Peloponnese

6fartsinacart
May 8, 2017
3 min read

5 May 2017, Friday: Our camper’neighbour’ from Cornwall brings us fresh baked bread from the local bakery. It’s a gorgeous day and Mum decides to do some washing. While waiting for the washing to dry some of us go for a walk to the fisherman’s village of Krionéri. After having our fresh bread for lunch which was delivered to our front door, we collect our washing and continue on our journey. Soon after we cross the Rio-Antirrio Bridge across the Gulf of Corinth which connects the Peloponnese to the Greek mainland. This huge bridge is one of the world’s longest multi-span cable-stayed bridges and longest of the fully suspended type, with a suspended deck of 2 252 metres over 4 pylons. As we approach Kastro we see Chlemoutsi castle. This castle was built on the highest point in the area, on top of Chelonata hill, at the westernmost tip of the Peloponnese, dominating and surveying a wide ambit of land and sea. We stop to explore. Unfortunately it is closed and we can only venture around the high walls of the perimeter and read their plaques. From there it’s only a short stint to Kastro beach. Dad and Emile take another dip in the sea after which Dad takes out the gas barbeque and braais us some lekker chicken pieces and pork sosaties/kebabs. 6 May 2017, Saturday: Merzy’s floor gets a good wash and we set off. We spot a bakery going through a small village and stop for bread. We continue to Olympia where we park Merzy at 1pm. We walk through the Archaeological site and Museum of Olympia. Its fame rests upon the Olympic Games, the greatest national festival and a highly prestigious one world-wide, which was held every 4 years to honour Zeus. This site covers an expanded area of ruins e.g. athletic training areas and temples dedicated to the gods, Hera and Zeus, scattered among low trees, as well as the ancient stadium where the Olympics took place. An impressive array of artefacts which were unearthed during excavations are on exhibition at the Olympia Museum nearby. Back at Merzy we have a very late lunch. Then Mum, Dad, Genève and Emile go for a stroll through the centre of the modern little village called Ancient Olympia. Emile and Genève stumble upon the Archimedes' Museum. It is not long before they have Dad hooked as well (while Mum does some shopping). I get treated to a pair of Greek leather sandals. I also get the chance to post a postcard of Greece… from Greece. We head back to the coast and stop near Eléa. All this walking is a sweaty and dusty business and we refresh ourselves with a shower. This time we make a proper fire with some drift wood and toast some marshmallows. Emile’s killer marshmallows are to die for. 7 May 2017, Sunday: We thank the Lord for His goodness, provision and protection and leave our parking after having communion. Along the road we stop at a Lidl and meet a lovely Dutch couple. We are informed that Oom Jan has just turned 81 and Mum wishes she can be as youthful-looking as them one day. Lunch time we stop overlooking a little bay and Emile can’t resist the temptation to go for another swim, even on his own while Dad has a little catnap. We carry on to a park4night stop between Methóni and Foinikountas but after some consideration decide to move on to another stop just past Néa Koróni. This is a perfect little spot under the trees right next to the beach, now an abandoned campsite with fresh water from taps and beach showers yet again. God is good.

Just passing by – Krionéri

Fishing village at Krionéri

Our lovely camper neighbours and Milly the dog

Chlemoutsi Castle

Almost in the Peloponnese

Rio-Antirrio Bridge across the Gulf of Corinth

Chlemoutsi Castle – in Kastro

Chlemoutsi Castle

Unfortunately closed. Picture taken from information board

Chlemoutsi Castle

Yummy... braai-vleis

Meal for a boer

Sunset at Kastro beach

Kastro beach

Beat ya!

Feet up :)

Olympia Museum

The Nike of Paeonios

Statue of Agrippina the Younger, wife of the emperor Claudius (left)

Statue of the emperor of Titus (right)

The West Pediment of the Temple of Zeus: Battle of Lapiths and Centaurs

Say cheese!

Hera's Altar – where they lit the Olympic Flame

Entrance to the Ancient Olympic Stadium

Base of Paeonios' Victory – on this tall, triangular base, still in its initial place, stood the statue of the Winged Victory (photo we took in the Louvre)