Touring southwest Peloponisos (sorry, this is not a US ride!)

[lefteris]

These are some photos I took about a month ago, as I was touring southwest Peloponisos. For the advriders that are not very good at geography, Peloponisos is in Hellas (Greece). I made that trip with my girlfriend and a recently bought GS '02. The combination worked quite well!

Unfortunately I don't have enought time to write a copmlete ride report, so there will only be some photos and a small description of what is shown each time. It was not an adventurous ride after all, but the pics and the places we visited are really good.

Our way led us through the village Lagkadia. Here are some pics from there.

Some interesting buildings.



The date was 28 October and on that date we celebrate our fight against the nazis in WWII.

The students of Lagkadia parading.



It's what it looks like, a small village road in Lagkadia.



On the road to Olympia...



... and a narrow bridge, because there's no ride report without a photo of a bridge!



The next day we visited the archeological site of Olympia. If the name strikes something to you it's because the very Olympic Games started there some thousands years ago!

Really ancient buildings...



Some more...



This the first Olympic Stadium in the world. In this field took place some events of the last Olympiad, Athens 2004.



That's all for now. Many photos and places yet to come, the report will be completed in the next days.

[ysr612]

thanks I think most of us in the US prefer the reports of places we are not likely to actually visit.

thanks again.

[Mr Head]

Very cool. Thanks for taking us along.

[Road Rash]

Originally Posted by ysr612

thanks I think most of us in the US prefer the reports of places we are not likely to actually visit.

thanks again.

Yes, What he said, I love to see pictures of different places in the World
No need to apologize
Thanks for the pics and report

[GSPeP]

Great pics

Thanks for sharing

[the white rabbit]

Nice pics, reminds me of a trip I took in that area a few years ago, regrettably before I started riding. I'd love a trip through Greece by bike

[tango]

would I be correct in saying that the athletic field is in Sparta?I have always been facinated with ancient Greece but I have never been able to visualise it .What does it look like?

[bavarian]

Nice report. And thanks for the pix. You were very right in including a pic of a bridge, that was the first lesson I learned when I entered this forum. That's no ride report that does not include a pic of a bridge.
How is the weather this time of the year in Hellas? And how would it be in January? I am thinking of doing a tour in Sicily in January for a week or so and I guess Hellas and Sicily must be pretty much on the same level.

[lefteris]

Thanks for the response and the good comments.

First of all let's answer some questions.
-The athletic field shown above is in Olympia. Sparta is about 150km away!
-January in Greece: If you are lucky you can get 15 degrees C and a sunshine you'll never forget. But there is a chance that you'll find 2 degrees C and heavy rain or knee deep snow. It depends and where exactly you want to go (on a mountain or near the sea etc).
-It's not that difficult to come and ride in Greece.

Here is the second part of the report.

Leaving Olympia, we moved south to another archeological site called Peristeria.
This is the view from a nearby hill.



The entrance of a tomb. This thing is about 3500 years old! (from 1500bC).



Moving south again. This is an old Byzantine church only (?) 1000 old :-)



This photo is taken from a crack on one of the windows.



South again. A view to the city of Pylos.



Reaching Pylos we saw a shipwreck. I don't know the story behind this.



Nice view from the castle in Pylos...



...And the interrior of the inner castle.



Another old Church.



Next day and another archeological site! The palace of king Nestor, about 1000bC.
This is the fireplace in the central chamber of the palace.




and a 3000 years old bathroom!



The road to Chora.



The castle of Methoni.



Eating by the sea. There is no place on the earth you can do it better than here!



Precision is wellcomed, especially by advriders.



Methoni castle again.



The road to Koroni.



Monastery in the castle of Koroni.



Some consider it a miracle. Seven big trees (sycamores) on the roof of a tiny church!



At the same place, the church and my bike!


As I said before this was not an adventurous ride, but the truth is you can reach many beautiful places using tarmac roads (especially here in Greece)!
Lefteris

[bavarian]

Great shots!!

[kkahlm]

Great report!! The history there is just fantastic. I must make a point to visit there some day and witness some of that history myself.

Kelly

[buzzardair]

I really enjoyed your report. The scenery and countryside look fantastic. One more place to put on my list.

[KL5A]

No need at all to apologize for a non US ride. Heck, if any of us here in the US/Canada area want to see a spot in the US, we can just go. Europe takes a lot more planning. Thanks for sharing and for your enthusiasm.

[Fastrack]

I will say some things in Greek to Demetris if you don't mind:
Apo Kipro eimai kai exo er8ei me ti mixani stin Ellada (BMW R1100S). Piga mexri Prespes alla i Peloponnisos mou emeine apo8imeno. To ride report sou me eftia3e, eidika edo stin Agglia pou exo kollisei. Prepei na mpei sto programma..Euxaristo gia tis eikones, mou edoses kati na perimeno.

Greek ended.

Great ride report. You have to visit Greece by bike once in your lifetime. You will keep wanting to go back.

[lefteris]

Thanks again for the nice comments.

I have more photos to post and a map later on. That is if photobucket keeps my pictures, unlike last time when all my photos where deleted due to site recontruction!

I have something to say to the advriders overseas. I don't really apologize for posting a non US ride. It's humor. This site is filled with US rides/riders and the title of my thread is a comment to that!

To xsquiggy:
No I didn't ride my bike down that road.
That photo reminds you of a specific novel?
I can send you my panorama photos in a better resolution if you like.

To fastrack:
Geia sou file. Me lene lefteris kai oxi Dimitri! Euxaristo gia ta kala logia. Ego then exo paei prsepes, alla to programmatizo. An exeis fotografies kane ena post s afto to site. Na eisai kala.

Lefteris