We've been getting up at 6:30am and it doesn't even get light until 7:30 or so. Yesterday morning, we wanted to climb the many steps up to Nafplio Castle for the view. It didn't seem like it would take a lot of time, but it was still after 11:30am by the time we got on the road and left town.
There are varying accounts of exactly how many steps there are leading up to the castle. How can that be? There can only be one correct number. Are they only counting the steps leading up to the castle wall? Or are they including the steps inside the castle leading to the highest point? Who knows, but either way, there are a lot of steps! We should have counted ourselves, but we didn't. The locals say there are 999 steps, but we have read differing reports, and the guy in the ticket booth at the top said there are 913. The official tourist site for the city says there are "only" 857. Yet one of our readers counted himself and says there are 1,023.
Max, at his overnight spot in Nafplio.
GPS 37.573456, 22.801299
Nafplio Harbor.
The entrance gate to Nafplio old town has been rebuilt, but the walls are original.
Lots of thick walls.
This is the lower castle.
Heading up the stairs!
Looking back at where Max is parked.
We moved him to be with the other motorhomes while we hiked up to the castle.
He is the closest rig.
We had overnighted the other side of this rig.
At some point (1970's?) they had built this ugly hotel on one of the castle walls. Now it is empty and covered in graffiti. What an eye sore.
Looking down on old town.
Zoomed in across the water at the town of Argos, and Argos Castle.
Starting to get higher.
Notice that it was another blue sky day!
Looking through a hole in the castle wall.
I took a video for you of the fantastic views!
View from the top!
Ruth, enjoying the view.
Fantastic!
There's some crazy guy swimming down there!
The temperature at this point is only about 10C (50F).
There was a different looking cactus growing up there.
Ruth, heading back down the stairs.
Looking back up.... it's tough to see where the stairs are!
Back in town, we made a quick stop at the Orthodox Church.
It's nothing special from the outside.
But inside has this beautiful huge chandelier.
This statue is well done.
No idea who the guy is.
On the way back to Max, we were lucky to come across the weekly fruit and vegetable market. We stocked up on everything because the weekly market is where you get the freshest produce at the best prices.
The weekly market.
Fresh seafood.
Ruth buying some apples.
We finally got on the road, but we had one more stop to make at a Lidl grocery store that had a big parking lot. We decided to have lunch there as well, and while we were there, an overlanding rig pulled in next to us. I got out and spoke to them for a while. They are from Switzerland and have been traveling in this vehicle since 2015.
This thing can go just about anywhere!
Wow!
They missed Canada in 2020 because of Covid.
Even more interesting is that the guy uses a wheelchair. Imagine doing that kind of van travel with mobility issues. Great for them!
Orange groves.
Scenery along the way.
The fortress at Acrocorinth.
Yes, we are headed up there!
We made it!
But the gates closed at 3:30pm, so we are going in first thing this morning.
View from our overnight spot.
By dusk, some of the other vehicles had gone, so I moved Max to a better spot.
One other van spent the night as well.
Max, parked at GPS 37.889891, 22.868289
Today is a driving day! First, we are going to spend an hour wandering the fortress, but then we hit the road. It's time to put on some miles towards the Turkiye border.
Yesterday's drive, 57 kms (35 miles).
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And in Canada...
So glad to have found your blog and looking forward to following your trips.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes
Stephen Medcalf
Treetops Guesthouse
Port Elizabeth
South Africa
Thank you, we hope that you enjoy our blog. We were in Port Elizabeth back in January 2014.
DeleteOddly enough, my first thought to the swimmer was, he must be Canadian! The couple in the monster van? How do they get it from Europe to North America? I'm assuming a cargo ship? How long does that take? Always been curious how people managed that. Dh had a stroke and has very little use his right side, but can walk some but even if he saw the world, mostly, from a window riding by, I imagine would be amazing.
ReplyDeleteLol, that was our first thought too but we are Canadian and there is no way we would be out there swimming in these temperatures!
DeleteThey would have shipped there van over. By the looks of the dates and the countries that they visited, it seems like they must have shipped it to Uruguay and then drove down to Argentina and Chile before working their way north. Surprisingly enough it isn't terribly expensive to ship a vehicle overseas. This guy looked like he was able to get around really well in his wheelchair but yes, he would definitely have limitations but I bet they have really enjoyed their travels, as you say, I am sure your husband would too.
Another simply marvelous day trip with you. Thank you for taking us along!
ReplyDeleteThank you we are so glad that you enjoy traveling along with us virtually. We are going to have a lot more fun and interesting things to see in the coming months. :-)
DeleteWow, the views of the city from above really highlight how large the Maltese Falcon is! This area looks particularly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe views of the city were incredible from up at the top looking down and yes, it really does give the size of the Maltese Falcon some perspective. We have certainly enjoyed our time in the Peloponnese Region. :-)
DeleteHmmm what would I choose...the Yacht or the Overlanding rig. I think I could go for the Rig, just so nice you can get to almost everywhere!
ReplyDeleteThere wouldn't even have been a contest between the two for us, it would definitely have been the Overland rig hands down! The boat is too expensive and too restrictive as to where you could go with it. That rig was amazing and the perfect vehicle for doing an around the world trip in. :-)
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