Wednesday 20 November 2013

Greece - Patras to Katakolo along the western Peloponnese

Travelling down the western Peloponnese, or travelling from Patras to Kalamata if you like.

It was never our intention to stay in Patras itself, after all we will see it again when we take the ferry to Italy heading home and even then we have our spot near that bridge ....
We stopped near the port area in a large parking lot for lunch and a cup of tea and were soon enough faced with a female and two young children begging which put us right off the place anyway.
So on we travelled to the much praised coastal area at Kalogria, yes it was pretty, the camperstop area was locked and we dared not venture off the tarmac for fear of getting stuck after heavy rains in the area. We made for a beach and taverna nearby with a hardstanding but thought it too isolated and out of it. Free camping yes, but not too isolated with hardly any light after dark on a deserted stretch of coast - so yet again on we went. Darkness was falling and we were still looking for a safe stop, it had also started raining again. Don't think that Greece hasn't got rain, it RAINS and storms big time when the weather gods are out to play.
We aimed for the ferry port at Killini, knowing we could overnight there, as is usually the case with ferry ports. We found a spot and tried to settle before having something to eat but found the port very busy and noisy. The last straw was when a fuel tanker parked near us and for some reason the driver left the engine running whilst he went somewhere else. We left after half an hour, the time 9:30pm.
Killini's Bath, an area with Spa hotels and the like was nearby and by now it was really raining again causing a power failure as we entered town, leaving everything around us in total darkness. We pulled up in a side road, the time now 10:30 in pitch black darkness and thought this would suffice to grab some sleep before setting off in the morning for surroundings welcoming and sunny. Joan struggled to settle down ....

I woke up after a while noticing Joan sitting in the front looking out the small quarter windows of the cab which is not covered with the fitted blinds. I purposely leave those windows uncovered so that one can see the mirrors, with a view of what's behind, and what may be on the sides of the 'van. To me knowing what's around (situational awareness) is important.
She told me that a vehicle kept passing us very slowly and had already been three times, turning around further ahead repeating the exercise. I joined her in front and watched the passing pick up truck coming by. When it turned around I started our vehicle and switched the headlights on full beam and went outside standing just to the side out of the lights so that the person could only see my silhouette. I thought to let him know that our vehicle is not unoccupied.
However, we'd had enough and decided to move with the time now nearly midnight. It was still raining lightly and still pitch dark with no street lights anywhere. On we went to the port at Kalakoto further down the road and switched off the engine at 1:15am in the morning. The place was lit, it was quiet with  night owls just leaving the tavernas near the port in the centre of town. There was also another motorhome nearby. We slept well.

We woke up to a most wonderful sight, that of a passenger cruise liner arriving in port! Bigger was the surprise to see that it was a Costa Cruises ship, the Costa Fascinosa. Remember the Costa ship that ran aground off Italy not long ago - yes that lot! Beautiful ship though.

Seen early morning from inside Fifi

Preparing to leave at 2:00pm
 
Doing a 270 degree turn ....

.... and heading out to sea.
 
The sight of seeing this ship arrive and depart soon made us forget about the spooky night with our pick up truck prowler. A jaunt into the town for some milk, bread and other basics took us past the anchorage of the Hellenic Coast Guard and the many tavernas lining the quayside of this somewhat touristy town. We suspected the reason for cruise ships visiting this port was the proximity of Olympia, birthplace of the Olympic games.
 
Hellenic Coast Guard
 
We stayed a second night with a visit to Olympia in mind but the weather was not letting up and it kept raining on and off. We have time and a visit will be made before leaving the Peloponnese.
 
Next stop Kalamata for the annual Hellenic Air Force Open Days at the Air Base outside town.

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