Itisallgreek2me

RHS view from my window - Hotel Leonidas, Gythio

My last evening in Monemvasia spent eating cake and drinking tea in an outdoor waterfront cafe until it became too windy and too dark to read.  Retired early knowing I had an early start today.  

A day when everything seemed to be running on Greek time, i.e. anytime, something which has always irked me.  The 0700 hours breakfast start time, when I considered I would partake of a couple of rushed pieces of toast and coffee to set me up for the day – was 0715 hours – the time my bus was due to leave.  A bus which, as it turned out, eventually left at 0725 hours.  Just 30 minutes on the road, the three passengers that we were, asked to get off at a town and told by the driver, he would be back to pick us up again.  What that was all about, I’m sure not even God would know!  Perhaps for his morning coffee (not cigarette, the bus drivers have that and talk on their mobiles whilst negotiating bends in the road).  Returned 30 minutes later with a smile on his face – maybe he’d been home for a quick visit to the wife!  

It is always interesting making such bus travel as one is never taken directly to their destination but rather via many small towns and villages on the way – leaving and returning to the major road as you go.  Arrived in Sparti 0945 hours, quick check of the timetable board told me the next bus departing for Gythio would be at 1130 hours.  A quick toilet stop and on to the ticket office – no, bus to Gythio leaves in 5 minutes at 1000 hours!  Oh well, at least that was one change to my advantage.  

Arrived 1100 hours – my first stop Hotel Aktaion, a beautiful old neoclassical building on the waterfront with all rooms having a balcony and sea views but no Internet.  Next stop the neighbouring Hotel Leonidas – WiFi Internet, however, no connection in the rooms, only from the downstairs lounge.  Cheapest room on the 2nd floor 35 Euro per night, no balcony but with a wonderful sea view from the window.  This will be my home for the next four days.  

With a permanent population of approximately 5,000, there will be plenty for me to do and see.  Visitors here to Gythio, where the atmosphere feels much more like island than mainland, are primarily Greeks and Greek Americans.  I enjoyed a particularly good Greek Salad with bread and wine at a waterfront establishment then thought it appropriate that the first place I visit be the small island of Kranai, connected by a causeway, where Paris and Helen left for Troy after he abducted her from King Menelaous in nearby Sparta.  The small church graffiti-ed and in a general state of disrepair.  Rubbish and general litter about like I have not seen in Greece since my visits in the early days – not good, not right, actually shameful.      

On arrival here today the weather was stunning and 23 degrees C but then the wind came up and rather spoilt things.  Not yet sure about tomorrow’s programme, however, whatever I decide to do I must be out early to make the most of my time here in this beautiful  part of the Peloponneses.  

P.S.  Spoke with Costas from Bar Spetsa around midday today.  He was back at Athens Airport and bound for Munich.

This entry was posted on Sunday, May 16th, 2010 at 3:07 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.