Note: big thanks to Eva Denys, Jelle Umans, Isabelle Verleg and above all Hannah Cappon for taking some of these great shots during our trip!
This part follows up this post.
Casual visit to the Earth's centre
While our trekking boots slowly found a permanent place at the bottom of our backpacks, our trip took us more south. But I have to correct myself here. In Greek mythology our next stop, Delphi, is in fact the centre of the Greek world. Zeus is said to have sent two eagles to determine the Earth's centre. The birds crossed each other right in Delphi and so this place became the core.
The car ride to this site with the many names took us some time. And when we bought our entry tickets, the sun was beaming down on us so warm (permanent sweating was generally accepted). We strolled through the ruins and excavations, reading info signs here and there. Recognizing the original Oracle of Delphi took a lot of imagination. The theatre and the temple of Apollo in particular were still clearly visible. I liked the surrounding landscape a lot too. Without the enclosing mountain range the site would have been a lot less impressive.
It was so hot that day that I was death when I climbed all the way up to the stadium (the elevations were crazy). But luckily most of us had still enough energy left to visit the museum.
Eddie: I see fire, inside the city
After our ride to Delphi, we found ourselves on the peninsula of Peloponnese. The timing of arrival in the city of Patras was perfect. With our trekking backpacks over our shoulders, we followed a bright orangish shine through the streets of Patras like hungry animals. On the pier a beautiful sunset set the sea and sky on fire. We sat for a while, took photos, jumped, posed, reflected,...
After unloading the luggage, we went to the Indian restaurant that called our hungry bellies on the way to the hostel. I don't know what I ate but my lips were the same colour as the sunset... so spicy (still working on my tolerance for spicy food).
The next day we had to be on our way to our next destination. With Eva, Niels, Jelle, Jeroen, Hannah and Jana, I made the best of the morning. We smashed the highlights of Patras in less than 2 hours! From the stairs of St. Nicholas that led to the famous castle...(which was closed) to another church and the Saint Andrew Cathedral. We were back just in time to jump into the cars to Olympia.
A pinch of new with the old
The Greek roads dropped us off in Olympia, where the roots of the Olympic Games sprouted. Although the sport event lasted only one day thousand years ago, the site is enormous. There are training rooms for all kinds of different sports, temples to honour Zeus and Athena, changing rooms, a water garden, a giant stadium and even statues of every quitter who fled from the Games (a kind reminder not to do the same).
Thanks to VR-glasses we rented we could easily visualize the whole picture of Ancient Olympia. Half of the time one of us would stand still, concentrated looking in his VR-glasses, and from the outside it would just look super stupid. But it was such a cool experience! I shared VR-glasses with Eva and we were both gushing with enthusiasm. Back at the stadium our group held their own mini Olympic Games. First the boys ran a length and then the girls (I got second #proudlazybum).
For the past days whispers would go around about a hotel plus swimming pool. With our exhausted legs from Olympia the pool was the perfect way to cool off. We held a pool party (kind of) with cocktails, pool games and in the late evening we went for a fancy dinner in Olympia. I did a quick phone call to the home front. And among our table we held conversations about each one coming up with their good and bad qualities, dreams,.. The deep stuff. Good times!
Voorout, achterout After the canyoning, rafting would be easy peasy lemon squeezy. We stopped in Megalopolis, by the Lousios river. A guide explained how to sail (voorout, achterout), safety measures,... and we were divided into 2 rafts. Each one had one guide and ours was crazy, I just didn't get when he was joking and when not. His favourite contestant was Kevin for sure.
On places where the river was calm, we jumped and paddled into the water (I froze). We did a kind of natural water slide where everyone held onto each other and floated on the current. I lost my shoe, tragically. So the end stroll to the waterfall I did on my bare feet. But that was secretly not so bad.
After the Mount Olympus trekking, I was excited that another hike lay ahead. The Lousios Gorge hike, between Argos and Nafplio. The hike was truly a gem, the weather was nice and our legs had done some training. While walking we passed a cool ruin of an old castle that seemed to hang against the mountain range. And a monastery with loooots of cats (*melted at this point*). We got lost at the very end but we weren't lonely and eventually made it to the finish line. A rattling stream was the final reward before we headed to Karytena.
Jump for joy.. with a bit of agony
The most beautiful city we did was Nafplio for sure. I loved all the light coloured houses and the cafes with their tables set out on the small sidewalk. The harbour city is flanked on one side by the coastline and on the other by a mountainside. When we arrived in the evening, the cosy streets were crowed with people. We strolled along the pier to the lighthouse, hung out for a bit.
Early in the morning (which is relative when on vacation) Eva and I went exploring the fortifications of Acronauplia and the coastline. We stole mini cactus plants to take on the plane back home (they died :( ) and ate an overload of pancakes at a comfy café.
The day started quietly but we all knew what was on the program. We would drive to the canal of Korinthe, between Athens and the peninsula of Peloponnese. There a rope would dangle above the canal. And that rope had to hold each of us as we jumped off the bridge.
I remember that I paced around the entry point so much. Plus peeking over the balustrade every second. Signing a paper in which you agree with all the consequences, including dying, is also anything but reassuring. But I'm so proud of our group! Everyone who wanted to do the Zulu Bungy Jump just did it! It took blood (especially ligated veins), sweat and some encouraging words. But what a feeling, WILD!
The Earth's roof!?
The capital of Greece would be our last playground. The city is embedded between 8 mountains, with the famous Acropolis almost right in between (and on top of one). The neighbourhood around our hotel was a bit sketchy but my overall feeling of Athens is pretty alright. Plenty to do and see like Plaka. Plaka is an older town part with dainty white painted houses and winding stairs. Jeroen, Eva, Niels and I did some small exploring (including Plaka) in the morning before joining the rest of the group for a visit to the Acropolis.
The Acropolis was devoted to Athena, the patron goddess of the city, during the Greek period. It's by far the most touristic place in Athens and felt really crowded. But that adds to the feeling of being small among these giant monuments. I've often broken my head about how the Greek built this back in time.
After our visit to the historic heart, some went for a swim at the coast and some went souvenir shopping. In (another) rooftop bar the souvenir shoppers broke their head about a funny poem. That would go on the backside of a painting we bought for our group leader. To celebrate our last day we booked at a typical Greek restaurant in the evening. Jano received the gift and the evening was just so much fun. And not to forget the very last rooftop bar we did in the centre of Athens. It was probably the most spectacular one we did. A full moon gleamed at the night sky when we arrived. We ordered cocktails for each other and Kevin and Jana treated us (accidentally?) to several bottles of Prosecco. Until the very last minute, we stayed (not accidentally) as the last guests at the bar. With 3 hours of sleep, all worth it, we eventually left for the airport.
Forever grateful for the Mundero team to make this trip go so smooth and most of all our amazing group of Wild Greece'rs for the tremendous times together 🍉 #cringy
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