Argolikós Kólpos (Argolic Gulf) - Αργολικός Κόλπος
Perth to Náfplio
Thursday July 28 - Friday 29
Thursday July 28 - Friday 29
Flight from Perth
Departed Perth 2300, Thursday 28th
Arrived Doha 0530 (local time, 5 hours behind Perth), Friday 29th - 11hr 30min flight
Flight from Doha
Departed Doha 0730
Arrived Athens 1215 (same time zone as Doha) - 4hr 40min flight
Arrived Náfplio around 15:30.
Departed Perth 2300, Thursday 28th
Arrived Doha 0530 (local time, 5 hours behind Perth), Friday 29th - 11hr 30min flight
Flight from Doha
Departed Doha 0730
Arrived Athens 1215 (same time zone as Doha) - 4hr 40min flight
- Stopover in Doha went without a hitch
- Cleared through Passport Control in Athens by a grumpy Greek, clearly not enamoured with Aussies trying to say “hello” in Greek and instead accidentally saying “Cheers”. Pity I didn’t know how to say in Greek the rest of the toast, “Up ya bum!”
- Entered the “Goods to Declare” line at Customs (Line? What line?), passed a man asleep in a chair and walked straight out. The man in uniform on the other side of the exit doors just directed us to the information desk and moved away from us as quickly and far as possible without abandoning his post. Our feeling was he had no idea we were trying to declare goods.
- Easy walk to shuttle bus pick up for our car hire
- Arrived Pop’s Cars 1300
- 'Pop' stated the fuel gauge indicated a 1/4 tank, but the fuel light came on immediately as we left lot. Luckily it said we had 71kms in which to find somewhere to refuel.
- Pop’s Cars gave us the most gutless car on the market, a Nissan Micra. We were down to 2nd gear on the hills and passed by trucks. Then the air-con stopped working. Pop’s Cars, now known as Pop’s Lemons.
Arrived Náfplio around 15:30.
Route from Athens Airport to Náfplio
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Closer view of route
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Náfplio (Ναύπλιο)
Friday July 29 - Monday August 1
Pension Marianna €118.50/night (AUD~$173/night)
Friday July 29 - Monday August 1
Pension Marianna €118.50/night (AUD~$173/night)
Friday Jul 29
Arriving in Náfplio around 15:30 we were met with narrow streets and many flights of stairs to reach reception at the Pension Marianna, but the challenge was worth it to be greeted by a delightful man offering us cold, homemade lemonade. I immediately fell in love with the place and the staff. We were shown our room, and a closer (and higher) place to park where we would be able to roll our bags downhill rather than dragging them upstairs. Joy!!
After almost 24 hours in transit we showered and crashed until woken by bells at 9pm. I struggled to keep my eyes open as we wandered into town for dinner, then promptly returned to bed.
Saturday Jul 30
One of the many delights of Pension Marianna was that breakfast was included, and that it was delicious! Praise to Dr Norman Swan who commends the Mediterranean diet. Breakfast for me was Greek yogurt with homemade orange and lemon sauces (concentrated sugar), homemade lemon juice (more concentrated sugar plus some lemon), coffee (two double espressos with a shot of milk - concentrated caffeine), and homemade orange pie (concentrated fat and sugar). That Norman certainly knows his stuff!
After breakfast Colin went shopping for the essentials - Cosmote internet, milk, and tea.
Getting in sync with the European lifestyle we ate dinner around 8 or 9pm.
Sunday Jul 31
Having breakfast as soon as it was available at 8am we planned to walk before it got too hot, though at this time of year it's really only early morning and late evening that are not hot and humid. We looked at the fortress, contemplated climbing up to it, and immediately dismissed the idea as completely unreasonable in this heat. Later in the season we thought, and instead walked the grounds of the Acronauplia Castle just above our accomodation.
Later we attempted to drive to Epídavros, but Pop's Lemon was uncooperative as on came the Malfunction Indicator Light, which took a while to work out as the car manuals were in Greek only. We ended up using the Google Translate camera function to work out what the light meant. After only getting a third of the way there we had to turn back. The staff at the car rental office in Ermione didn't seem too concerned, and suggested Colin try disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. I suspect this problem is a regular occurrence.
Monday Aug 1
First up, Customs Office to retrieve the boat papers and pay the cruising tax (Tepai). Google said the office in Nafplio is permanently closed but we didn’t let that deter us, and arrived at 0930. An hour and 10 minutes later Colin emerged with the papers but without having paid the Tepai as his electronic transfer didn't work.
Next stop Post Office to pay the Tepai. Half an hour later we were out of there and on our way to Koilada, home of Loch Fyne Lass for the last 2 years and 10 months.
Click images to enlarge
Arriving in Náfplio around 15:30 we were met with narrow streets and many flights of stairs to reach reception at the Pension Marianna, but the challenge was worth it to be greeted by a delightful man offering us cold, homemade lemonade. I immediately fell in love with the place and the staff. We were shown our room, and a closer (and higher) place to park where we would be able to roll our bags downhill rather than dragging them upstairs. Joy!!
After almost 24 hours in transit we showered and crashed until woken by bells at 9pm. I struggled to keep my eyes open as we wandered into town for dinner, then promptly returned to bed.
Saturday Jul 30
One of the many delights of Pension Marianna was that breakfast was included, and that it was delicious! Praise to Dr Norman Swan who commends the Mediterranean diet. Breakfast for me was Greek yogurt with homemade orange and lemon sauces (concentrated sugar), homemade lemon juice (more concentrated sugar plus some lemon), coffee (two double espressos with a shot of milk - concentrated caffeine), and homemade orange pie (concentrated fat and sugar). That Norman certainly knows his stuff!
After breakfast Colin went shopping for the essentials - Cosmote internet, milk, and tea.
Getting in sync with the European lifestyle we ate dinner around 8 or 9pm.
Sunday Jul 31
Having breakfast as soon as it was available at 8am we planned to walk before it got too hot, though at this time of year it's really only early morning and late evening that are not hot and humid. We looked at the fortress, contemplated climbing up to it, and immediately dismissed the idea as completely unreasonable in this heat. Later in the season we thought, and instead walked the grounds of the Acronauplia Castle just above our accomodation.
Later we attempted to drive to Epídavros, but Pop's Lemon was uncooperative as on came the Malfunction Indicator Light, which took a while to work out as the car manuals were in Greek only. We ended up using the Google Translate camera function to work out what the light meant. After only getting a third of the way there we had to turn back. The staff at the car rental office in Ermione didn't seem too concerned, and suggested Colin try disconnecting and reconnecting the battery. I suspect this problem is a regular occurrence.
Monday Aug 1
First up, Customs Office to retrieve the boat papers and pay the cruising tax (Tepai). Google said the office in Nafplio is permanently closed but we didn’t let that deter us, and arrived at 0930. An hour and 10 minutes later Colin emerged with the papers but without having paid the Tepai as his electronic transfer didn't work.
Next stop Post Office to pay the Tepai. Half an hour later we were out of there and on our way to Koilada, home of Loch Fyne Lass for the last 2 years and 10 months.
Click images to enlarge