A very peaceful night with absolutely no traffic until after
07:00 and then only agricultural vehicles heading off to their vineyards and
olive groves.
The sunrise produced a lovely red and yellow rim around the mountain peaks and
the sky was clear, suggesting that we might have a dry, sunny day. We passed
through the village of Bozikas, aptly-named for a village in the middle of a
wine-producing area! We continued our ascent briefly before starting the long
descent towards the coast of the Gulf of Corinth passing more olive groves,
vineyards and drying grapes. Just before we reached sea level, we turned back
inland briefly to find Ancient Sycion with its excellent, small museum housed
in the well-preserved Roman baths of the site. Amongst the exhibits was an
beautifully preserved 4th century BC Greek pebble mosaic. The site
had a well preserved palaestra (gymnasium) and the foundations of a temple.
There was also a theatre and, although it was closed to visitors, it was
clearly visible through the fence. They have also identified the stadium and it
can be seen in the landscape but it has not been excavated.
We drove on to Akrata Beach Camping. We first visited this campsite in 2008
when Manolis was overseeing the building of the restaurant and the site was not
open. He welcomed us and told us that we could stay without charge. We returned
later on that trip and were pleased to be able to pay! In 2008, Tula, Manolis’s
wife, had just given birth and now their daughter is just about to start at
university.
After a good meal in the restaurant, we went down to the beach and saw the,
nearly, full moon rising over the mountains on the other side of the Gulf of
Corinth. I had spotted earlier a van with an international country code of FO
and I speculated that it might be from the Faroe Islands. We looked it up and I
was correct. Belonging to Denmark but largely independent, they are not part of
the EU even though Denmark is. We met the owner of the van and his two
daughters also admiring the moon reflected in the sea and I had a long chat
with him. He owns a campsite in the Faroe Islands but loves to get away
travelling after the end of their season (May to mid-September). Greece is his
favourite country but he has travelled all over Europe and into Africa. His
eldest daughter is 8 years old and has already visited 13 countries, whilst
most of her classmates at home have never been further than Denmark. Soon his
daughters will return to their mother in the Faroes whilst he continues his
travels avoiding the 2 or 3 hours of daylight in the Faroes winter. He said
that he loves the Faroes in the summer and everyone should visit them at least
once. A fascinating person.
Our pitch is very close to the sea and we went to sleep with the sound of the
small waves breaking on the shore.
Photos: The 4th century BC Greek pebble mosaic from Sycion; The
museum in the restored Roman Baths; Sycion’s gymnasium; The moon rise at
Akrata.
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