If you want to get to know how something works. Or want to build something. Or dismantle something. Then, the likely-hood is you’re going to get mucky. For us, it’s time to get some greece under our finger nails.
The ancient sites entice. Bring in the hordes. From far-flung. Driven droves. Like the returning diaspora. Crossing over into the promised land.
We discover there’s no real hiding places. No real way to escape. No matter how remote a site. How narrow the road leading to it is. How steep. Mile after mile on seemingly empty roads. No guarantee. Only the guarantee of a coach beating us to it. Until today.
We go down to our most southern planned point. Mani Peninsular. Visit Vatheia and its tower-houses. Not quite off the beaten track. That comes later in the day. We go soul searching. Not many left. We wander the mainly deserted towers. Get to get a good look inside and out. Sections look unloved. Others on the up. New owners or tenants making good out of bad. The local area abandoned after WWII. Eight warring clans the previous occupiers.
We decide to take the scenic coastal road up to Camping Meltemi. Turns out to be one of the best decisions. Even if at one point we bear right, when we should have gone left. Need to U-turn 2K later. Easier said than done. But we do. The rugged route for most parts all to ourselves. Just as well. Any MOHO or oncoming lorry would have created consternation.
We make one brief stop. A photo opportunity too good to miss. Miss Piggy and her dozen little piggies. Foraging roadside. She gives me a sniff or two. Then a snouts up as she doesn’t possess an opposable.
We’re just about to move on. A small white van deliberately blocks us in. Driver’s suddenly door side. Holding a large jar of honey. Removes the lid to prove it. Requests twelve euros. We suspect his name is Jimmy Popounscroopulous. Suggest he gets back on his bike. He does so reluctantly.
Here’s a tiny flavour of our fab scenic and rugged route up to Gytheio.