Aivali Hotel Sparta

Could someone please help me? I don&#8217;t seem to know how. <br><br>I thought I&#8217;d learned to ride a 2-wheeler when I was 5... I thought I&#8217;d gotten better at it these last few months&#8230; Today, that all seemed to change. <br><br>With all the new components, it was like I had a completely new bike! Where had my old friend gone? Brakes feel different, shifting is different, gear ratios are ...

... second finger&#8217; (the three peninsulas along the south end of the Peloponnese). Great views of mountains 3-4 times larger than what we just went through. Made me stop and almost reconsider where we&#8217;re going and what we&#8217;re doing&#8230;Tomorrow will be quite challenging!<br><br>Finally we arrived at a center large enough to have a cycle shop. Brian was in heaven looking at new cranks, front forks ...

... where I got to see "typical Tripolis night life." It definately was fun!<br><br>Days in Greece have been both relaxing and refreshing. I have fully recovered from my bout with a chest infection large in part because my thea's careful watch over me. I have either slept in until 2 to go out that night at 1230am only to return at 5:00am. Or we have woken early to get a bus to the beach and spend the day there ...

When we returned to our rooms after our successful expedition to High St George, we were ready for a siesta. Naps and showers ensued as we whiled away the time until about 5pm. We then set off again for Megalopoli with the aim of acquiring tiropittes and general supplies on our way to tracking down the other local castle of St George, near the ancient site of Lykosoura. The 'Big City' was sleepy and only just emerging from siesta - it slowly ...

... they are only in Greek. Also it was very cloudy and looked like it was going to start raining. But armed with a satellite ap from Vicki's cousin and some directions from the hotel clerk we found the village and house very quickly. We strolled around the village for a while and went up to the church. Then a thunder storm erupted so we hurried back to the hotel in Tripoli.<br><br><br>

... is mainly olive trees, scrub, and large prickly pear cactus trees.<br><br>We also toured the caves of Dirou which are enormous underground caverns that are now part of national park. You can only tour the caves by boat, and you have to be careful and duck down quite often because the cave ceiling is only 3 to 4 feet high in some areas. It is not a good place if you are claustrophobic! The cave is well lit inside, and you can see crystal studded ...

... and got to Monemvasia - albeit by taxi! We were stormbound in Plaka across the gulf for two nights, no hardship really as the name means 'beach' and we walked inland to the local town of Leonidio in search of lead crew spares. Quite an experience and very different from cosmopolitan PH - especially when a coffee and a beer in the town square comes to a grand total of E3! <br><br><br>We then moved on to Ierakas for two more peaceful nights ...

Today was Seth's best birthday bike ride ever, as well as my favorite riding day thus far in Greece. The route took us from the beautiful coast town of Gythio, up and over the mountains, then down through a winding, beautiful gorge to the coast town of Leonidio. We stayed at Dionyssos Hotel and ate at "Michel and Margaret's" restuarant, all owned and run by the same family. Great day!

... terms of feeling the importance without getting overwhelmed by the packs of tourists. What Olympia has going for it over those two places is the ruins are old, really really old. Like, pre-Jesus old. Heck, most of the structures there were built before he was even a twinkle in Big Man's eye. The highlights: running through the tunnel onto the original Olympic Field and walking on the Temple of Zeus, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Quick, name all seven. Bet you ...

... the way to the bottom even out in the bay and the perfect temperature for a cruelly hot day. After that we went out for supper and for a walk around the old Venetian part of town which is much better than the real Venice, in my opinion. Yesterday we did the seemingly impossible: we visited Mycenae *AND* Epidauros in one day! We rock. The heat was punishing (instead of just cruel), but we did it! Of everything I've seen so far, Mycenae impressed me the most. It's high on a ...