We are parked up this evening at Nea Anchialos in a car park next to the harbour. Harbour is maybe too grand a word, it's probably the size of a couple of football pitches but it's pretty enough, there's water and it doesn't look like anybody is too bothered about us parking here. (Thanks for another stopover Bernd).
We arrived here after first visiting again the little village of Panteleimonas to buy some more of the wine we bought there a couple of weeks ago. The village was packed today with visitors and the small restaurant where we bought the wine must have expected to be busy as a whole lamb and about half a sliced up pig were turning slowly on a spit outside. It was too early for lunch so we had a coffee and set off. Programmed the Sat Navs who immediately chose to send us off in completely opposite directions out of the village and gave us arrival times an hour apart. Now, the last time this happened we ridiculed the Tom Tom with it's longer route, followed the Garmin and ended halfway up the alps before we encountered six feet of snow and a ROAD CLOSED sign. We then turned around and drove for hours looking for somewhere to park for the night and it was also that night I bumped the back of the van. Not wanting a similar scenario we followed the Tom Tom and, miracle of miracles, halfway through the journey it announced it had found a shorter route which would save 45 minutes and did we want to take it. Technology never ceases to impress does it? Or, why didn't it find the shorter route originally?
We arrived here starving and finished off some bits in the fridge with some crusty bread I had bought earlier and then set off for a walk along the sea front. Lots of cafés and restaurants or, strictly speaking Ouzeries or Tsipouradhika, where you have a snack (Mezedhes) served with a small bottle of Tsipouro and carry on until you have eaten enough or can't stand. We had eaten so weren't hungry! I bought a small bottle of Tsipouro a couple of weeks ago and when I mentioned this to one of the mechanics at Zampetas he asked, with a straight face "Why, diesel will work better in your engine and is much cheaper?" I have to say I persevered with Tsipouro for a few days and then relented and bought a bottle of Ouzo.
When we arrived here we looked around; no dogs, few birds, no railway lines, maybe a bit of traffic - ah, a good nights sleep to look forward to. Then we noticed the stage set up between the bars with the big PA system. Oh dear, I suspect Nea Anchialos could be rocking tonight. We can't complain really, it's not costing us anything to park here and it's a nice setting.
We were going to set off for Delphi tomorrow, maybe stopping at Thermopyles on the way but we've now been reading about the Pelion peninsular which is just around the corner from where we are now and which looks enticing. It's in the wrong direction to where we are heading in the Peloponnese but we're not in a hurry so we will have a planning meeting later when Phil will tell me where we are going. As for now, there is a yardarm on a boat just outside the window and the sun has definitely passed over it and that can only mean one thing. Yes, it's time for an Ouzo.
Pat.
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