2023 Sep 3-23
We had been invited to Gaz’s & Emma’s wedding anniversary celebration in Kythira. So, we put our “Around Canada” travel on hold while attending this. We left Toronto on September 3rd, arriving in London on the 4th, and drove to Norwich to see Tes and Margo for a short visit. We caught up with them, went into Norwich, enjoyed the excellent art gallery at Sainsbury Centre, and walked Whitlingham Little Broad.
We returned to Heathrow and flew to Athens, arriving at 0400h, to an amusing (in hindsight) comedy of errors relating to our brief stay in Markopoulo. We had booked a place for what was left of the night, in this town not far from the airport. Getting there turned out to be less efficient than hoped, however in the end we did get a good sleep, before returning to the airport to pick up a rental car, following which we headed into Athens for the next night. We stayed in Charitos, which proved to be an attractive area with cafés, shops, and restaurants, within walking distance of the Acropolis and the Plaka area, where we enjoyed the day.
We then left Athens to drive to Neapoli, where we spent the night in a howling gale, at a BnB with an excellent view, at least when the wind permitted. On the way we stopped at Mikines (Mycenae) and walked the ruins and the Tomb of Agamemnon, dating from the Mycenaean Period (1600 BCE to about 1100 BCE).
The following day we took the ferry to Kythira, in continuing high winds, showing a face of the Aegean which doesn't make it to the tourist brochures.
On arrival on the island we headed to Avlemonas, where we were to stay for the following week, with Gaz, Emma, and Robyn; we would also spend some of the time with Pat and Wendy, as well as with friend Greg, all from Australia.
Kythira is a sizeable island, one of the Ionian islands, south of the Peloponnese Peninsula. The population is around 5500 people, most of whom we seem to have met at one point or another.
Avlemonas is a small village centred on an inlet of the Aegean, perfect for swimming, being protected on three sides and easily accessible from the village, which has several restaurants, a general store, and not a lot else.
We spent time with Gaz and Emma, as well as the others in the group, in various restaurants; in Avlemonas, Livadi, Potamos, Milopotamus, Kapsali, Aroniadika. Pierros, in Livadi, was outstanding! Karavas Bakery was an excellent morning stop for coffee and baked goods.
We walked the trail at Amir Ali Spring and to Nereida waterfall as well as around many villages and towns.
We explored, with Greg’s help, Kastri, Palaiochora castle and Kakia Lagada Gorge, and the Road of Tears and Joy.
We wandered around the island, finding our way to Agios Nikolaos Krassas (a tiny church on a cliff), the Holy Pilgrimage of Panagia monastery, the Archæological Museum of Kythera, and with others the Venetian Castle in Chora. To reach the Moudari Lighthouse we took a route which proved to be restricted to 4x4 vehicles, according to a sign visible only when we returned. Beaches included Liminaria beach, Paralia Melidoni beach, Limnionas Beach, and various beaches to which we gained access on a boat from Kapsali.
One evening we enjoyed attending a dance at Livadi, attended by most of the population of the island, it seemed, with traditional dancing and music.
One afternoon we engaged in helping Greg paint various bits of his house, although some of the effort went into cleaning up unintended painting of bits which were not intended to be painted...
One evening we
enjoyed attending a dance at Livadi, attended by most of the population of the
island, it seemed, with traditional dancing and music.
We left Kythera, returning to Neapoli on the ferry, then continued to Mystras where we stayed at a resort hotel in antique style, which was actually recently built, although very comfortable. The following day we explored the Mystras Byzantine Archæological site – the high Fortress, the upper town, and finally the lower town. This is an impressive ruined town from the Byzantine period, the capital of the Byzantine Despotate of the Morea in the 14th and 15th centuries CE, overlooking the valley with impressive views.
From here we returned to Athens, stopping on the way to visit the Corinth Canal, cutting across the isthmus to link the Gulf of Corinth in the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea.
In Athens we visited the National Museum of Contemporary Art Αthens (EMST), wandered through Plaka, Varvakios Central Municipal Market, and Monastiraki Square.
On the way to the airport the following day we stopped at the Artemis Temple in Brauron, then flew to Heathrow.
On arrival we stayed with Mark and Beate in Marlow and enjoyed their company, visiting Burger’s, walking to Temple Lock, and catching up with them. We then headed back to Canada, flying from Heathrow to Montréal where we spent the night before taking the train to Ottawa where we went to the Canadian Museum of History and wandered around town before meeting Rose and Justin to return to Perth, pick up the vehicle, and continue our “Around Canada” exploration, captured at https://aroundcanada2022and2023.blogspot.com .
Hugs / Abrazos
Alan and Marce
Photos may be used for non-commercial purposes with credit to alanymarce@gmail.com
Las fotos pueden usarse para fines no comerciales con crédito a alanymarce@gmail.com
