Honeymoon tour September 1993

First week

It was early on the morning of September the 3rd., that we started out trip with a short way on our bicycles and about an hour of subway. We were at about five o'clock in Tegel Airport, Berlin. Quite a job making our whole luggage and the bikes fit for the flight.
At about nine we arrived in Athenas, together with ten other machines from different companies. We had to wait about 3 hours before we had everything together. And on top of that one of the bikes came made quite a mess. Some spokes of the back wheel were broken, and the tube of same wheel was all wound up around the axle. The tube was beyond any possible repair, so I just cut it all and put a new one. After the repairs were done we started on our tour. Somehow I didn't make a good job because on the way out of Athen other spokes of the same wheel broke. But this was not the only nuissance; being, as we were, used to the ordered traffic pattern in Germany, an to being respected by other participants of same traffic, we almost went crazy in the streets of Athenas. Somewhere halfway through the city our nerves didn't do it any longer and we decided to walk pushing our bikes until we reached the city limits. Boy, were we happy as we finally were on the road.
We stopped at "camping Athenas" after only 19 kms.
On the next day we visited a monastery of the eleventh century in Dafni. And the day after we decided to pay a visit to Athenas before we went on with our tour. Obviously we decided to take a bus leaving the bikes at the camping. Here we visited only the Acropolis, and its surroundings, since we were to spend some days at the end of our trip in Athenas and would have time to see the rest of what Athenas had for us.
On the 6th. we left the camping at about seven o'clock. Before we had reached Elefsis I had a flat on my back wheel. Shortly after my wife had a flat. I run out of spare tubes, and had a lot of problems trying to find the correct ones (13/8), at the end I had to be satisfied with 11/8 tubes. I bought two.
But these inconveniences were fast forgotten, such was the magnificence of the panoramas we saw on the way between Elefsis and Megara. We went on to Kineta and put our tent in "camping Glaros". We arrived there so late, that there was no more hot water for taking a shower. O boy!, was that a cold shower!!! We had here our first real Greek meal: Pastisio and moussaka. Great! We were so thirsty we got a bit drunk, I had a liter and a half and Mónica a whole liter beer.
We left "camping Glaros" early on the morning of the 8th. We stopped at Isthmia to take a look at the Chorinth Canal. And then we went on for twelve kms. looking for a camping. We kept seeing signs saying: "Camping Blue Dolphin 1 Km." Almost every Km. of the 12 we saw such a sign, Crazy!!
The next day we visited Chorinth and Ancient Corinth. It was great to sit there with our books and reconstruct all what we had studied years ago in "History of Arts" in Highschool. Somehow it was much better as the dry exposure of my old teacher, nevertheless somethings were still fresh in my memory. I would have never believed it since I was not a very good student those years...

Second week

On the 11th. we left Corinth and made about 63 Kms. until we reached Akra Akratas. The "camping Lemon Beach" (the only one open this time of the year) is not so nice as others. We didn't like it and so the next day we were again on our way. We went to Diakofto where we took a little train which brought us all the way up to Kalavryta. From ther we cycled all the way up to the Monastery of Mega Spilaeon. That was a tortuting ride!!! But the Monastery was worth the trouble. Then we cycled the whole way down. Somewhere around 75 km/h my speedometer stopped counting. Was that a kick!! When I got down I had to wait quite a long time for my wife to appear, she came walking (got the creeps somewhere up there and decided to walk). We went on until we arrived at "Eleoni Beach Camping". As soon we had our tent up we decided to take a rest of two days. Here we met a german couple which was starting a one year bike tour. One year, o if we could do something like that...! Funny enough, they spoke a correct sapnish so that my wife could have a nice chat.
Early on the 13th. we left on our way to Patras. About 58 Kms. of a nice cycling. The campsite is horrible!! We decide to go on with a train to Pyrgos. That was my wive's idea she feels quite tired. The next day we take the train to Pyrgos and we go on from there on our bikes. We had three killing slopes on the 22 Kms. to Olympia. We arrived there at night but were lucky to have enough warm water for our shower. And then we had gourmet dinner: Tomatoes with peas, rice with peas and frankfurters. And we were more as just happy to get in bed!
Next morning was great and we had a great breakfast: fresh bread, ham, cheese, jam and cocoa. And then we were of to visit the ruins and museum of Olympia. Afterwards we spend the rest of the day at the camping's pool. Really a great day! The day after we strolled a little around the town of Olympia, bought a couple of souvenirs, wrote a couple of postcards and then spend the rest of the day at leisure at the swimmingpool.

Third week

On the 17th. we left Olympia early in the morning and as we arrived in Pyrgos we took a train to Argos. Had some discussions with the train personal, at Pyrgos they told me Ihad to put my Bikes so and my luggage so, which I did. But then In Zevgolatio I had a stupid man of the train company explaining to me I was some kind of an idiotic tourist because I'd disposed of my bikes and luggage in such a way so I had to put everything someother way or leave the train. I did what he wanted only to have again problems on the next stop with another controller, and again on the next stop, and again, and...Bloody idiots.At last we reached Argos and from there we cycled the 30 Kms to Ancient Assini where we stopped at "Camping Assini". Real nice, and the beach, gorgeous. We had a nice dinner with some greek Retsina. We got quite drunk!
Next day we cycled from here to Micene in three and a half hours. Spent some hours visiting the premises and then returned to the camping.
The 20th. we visited Epidauros. Again a three and a half hours cycling. Epidauros is great. We had the luck to be there at the same time as a group of art students with their teacher. We just made the tour of the premises with them. We did learn quite a lot.

 

At about this time we have cycled 506,9 Kms and we've done about 200 Kms with the train.
 

The 21st., my birthday! We went to Nafplio to ask about boat prices to Aegina. We visited the museum and had lunch at a good restaurant. Afterwards we visited the fortress of Palamidi. We had to climb the 1000 steps to reach it. After the so many Kms. cycling it was some kind of a torture. But what a panorama from up there! Magnificent! Next day we took the ferry to Aegina. We made a stop at Hydra, but bicycles are not welcome on this island so we went on.

Fourth week

This week we cycled and toured with local buses around the island. We found it great, and the beaches are wonderful. We visited the Aphaia Tempel and the church. But mostly we just went to the beach. Here on the island there are no camp sites and therefoere we had no other choice as to get us a room in a cheap hotel. Anyways, it was a real nice week. Sort of a rest of the other three weeks cycling around. The 29th we left on the ferry towards the Piraeus. From the harbour we cycled for about 25 Kms. until we reached a hotel (we were not able to find the Youth Hostel) it will cost us a fortune, but we have no choice.
The next two days we spent visiting downtown, Hadrians gate, Zeus tempel, Dioinsios theater, the ancient Agora of Athenas and the National museum of archeology.
On the 1st. of October we left the hotel quite early towards the airport. Once here we noticed that the preparing of our whole equipment for the flight is gone faster. I supose we already have the necessary practice.