POPO (wow in Greek)

Super Hero's at the Citadel of Corinth (I think)

Lions Gate at Agamemnoms Fortress

Tuesday and Wednesday:

Streets of Nafplion

We started our history lesson today. In Greece that means eons.. We headed off yesterday from Napfoli. On our road today we planned to go to Agamemnon's fortress and tomb. The road was difficult to say the least but the weather was pleasant, cool and a bit overcast. We had miles of country roads with acres of olive trees, grapes and figs. Every once in a while we'd stop and snack on the delicious grapes. We finally arrived to the archeologic site after a 7 mi. climb up.

Yorgos met us at the site and we started the climb up to the huge fortress. You'll have to look up the story of Agamemnon and the Atretes family... famous for the Helen of Troy story. The movie 300 now has new meaning. Yorgos tells us the story of the cursed family as we wander around the huge grounds of the fortress. The view and the ancient structure just takes your breath away. This was in 1400 BC!!! They have unbelievable achetecture and structures.

Agamemnoms Tomb and fortress

We take many pictures as Yorgos tells us the story of the Greeks from this period, the Bronze age 1400 BC to the classical age... the Acropolis perieod which was about 400 BC. Amazing. The history is unbelievable. Corrie was right... everywhere you go there are ruins. Excavating, marble, huge sites from one period to the next... the romans are known for their public works... the baths, the aquaducts, the roads, the Greeks for their temples one age built on anothers ruins. We finish our tour of the fortress by getting a picture under the lion's gate... as we where getting the picture the little daughter of the lady taking our picture asks us: "Are you super hero's?" I guess it was our biking clothes... we all just chuckled.. We felt a bit like super hero's after climbing up the mountain!

Mycenae: Temple of Zeus

From this site we went to the site at Mycenae.. even earlier then the bronze age I think... this site has a stadium for athletic games and a temple of Zeous. We had a wonderful picnic lunch here.. fresh tomatoes, olives, salami, cheese and fresh peaches... all from the local road side stands. We had a short ride from this site through acres and acres of grapes...all kinds of grapes. This is harvest time so there where many workers picking and grapes lying out under tarps to concentrate the sweetness we're guessing. We arrived exhausted in Ancient Corinth. About 6 miles from our hotel Yorgos hit an obstacle... seems they put in a high speed rail system that cut off this side of town from the other!! He was... temporarily flustered!! I was done in.. trailing around the gypsey village in Corinth over roads that ended in ditches etc. but not Helen and Tamara!! They're ready and excited about everything!! So I climbed in the van... and they followed for the next 6 mi. Yorgos finally says... "now I know where I am.. as we turned the last corner to "Mama Elizabeths". Finally... I nap!!

Mama Elizabeth's

Wednesday

We slept like babies last night... seems my room mate buddies didn't even snore last night. They has a symphony going the night before.. of course I never snore.. check out my hubby on that one.

Helen Tamra and I head down the street for a coffee and pastry. The morning is full of comings and going.. we see little old ladies in black with their little bags, farmers driving a rototiller turned into a cart... Tamra keeps taking pictures of these... getting all excited and saying "Rori has got to build me one of these!!!" So Rori.. start looking around for the oldest rotiller you can find!! We find an open air bakery.. pick out our patries and watch the world go by... we see everyone buzzing around on scooters.. our jaws drop as a woman with three children on their way to school!!! on the scooter.. hanging on for dear life.. no helmets or seat belts here!! After our morning coffee we head back to our hotel for... another breakfast.. cheese, coffee cake, melon, hard boiled eggs.

Acropolis of Corinth

The View from Citadel of Corinth

Tamra and I suit up for the morning climb.. up to the Citadel of Corinth. Helen, anticipating her knee not liking the climb stays in the van. It's only about 4 mi. up but is it ever up!!! The fortress is on the highest peak in the area and overlooks both the Agean and Ionic (not sure?) sea. Unbelievable. We make the trek panting and stopping every K or so!! I end up pushing the bike and swearing I've got to lose 20 lbs.!!! We make it to the base of the fortress. From here we hike up and explore the fortress... Yorgos now fills in the Greek history of the Byzinthian era.. war after was, but this citadel is the strategic hold for any conquerer... they all plan a canal, including that bad boy Nero.. emperor of Rome.. yeah the guy who let Rome burn. When we reach the summit you can see the strategic advantage they would have here.

Citadel of Corinth

After our climb we all start on our next ride to Xelocastro.. a very easy ride along the coast. No climbing at all. As we're rolling along at our leisurly pace we come upon some tourists!! Where are you from, I ask? France! Mom and dad with a 14 mo.old and 4 yr. old little boy in a trailer. They've been traveling around Europe for 6 mo. camping!!! Mom is a pediatritian and dad is an EMT... they speak excellent English and tell us all about the perils of camping and carting little ones around Europe!! We exchange blog sites ( I left the address in my bike.. I'll be back later and add it) and invite us to come to Lyon... they'll show us all the great biking spots! Tamra and Helen and I start planning!! check out the site: warmshowers.com. We're having so much fun.. all we can say is PoPo (Greek for Wow!!) Please post any comments, I love them.

French family touring by bike