A bit of a climb.....but so worth it!!!!

Thursday, November 6, 2008
Napflio, Greece

Looking up at part of Palamidi Fortress from somewhere on the staircase below.

So I got up this morning, looking forward to my climb up to Palamidi Fortress (or Castle of Palamidi depending on what you a reading). The fortress is 999 steps up. I did not count but I am sure that is what it was. It certainly felt like it. The stairs just kept winding back and forth across the mountain until you eventually reach the top.

The final steps heading towards the gate. I was very happy to see these steps as it finally meant I was at the top....... or so I thought.

Of course there is still more up hill and stairs to climb once you get there as you can wander around most of the fortress freely and the gate is not at the highest point. There are many different parts to the fortress including a jail and a church and some other things but really the reason you go up there is for the view. It gives you a great view of the city and the Argolic Gulf below. They say the colour of the water is a different colour every hour of the day. I totally believe it.

A few shots of Argolic Gulf from high above.

I wandered around the Fortress for a couple hours. Wasn’t always sure what I was looking at but I am learning more and more that you don’t always need to know its name to appreciate it.

A few of the structures along the outer wall of the fortress.

I hit a few dead end and tried to avoid the cliffs (there was a sign saying keep out but nothing else) but I could almost always find another way around.

One of the random pathways I found to follow.

The snake encounter in Mystras did have me watching my feet a lot but actually never saw much at all…not even those little lizards that drive me crazy (stop laughing Deb, we don’t all enjoy getting licked by iguanas). I opted for flip-flops today and it actually worked out really well. I don’t really like wearing shoes….ever and have been in them way too much the last 2 months.

Look, I found a track. Imagine that.

So the trip down the hill has me asking myself if I am paranoid. There was group of boys (well 3 of them…is that a group?) that found their way to me at the top of the hill. They then proceeded to follow me down the hill. If I slowed down they slowed down, if I stopped they stopped. At first I just thought, hey I am paranoid and they are just walking down the hill. That was until one of them walked up beside me on the stairs and started snapping his fingers and whistling at me. Really it seemed like he was calling me like I was a dog or something. I flashed him a really nice look (sarcasm again) and I think he got my point. I went a few more steps and then simply sat down and kind of motioned them to pass. They eventually did…but it was a slow process. I just hung out there for a while until the disappeared from my view down the steps.

A couple shots of the great view.

I am thinking that I am noticing the guys here more than in other places because I was expecting to have an issue with them. Maybe I just did a better job of ignoring it elsewhere…however, I know it can’t all be just me being paranoid.

Looking through the outer wall of the fortress. If you really look hard you can see the beach. No I did not head to the beach. It was nice today but not that nice.

Once down the hill, I needed to find a good way to spend a nice warm afternoon. I don’t know about you but warm weather, free time and vacations always means margaritas. So I headed back to my hotel to grab my laptop and made my way to a couch in a bar down by the water. A few drinks and a dead battery later it was back to the hotel to charge up and do a little packing before I headed back to one more bar (I had to pick a different one this time as the sun had set and the air really cools down once that happens and I needed to find a heater to sit under).

Ok one more shot of the great view....and me enjoying it.

Speaking of sunsets though, I have certainly enjoyed a few of those the past few nights here. I am kind of thinking I don’t want to leave tomorrow although I am looking forward to getting to see Athens. I will certainly be back here though a some point. There was many other little places throughout the area that I would like to visit and think this would be a great home base…especially this time of year when the weather is still warm but the place is quiet. So far Napflio has been the greatest surprise.

Another beautiful sunset in Nafplio.

Thinking about heading to Athens again has me thinking. Athens means the end of my time in Greece, which is sad, but gets me closer to my time in Turkey, which is exciting. It also means just that little bit closer to having to head home. This trip is just flying by and I am not sure I am ready to be back on Canadian soil just yet......but I guess I still have time.

Julie