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We've been to the Corinth canal and and like you looked through the fence at the archeology (on a package tour). Very interesting. Thanks for reminding us about it. Look forward to the next instalment of your travels.
From Corinth we drove rapidly down the motorway, via Tripoli for another gas top-up, to Kalamata for a LIDL fix and on to Finikounda for a while over Christmas, staying again at Camping Thines. We had a good lunch at the Taverna Elena on the Sunday before Christmas, Saganaki, Sardines and Souvlaki, but we were told that they were closed over both the Christmas and New Year weekends. At Camping Thines, three ladies went for a swim on Christmas morning, an annual event we understand, one was the campsite owner, another one her daughter and the third a permanent (UK) resident (sorry, our memory for names is awful) – somebody’s son joined them briefly but neither of us was tempted. There were three vans on site apart from the English resident, an Austrian couple who were staying until April, a German couple who left on Boxing Day (we were pleased because they were noisy) and us. Apparently Camping Finikes, the other open campsite further out of town, was much busier.
We then lazed about for nearly a fortnight, spending quite a time sitting in the sun with highs of 20⁰ in the daytime. We then drove to Katakolo on the way to Patras for a return visit and we were rather surprised at how quiet the place was on New Year’s Eve, though the two ships in harbour sounded their whistles at midnight and there were a dozen desultory fireworks. On New Year’s Day though, by lunchtime, the place was heaving.
So on to Patras, which deserves a particular mention. The approach to the port was OK (Sunday morning after New-Year) and we arrived at the passenger terminal early (we always arrive early, anywhere) and eventually managed to park in a place that was not obstructing other traffic. Within two minutes we had someone lying down under the back of the van looking to see if there was space for him to hide. As the co-pilot was attempting to check in for our ferry in the passenger terminal, the pilot was monitoring the back of the van on the rear view camera. During the time we were parked at Patras there must have been twenty attempts to find a space under the van but after a while (and we are a little ashamed by this) there seemed to be no alternative but to start the engine as the next one got head, shoulders and torso underneath. They all came out very quickly, but smiling – they knew the game, but none seemed to realise that we could see them on camera. One young man in a Santa Claus hat climbed up the ladder on the back. We have to admit that we started the engine, reversed quickly, and tested the brakes. He got off.
We were eventually told to drive a km south to gate one, enter the port and drive back to the passenger terminal inside the port security fence and “board the boat when it arrives”, the first bit of which we did, dutifully. We drove towards the passenger terminal, safely on the inside of the port security fence, only to find more groups of young men trying to find a space under our van. The problem then was that there were no further directions or signage as to where to go next. We later discovered the parking/waiting area by asking a coach driver (they really are very helpful people!) and there was a police presence in the waiting area – what a difference – though we still had the van searched inside, underneath (at some length) and outside.
We do feel sorry for these desperate young men, but not when they are trying to use us as a vehicle to prosperity, and their behaviour was quite intimidating.
Our advice to anyone joining a ferry at Patras is:
• Before you go, make sure that every door is locked, including the lockers.
• Don’t arrive before the latest recommended time.
• If you can, get into the port area before you check in.
• Until you leave your van on the boat, don’t leave it unattended.
This brings our Greek adventure to an end for this trip although we already plan to return next year and also visit Turkey and Crete. For now we are off to Southern Italy another first for us. Although TomTom don’t claim 100% coverage of Greece, the coverage was excellent and we also relied a great deal on the excellent Peloponnese atlas which we obtained from Stanfords in London (Anavasi Digital) which was £30. This has 1:50,000 detail and is based on satellite imaging so it is very accurate and you can easily use it to work out GPS co-ordinates.
Thanks yet again for your 'blog'. Which country do you think the young men who tried to stow away were coming from? It does sound a bit scary so thanks for the information.
Will you keep us up to date when you get to Italy?
Actually most of these would be immigrants are Kurds or Iraquis. Albanians have a more direct route. Keep us updated on Italy and feel free to pm me if you need help/info.
saluti,
eddief
______________________________________________________________ We get too soon old, and too late smart.
You sounded a bit surprised about the lack of festivities for Christmas and New Year. Perhaps I should have added that in my response for advice on the Peloponese.
Christmas is not big partly because the Orthodox Churches have a different calendar (Thus Geek Easter is often on different dates to the Western Churches Easter)
However Easter for the Greeks is BIG - everyone tries to return home to family and nothing else matters for a week either side of Easter, unless your are a provider of lamb and other celebratory foodstuffs. So do not try to travel at Greek Easter or ask anyone to do repairs etc. Just park-up and join in - they will make you welcome!
Ciao! Enjoy Italy! I hope to be in Greece by Spring so keep in touch.
We were pleased that it was so quiet as we dont really do winter celebrations but we were a bit surprised that everything closed down, clearly family time.
Its nice and quiet in Puglia too although very chilly this am and I thought the few German vans returning home after their Xmas holidays were very brave to set off from the site we are on before 08.00.
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France
