Tripolis and Costa Navarino

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Trip Start Mar 09, 2012 Previous
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  Methoni, Peloponnese, Greece
Sunday, March 11, 2012

I took my usual route from Gatwick to Corinth, taking the opportunity to sit by the window on the plane - something I had not been able to do for some time as I don't use speedy boarding.  The fine weather in the UK meant that take-off was wonderful, over a sunny Southern England.  With clear skies over the Alps and along the coast-line to Athens, the journey passed quickly and while it was a little chilly outside at the airport I was soon on the Metro/Suburban railway to Korinthos.  By late afternoon I was sitting at a cafe bar in the park at Korinthos, enjoying the atmosphere of a Saturday following a busy working week.


I ate an evening meal in town, at a modern bright and spacious diner, frequented by youngsters as well as older diners and families. 

Next morning - Sunday - I took a taxi to Isthmos (Corinth canal) and was surpirised to find that the bus station had changed to a newer building a little further from the canal.  Facilities were very good and I was pleased to see that smoking laws were mostly obeyed, with just a few exeptions.  This was to prove the case throughout the trip.  Being Sunday, the number of travellors was low, so a rapid and pleasant journey to Tripolis (leaving Isthmos at 10.15 - and in Tripolis about an hour later.  The motorway journey continued to Paradisia, as I had already noted in December, and the main area of development between that visit and this seemed to be in Tripolis itself, where more buildings seemed to be complete after a big building boom there.

As before, the journey was slower after we left the motorway.  Although it seemed a long way round to Pylos, with many stops and twists and turns, when I looked at a map later I realised that the journey is not a bad route for a Sunday bus.  At least it di not go into and back out of Kalamata, and I had the opportunity to look at the scenery, lovely houses, some ruined, some renovated and some new.  As we passed Costa navarino, I saw people playing golf on the new courses.  The develpoment of the area had not been welcomed by conservationists; but I think it looks fine and is an attractive tourist destination which complements the beautiful countryside and the bay! 

Finally I arrived at Methoni in mid afternoon, when the streets were quiet and I was able to walk the few hundred yards to the hotel.   My arrival was expected, so check-in went smoothly, and I was soon catching up on Methoni news, albeit that the evening at the restaurant was quiet - partly due to the economic situation, but mainly the time of year.

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