Monthly Archives: June 2012

Areopoli to Athens: tower houses to tower blocks

Posted on June 30, 2012 by BarryH

Thursday and unfortunately time to leave the Mani.  The staff of the family-run hotel, the ‘Areos Polis’ always very helpful and obliging, had arranged the full range of breakfast for me an hour early so that I could be on … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Reflections | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Areopoli: Last day in the Mani, a grumble about footpaths, and a new word for the language

Posted on June 27, 2012 by BarryH

PHOTOS ADDED (for those who have difficulty with the words) Wednesday, the last day in the Mani and the Exit Strategy looming. First task after breakfast was to trot around to the bus station and book my ticket on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Gerolimenas to Areopoli: things new, things familiar, and the Exit Strategy

Posted on June 27, 2012 by BarryH

Tuesday, the setting in motion of the Exit Strategy to get me back to the UK ….  and, a new experience for this trip, I was going back to a place I had been before!  Until today every single place … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Reflections | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Gerolimenas: more tower-house villages and scree-running.

Posted on June 26, 2012 by BarryH

Monday and I resorted to the plan originally pencilled in for Sunday, a long walk from Gerolimenas taking in some tower-house villages and a mountain top. My ambition for the whole trip has been to travel by public transport rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Grumpy Old Men | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Vatheia: the inescapable past.

Posted on June 25, 2012 by BarryH

Quick change of plan over breakfast Sunday morning.  I had hoped to do a couple of things while based in Gerolimenas.  Pencilled in mentally for Sunday was a long walk taking in some tower-house villages and a mountain top.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Areopoli to Gerolimenas: blood feuds and getting close to the edge of the known world.

Posted on June 24, 2012 by BarryH

Saturday and moving on yet again  I had been inspired to make this trip by reading the book ‘Mani’ by Patrick Leigh Fermor.  Amazingly I met an Italian couple in the restaurant which I singled out as the best place … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Areopoli: footpaths, anthropiverous spiders, and irritability

Posted on June 23, 2012 by BarryH

Thursday’s exertions had taken a lot out of me so I opted for a gentle amble along footpaths heading to a beach and swimming.  Because I wasn’t focused on the need to get from A to B and back within … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Grumpy Old Men | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Areopoli: longest day, longest walk, highest mountain …. shortest me

Posted on June 22, 2012 by BarryH

Thursday dawned bright and sunny.  Well, it probably did but as ever I was not around to see it.  Still, the statistical probability was pretty high given that the weather has now settled down to a truly Mediterranean ‘climate’ of … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Greece | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Areopoli: from above the clouds to below ground and time warping

Posted on June 21, 2012 by BarryH

Tuesday, my first full day in Areopoli, was really something.  So was Wednesday!! The Plan-for-the-Day was to walk to the Pyrgos Dhirou caves, one of the major tourist attractions not only of Mani but of Greece outside of Athens.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece, Grumpy Old Men, Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Areopoli: above the clouds and with the eagles

Posted on June 20, 2012 by BarryH

Tuesday, my first full day in Areopoli, was really something.  There are many footpaths shown on the map of the area and on the Big Map in the main square outside the hotel.  I decided to go for a big … Continue reading →

Posted in Greece | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment