Day 22 - 01 October 2016
Slept like a log!
And so I enter my fourth and last week of holiday.
Yesterday the owner of the hotel where I was staying asked where I was going next, so I said to him the I needed to take the 07:20 bus to Nafplio. Nonsense he says. We can give you a lift. Booked out (€35.00 for the night) and at 09:00 his sister collected me and drove me through to Nafplio. It's about 20 minutes away. Found my hotel really easily and my room was ready for me even though it was 09:30. I am staying at the Omorfi Poli, a really lovely little hotel in the old center of town. I dropped off my baggage. I'm staying in the attic room and the last flight up to my room is the steepest I have ever encountered. Once all that was done, off I went. I wanted to go to Mycenae, but I had missed the 10:30 bus because I went to the barber to have my beard shaved off.
Notice anything different? That's why I missed the 10:30 bus.
My own fault for dawdling. The next bus was at 12:00 so I walked around town until 11:45 and went back to the bus station and got my ticket. Only €3.80 so I was happy. We drove past Tiryns, through Argos and Fichti and on to Mikines. The bus drops you off right at the site. Unfortunately it was also the last bus back as well. I would have to go back to Fichti and get a bus from there. As I got out off the bus, I was approached by a cab driver who said he could take me to Fichti for €5.00 or even better, back to Nafplio for €20.00. Now that was a bargain so I said to him that when I was done, he could take me back to Nafplio. It was incredibly hot. I believe that the temperature peaked at 33°. I paid my €12.00 to get in and walked up the path to the Mycenaean citadel. I simply cannot describe to you the emotions that welled up in me as I walked up to the Lion Gate.
It was without a doubt on of the highlights of my holiday so far. The citadel was imposing and you can see why it was originally built there. From the top you can see for kilometers in all directions. It was also hot and dusty, but because of all the wild flowers the air was sweet. It irritates me that I can't grow a Cyclamen in a pot, but here they grow wild in the driest of grit, not even proper soil. After negotiating the citadel, I went down to look at the Tomb of Clytemnestra.
It really is impressive and cool inside. Off to the museum. A lot of pottery and replicas of finds now in Athens. After that cool, air conditioned interlude, I went to look for my cabbie. I found him and off we went to the Treasury of Atreus.
Built in 1300 - 1250 BC. Very similar to Clytemnestra's but in better condition.
Kostas the cabbie drove me back to Nafplio and dropped me off at the main promenade. I walked along and found a ferry to Bourtzi castle.
The castle of Bourtzi located in the middle of the harbour of Nafplio.
The Venetians completed its fortification in 1473 to protect the city from pirates and invaders from the sea. The Greeks regained it from the Ottomans on June 18, 1822, from where they assisted in the siege of Nafplio. Until 1865 it served as a fortress. It was then transformed into residence of the executioners of convicts from the castle of Palamidi. From 1930 to 1970, it served as a hotel. Since then, it is mainly a tourist attraction hosting occasionally parts of the Summer Music Festival.
For €4.00 you get taken to the castle and collected 30 minutes later. It was a pleasant visit. Wonderful to feel the cool sea breeze. Once we got back, I walked along the promenade until I got to a sigh that said 'No Pedestrians'. I just carried on walking and sure enough, there were other people walking as well.
It turned out to be a 40 minute walk around to the back of the city. First kiosk I found I bought a liter of water and gulped it down. Hot, sweaty and tired, I bought an ice cream and back to the hotel. Aircon full blast and rest. At about 20:00 I showered and went out to dinner. Had fried courgettes and lamb in the oven with potatoes. Hell it was good. I was so stuffed I could barely move. The plan was to have another ice cream after dinner but I would have got sick. Instead I bought a coffee to go and walked around a bit to settle the stomach. Nafplio on Saturday night. The entire town gets dressed to the nines and promenades, eats and drinks. They looked and smelled spectacular. The great thing was that everybody was having such a fantastic time. All you heard was laughter and happy sounds of families and good friends having fun. But was it busy. You couldn't move. There were queues to get into restaurants. I got back to the hotel and read my emails etc. Just woke - it's 5am, lights on, TV on, fully dressed. Night folks. 😁
No comments:
Post a Comment