Lida Sparta

... in the Alps of Normandy (excluding that one 18% grade in the Pyrenees), but I pushed today!<br><br>Rising 500m was nothing in comparison to some of these peaks (1800-2200), but that&#8217;s still ½ kilometer vertical. Some of these roads have a difficult pitch, but thankfully the roads are quieter now. It&#8217;s no wonder that these lands were traditionally traversed by foot and donkey - they are much ...

... cycle gloves, etc., etc. But I only wanted what was necessary. I took the one guy over to my bike and showed him the problem with my grip shift. He asked &#8216;you want fix?&#8217;, and I nodded. Then I went in to tell Brian and ask him what else was absolutely necessary. When he told me, I almost reconsidered, but I&#8217;ve decided not to fight him about this anymore. Then when he does all his replacements and the ...

... 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 ...

... itself awake as we were there - but we knew our way around from previous visits and achieved our two objectives safely and swiftly. It was pleasing to feel a bit at home in the old place!<br><br>We then headed west into the hills again. We had a briefly scary excursion into the reserved area of the mighty electrical power station which dominates the landscape to the west of the city, but managed to turn and beat a hasty retreat in time ...

... 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>

... in Areopoli. The owner is a Greek woman who spent 16 years in Canada before returning to live in Greece. She and her family were very nice to us and had great roasted pork dishes served along with wonderful zucchini fritters. <br><br>Another interesting moment during our time in the Mani included seeing a large sea turtle swimming along the shore while having fresh fish at a small restaurant in Limeni.<br><br>The Mani Peninsula was an interesting ...

... 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 ...

Caught a bus out to Sparta from Kalamata today. It was only 24 miles but it took almost 2 hours because the road was so crazy! We went through the mountains and the bus took up both lanes almost the whole way. Not to mention we passed a bus that had just crashed too. I made it though, and caught a cab to Mistras to check out the ruins and castle. On the 6km walk back I ...

... its wings" theory. It was the same thing that allowed me to get over the disappointment when I realized (again, too late) I didn't have to rush through my time in Asia as much. Had I spent the extra day in Santorini, I never would have, for example, met the crazy Belgians who were on my boat from Paros who kept feeding me beer and food AND offered me a place to crash in Brussels. I also wouldn't have met Kiwi Lee and Anne from Copenhagen (more on them later), so I guess ...

... suddenly picked up, for no apparent reason. Seriously, there was no wind, no boats were going by, nothing. What gives?! This morning we left bright and early for Sparta, that ancient power. But wait, what's this? No direct bus and Tripoli has *two* bus stations? Have no fear, no impracticality will get in MY way! We made Sparta before noon, to everyone's surprise (mine own included). I still don't get what everyone's beef is with Greece's bus system. I suspect the ...