To get from Ancient Olympia on the Peloponnese Peninsula to Nafpaktos on the Greek mainland we must drive to Rio to cross the Gulf of Corinth on the Rio-Antirio Bridge one of the worlds longest (1.8 miles) multi-span, cable-stayed, suspended bridges in the world. We only notice its immense proportions and beauty.
The Internet reveals what an engineering feat it was to build. Some of the challenges the engineers had to overcome include: deep water (65 meters), a loose sediment seabed, seismic activity and the likelihood of tsunamis, expansion with tectonic plate movement and regular winds of up to 70 mph. Apparently, it has built-in over one hundred sensors that 24/7 monitor the bridge's structural elements.
The bridge was completed a week before the 2004 Summer Olympics opened and Olympic torch-bearers were the first to officially cross the bridge.
NAFPAKTOS
We choose Nafpaktos as its a small medieval city on the seafront, with a pretty Venetian port. It's not yet known by international tourists and it's just before summer holiday time, so Greek visitors have not yet arrived.
The pretty port seems content to be nestled safely in the arms of its fortification walls, with an opening for small boats to find protection in its harbour.
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| The above photo was found on here: Areal View Nafpaktos Harbour. No copyright infringement intended. |
This harbour was very significant in the victorious naval battle of 1571. By the harbour entrance stands a statue of Cervantes (better known as the great Spanish writer of Don Quixote) who lost a hand during that battle.
It's a bonus that beaches extend around from either side of the fortress walls, so swimming here is very accessible.
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| Photo taken from the castle grounds |
Little restaurants surround the harbour and locals and tourists alike gather here in the afternoon and evening. We find our favourite. The harbour sparkles at night:
An early start to beat the heat for a climb up to the castle:
Before heading up the hill above the port and old town to the impressive Venetian Nafpaktos Castle, we wander into a Greek Orthodox church partway upstairs that will take us up towards the castle.
These seemingly marble columns are in fact plain columns painted to look like two different types of marble. Such skill!
We wend our way through narrow streets and little old houses; up more steps; past a famous mansion, now a museum; past the Tower clock; more "up" to pass Botsaris tower:
... up past the ruins of an ancient Ottoman bath:
Somewhere along the way we pass a community tap that still provides water and an enormous tree:
... still "up" beyond a couple of restaurants that seem built into the mountain and onto a road that takes us the last distance. Here we walk with a Dutch couple headed for the same destination. Conversation makes the long, steep climb much easier.
Random photos around the castle:
On this day it's so hot that you can smell the roasted earth and tree scents that tell you how hot and dry this country is. Indeed, as we leave the castle firemen are parked in their truck as if anticipating a disaster.
Nefpaktos was a delightful place to pass a few days. Next, we are on to Nidri (Nydri) on Lefkada Island. We can take the rental car there because access is by floating bridge and not by ferry, which the car agency does not allow.
Lefkada is a mountainous island in the Ionian Sea on the west side of Greece. Its name is derived from lefkos which means white, which is the colour of the mountains and cliffs.
Its population is 23,000 (more in the summer), mostly in the capital city (Lefkada) and so we choose the small, quiet village of Nidri.
We don't have much to say about the island as we totally kicked back for four days. We didn't explore the island, nor did we even hike into the waterfalls at Nidri. To celebrate Paul's 70th. birthday we take a cruise aboard the Seven Island tour boat. The seas are calm and warm, the sun hot, the drinks cold, the souvlaki tasty and the crew relaxed. We island hop getting off here and there to swim, or to walk a village promenade. The boat leaves at 9:30 and returns at 18:30. The cost is 25 Euros/person including lunch.
All you need to know about the cruise is here: Daily Lefkada Cruise
With the car, we have chosen to stay in an Airbnb on the bypass road to Nidri. It's away from the tourists on the waterfront and yet close enough to walk to town.
Random photos from the cruise:
Lefkada is a mountainous island in the Ionian Sea on the west side of Greece. Its name is derived from lefkos which means white, which is the colour of the mountains and cliffs.
Its population is 23,000 (more in the summer), mostly in the capital city (Lefkada) and so we choose the small, quiet village of Nidri.
We don't have much to say about the island as we totally kicked back for four days. We didn't explore the island, nor did we even hike into the waterfalls at Nidri. To celebrate Paul's 70th. birthday we take a cruise aboard the Seven Island tour boat. The seas are calm and warm, the sun hot, the drinks cold, the souvlaki tasty and the crew relaxed. We island hop getting off here and there to swim, or to walk a village promenade. The boat leaves at 9:30 and returns at 18:30. The cost is 25 Euros/person including lunch.
All you need to know about the cruise is here: Daily Lefkada Cruise
With the car, we have chosen to stay in an Airbnb on the bypass road to Nidri. It's away from the tourists on the waterfront and yet close enough to walk to town.
Random photos from the cruise:
A summer would pass here quite easily. Bye for now.
Next stop: the monasteries on the rocks in Meteora.
Enjoyed this post. Gr8 place to celebrate a 70th! - Katrina
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