Ouzo, Schnapps, Rosé & Prosecco

[Gem56]

Next stop - Costa Navarino staying at another member of Marriott - Westin Resort Navarino Dunes. Beautiful resort. Bit of a rabbit warren. It almost resembles a village with a variety of restaurants and a golf course. Only €216 for a game includes golf buggy and club hire.

A little out of the way but It was a stopover between Olympia and Corinth.

 

[Gem56]

 

[Gem56]

 

[Gem56]

Corinth - Another stop enroute to Athens. This time at the Wyndham Poseidon Resort in Lautraki. Quite the contrary to Costa Navarino. This resort is extremely tired but we picked up enough Wyndham points when we were in Cusco 12 months ago for 3 Free nights. They supplied a jug and cups but no tea, coffee etc. The mosquitos are a bit of a problem and the air conditioning had a mind of its own and the staff in the restaurant looked as though they couldn't wait to go home. While the room was free we had to pay €4 accommodation tax. Certainly pleased we had the room free as it was very disappointing. Needs a huge renovation.

The area is pretty and the resort is positioned right on the waterfront but a few kms out of town and you would need transport, ie car or taxi, into Lautraki for lunch/dinner. Based on the quality of breakfast I wouldn't consider eating at the hotel for lunch or dinner. Has lots of potential and was probably quite schmick in its day.

The sunset shot is for you @drron.

 

[Gem56]

A couple of things of interest in Corinth. First the Corinth Canal. Very impressive. This is the information from Wikipedia -
"The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, arguably making the peninsula an island. The canal was dug through the Isthmus at sea level and has no locks. It is 6.4 kilometres (4 mi) in length and only 21.4 metres (70 ft) wide at its base, making it impassable for most modern ships. Nowadays it has little economic importance and is mainly a tourist attraction.

The canal was initially proposed in classical times and a failed effort was made to build it in the 1st century AD. Construction started in 1881 but was hampered by geological and financial problems that bankrupted the original builders. It was completed in 1893 but, due to the canal's narrowness, navigational problems and periodic closures to repair landslides from its steep walls, it failed to attract the level of traffic expected by its operators."

 

[Gem56]

The other things are the ruins. Akrokorinthos ruins and the nearby Temple of Apollo. Both are a bit out of Corinth and difficult without a car. It may however be possible to get a bus from Corinth or certainly a taxi. The Akrokorinthos is open from 8am to 4pm. A bit of a hike up to the top but so worth it. Entry into the Temple of Apollo is €8 per person.

Akrokorinthos

 

[Gem56]

Temple of Apollo

 

[Gem56]

Driving in Greece, you have two types of main roads:

1. Motorways: where the speed limit varies from 60 to 130 and there are lots of tolls, and
2. Other roads: where the speed limit varies from 50 to 90 and there are lots of speed cameras.

However, the locals ignore the speed cameras (even overtaking on double lines at speed while in view of the speed camera; so either the cameras don't work OR the fines are small OR the Greeks have penty of cash.

 

[Gem56]

Athens - Accommodation here is at the Intercontinental. Well positioned within easy reach of the Acropolis. Very nice hotel, comfortable room. This booking was on a BOGO which made it reasonable and within our budget. 10 min walk to the Metro; 5 min walk to the tram; free hotel shuttle bus to centre of town and great views over the city and to the Acropolis from the Club Lounge. There are a pair of high powered binoculars on the deck off the Club Lounge.

Our room





View from our room



The view from the Club Lounge

 

[Susan Marks]

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Love all your photos Gem56.

 

[Gem56]

Acropolis Hill

According to Wikipedia:

"While there is evidence that the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium BC, it was Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) in the fifth century BC who coordinated the construction of the site's most important present remains including the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Athena Nike. The Parthenon and the other buildings were damaged seriously during the 1687 siege by the Venetians during the Morean Warwhen gunpowder being stored in the Parthenon was hit by a cannonball and exploded."

Entry into the Acropolis which included the Parthenon and the Temple of Athena Nike is €20 or €30 for the whole lot which includes the Roman Agora and the Ancient Agora. Time you need to allow for each is 1½ hours for the Acropolis and 2 hours for the Agoras. There are lots of little tavernas between the two Agoras and

The monument on the Philopappou Hill is a memorial to a Roman Emperor. We didn’t go up there.

At the end of all the ruins, you can visit the Monastiraki markets. Doing all this will probably take all day, depending how long you spend in each area.

On the way up to the Acropolis






Ancient theatre that is being restored with new marble seating and stage






Approaching the Entrance to the Acropolis




Inside the Entrance

 

[Gem56]

The Parthenon

Interesting story about the cranes used for the restoration of the Parthenon

 

[Gem56]

The Erechteion - Opposite the Parthenon, built between 420 and 406 BC.

 

[amaroo]

Top TR and photos as per usual. Greece is a stunning destination.

 

[Gem56]

Top TR and photos as per usual. Greece is a stunning destination.

Thanks for your encouragement amaroo.

 

[Gem56]

Oh look... more poppies @Jacques Vert

 

[Gem56]

Looking over to Philopappou Hill and views over Athens

 

[Gem56]

Enroute from Acropolis to Roman Agora

 

[Gem56]

The Roman Agora






The Tower of the Winds

According to Wikipedia:
"The Tower of the Winds or the Horologion of Andronikos Kyrrhestes is an octagonal Pentelic marbleclocktower in the Roman Agora in Athens that functioned as a horologion or "timepiece". It is considered the world's first meteorological station. Unofficially, the monument is also called Aerides which means Winds. The structure features a combination of sundials, a water clock, and a wind vane. It was supposedly built by Andronicus of Cyrrhus around 50 BC, but according to other sources, might have been constructed in the 2nd century BC before the rest of the forum."

 

[Gem56]

The Ancient Agora




Musuem of the Ancient Agora - holds many statues and interesting artifacts.







This plaque says:
King Attalos son of King Attalos and Queen Apallonis
This inscription, from the lower epistyle of the stoa, records its dedication by Attalos II King of Pergamon, 159-138 BC



Temple of Hephaistos (ca. 460-415 BC)