice) was ascendant all over the Eastern Med. but the foundations of the castle are much older, medieval at least. Our guidebook says the views form the top are some of the best in Greece. We have to agree. Back to Corinth tonight on to Delphi tomorrow. ~S
Today is a new day - and already better than yesterday. We woke a little later than we have been which was really nice. After getting ready for the day, we head out and toward Epidaurus. The hotel clerk told us the way out of town and recommended we stop at a restaurant at the top of the hill on our way into Epidaurus which would have a lovely view of the bay and the little town below. So on our way we went and a short time later we easily found said restaurant. It did indeed have a delightful view of the bay... a cute little town below and super blue water. The view was spectacular and the food was delicious.
Back onto the road, we find Ancient Epidaurus. This place was cool! It is the home of the oldest, largest and most intact Greek theater, in fact they still use it for active shows. Very cool. The ruins not only include the theater, but a huge town that they are reconstructing. Temple columns, building and home remains, statues, etc. A very cool museum showed relics from the old town, and the walk through was very amazing. We liked it here very much and spent a great deal of time exploring.
On our way again, we drive to Nafplio where we find a very cool, very awesome medieval castle on the hilltop above the city. It is called Palamidi and it was huge! We walked all over this place and the view was simply amazing. Our book about Greece talked about this castle, they called it a fortress (which it is) and it said that it arguably had “the best view in all of Greece”... we agree wholeheartedly and this was one of my favorite sites we’ve been to thus far. From the top of this castle you could see in every direction, from the valleys to the ocean to the islands in the distance to towns below. So very awesome, so very beautiful, so very amazing!!! And the best part of this castle, you could explore every nook and cranny as nothing was blocked off, nothing was limited. If you didnt pay attention, you could walk right off the edge of the cliff in places, that’s how “free” it was.
Back to Corinth, we decide to eat dinner in the same part of the old town that we had the night before. We tried a different restaurant and wished afterward that we had gone back to the same one as before, oh well... We’re now in our hotel, Stanley is reading and I’m getting sleepy.
Tomorrow - drive to Delphi to see the Oracle ruins, then we’re into Athens again on Thursday!!!
A quick sidenote... Greece is abundant with extra large bugs of every variety. Huge ants, giant beetles, enormous wasps, much too many for my liking. :) ~M
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