Renegade beach camping in the shadow of castles

Trip Start Apr 01, 2008
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Trip End Oct 05, 2008


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shadow
Where I stayed
renegade beach camping
(Loutráki hotels)

Flag of Greece  ,
Saturday, August 30, 2008

Took a three hour bus ride south to a town called Nafplio on the Peloponnese island. Nafplio was the ancient capital of Greece, before Athens. Also it is home to several amazing fortresses and a great little old town. I still have my tent, so I decided to save some money and do a little renegade camping. I walked around the island and found an abandoned playground right on the beach. Next to the playground was a cafe that had showers and toilets. I figured it was the perfect place to camp. I waited until dusk and pitched my tent. One of the locals asked me if I was planning on sleep there. I said yes. He laughed and shook his head.
Watched an amazing sunset and enjoyed my own private beach as everyone else headed home. Played on my harmonica a bit, read and worked on my personal statement. Went to bed and woke up the next morning with the fantastic feeling of having a beach right outside my tent. Went for a swim, took a shower and packed up. Once again, the locals were laughing at me. Renegade camping is illegal in Greece, but I figured I could explain my way out of trouble with the ignorant American card.
That afternoon I climbed 999 steps up to the top of the castle and explored the many towers, turrets and chambers. Afterward, I went down hoping to book the bus to another spot on the Peloponnese, but the only buses still traveling that day were headed back to Athens. So, I caught another three hour bus ride back to Athens.
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