I started by heading to the main town after my muesli and coffee by the beach. I can’t say I was in the greatest mood, as the big guy in the next tent snored like a truck all night.
All was good in town though. I had a fantastic omelette and coffee – second breakfast in the first 5 kms ! The guy asked where I was heading and pointed out a smaller amphitheatre nearby. So, after pigging out, that’s where I went.
There was a current archeological dig happening and from the fence, I had a good look around. It was nice that they were still digging and great to see it in action.
That was fine, but I had more archeological stuff to see today, and as you’d expect, it was at the top of a dirty big hill. I got water and snacks and headed off.
I stayed on the main road and was surprised by how little traffic there was.
At the other Epidaurus are some great Greek ruins but the highlight is the Amphitheatre. They use it for performances still and the acoustics are famous. Of course, most tourists put the acoustics to the test.
A group of four Americans split up and could talk easily with each other from the top, left, right and the bottom. That proves nothing as these people had clearly swallowed megaphones at birth and didn’t need favourable acoustics to be heard. After a few minutes it became quite annoying. I was forty metres away, their conversation was clear as a bell and these people wouldn’t shut up – in the presence of a structure that was more than two thousand years old.
I also wanted to take a 360 photo from the centre point but had to wait twenty minutes for the privilege. One guy kept coming back and standing on the spot before I could set up the tripod. Finally, I stood the tripod up and he stood in the way. With a lack of subtlety borne out of my exasperation, he got the message – it’s my turn. Thirty seconds later, I was done and he resumed whatever he was doing.
I had passed a restaurant on the way, and returned for a meal before leaving for Nafplio, my destination for today.
Nafplio is on the coast and has a Venetian port. It’s beautiful, well appointed and it’s choc full of tourists. I took an instant dislike to the place. There were touts at every restaurant, a long line of adjoining bars/restaurants overlooking the harbour, and manicured narrow lanes in the old city. When I found a largely empty restaurant in the evening, I was asked to sit at the very edge in the dimly lit lane. I was too hungry to go elsewhere but it left a bad impression. I often get this in these types of places. A solo traveller is worth less to the establishment than a pair of white clad retirees dripping in gold chains.
Nafplio to me was like a cruise destination without the boats.
The hotel was pokey too. I had to remove the front wheel and manoeuvre “This Moment” up the narrow stairs as there was nowhere else to leave it. I had previously asked if there was anywhere to lock it it overnight but got no answer. In my experience, that means that the hotel is ok with it being in the room but can’t explicitly say so – especially if there is no reception and check-in is via a lock box.
I had an early night and tried to plan the next few days through the hills in the centre of the Peloponnesian peninsula.