Poros Excursions - Methana and the Volcano

50ks from Athens by road, in sight of Poros, is a dormant volcano.  The last known explosion was in 258 BC.

An eruption was suspected but not confirmed in 1922. That's odd. Suspected.  Volcano explosions you'd think would be very obvious. An ash cloud, a rumbling.  No explanation that I can find

Under the volcano

Megalohori, the big village, surrounded by tiny hamlets with picturesque names (to us) like  Mouskes and Kounoupitsa, Kameni Hora (the burnt village) and Vathi (the deep harbour) 

Megalohori, on the side of the mountain, is the village under the volcano where K's mother was born. The village has one narrow road which winds through old village houses, a big church at one end and the cemetery at the other end

The old thermal spa and baths, resulting from volcanic activity

When I arrived in 1976 the spa was in it's heyday.  In July and August the over-60s made a beeline for the sulphuric bathes which specialised in treating arthritis and rheumatism

There were rows and rows of basic boarding houses.  You got a room with a bed and a bathroom down the hall.  The stay and treatment was subsidised by the government.  My inlaws got a summer bonus for 'bathing' whether at a spa or on holiday at the seaside. It was believed, and still is by the elderly, that if you went dipping in the sea at least 20 times over the summer you'd be free of winter flu and seasonal ailments.  So my m-in-law would tell me, though she didn't go 'bathing' .  Water was for drinking only

The old boarding houses have been boarded up, abandoned and are falling down.  

 Modern Methana is a popular destination, easy to get to by road from Athens, with lines of waterfront cafeterias and eating places beside the sea.  There are modern hotels and the usual plethora of Airbnbs

The Spa closed down many years ago.  I imagine it needs millions to upgrade it.  The sulphuric water from the spa flows into the sea across the road and many people swim there in summer and winter.  The sea is a milky blue from the sulphuric gases.  I've always wanted to have a swim there too but my chauffeur whizzes quickly past.  The area around the spa smells of rotten eggs, that healthy sulphur smell that the NZ town of Rotorua is famous for

Back to the volcano.  There is a hiking path up to the crater.  Another place I've never been but children and grandchildren have climbed up there.  It's a popular trek

The Methana volcano is still considered to be active.  Just because the volcano has been quiet for thousands of years doesn't mean it's safe.  New studies show the volcano is steadily accumulating huge amounts of magma deep below the surface.   Experts that are observing the volcano say there doesn't seem to be imminent danger of an eruption but the volcano is not extinct

Methana is only 45 minutes from Poros and we have visited many times.  The beaches look inviting from afar but are mainly covered with sharp volcanic stone.  We visit of course to sit beside the sea at a taverna and enjoy a summer breeze, some fresh seafood and a glass of local wine.

Methana, like all Greek towns and villages is steeped in history with an abundance of ruins.  

The Castle of Faviero, the remains of an Acropolis, the Chapel of the Virgin Mary built with wine and mud and perched on a rock above the sea.  Many years ago we went to this little chapel for the baptism of the daughter of K's cousin.  We all went on a fishing kaïki carrying the wee babe, baptismal font and the Priest with us. 

There are numerous walking tracks and small settlements to visit

    

Nafplio

 A day out to the big city.  Nafplio.  For work alas and not play.  There's so much to see and do in Nafplio, ancient ruins, fascinating old town, car free alley-ways and squares, markets

  We, as usual, would be seeing only the inside of car places and tool stores.  At least this visit didn't include a hospital or doctor's office

Nice shiny car

We were going to Nafplio for our 2 year Warrant of Fitness certificate

The car was covered in red streaks from the last Saharan dust and rain storm.  I washed and cleaned it inside and out.  That red muck was everywhere and it needed a good soapy rub to get rid of it all.  Now we have a forecast of rain again.  Damn

First stop was to get new tyres for the car.  K had been humming and haaing about them, looking at prices around Poros, and putting off the final decision.  Now he had to get it done or fail the test.  We went to a recommended shop in Nafplio.  In 20 minutes they'd put on 4 new tyres, checked the spare and all for 60 euros less than Poros.  It cost 200 euros plus a 5 euro tip for the young lad that was helping.  

Next stop The car testing place

We passed!

Free coffee while we waited!  We had 2 cups each.  That saved us more than 10 euros at a café.  It's good coffee too.  Filter or espresso from a machine.  We had a cup of both

We sat outside and drank our coffee along with 3 other clients.  Greek.  There's a rubbish bin just behind the chairs.  They didn't use it.  Wind had blown a paper napkin and a plastic spoon on the ground, and they left paper cups and an ashtray of butts on the table. They just up and went.  I gathered our cups and picked up all their rubbish and put it in the bin

The norm around here

Then we went for petrol

K buys BP whenever he's in Nafplio.  A friend of his told him BP has the best quality.  It's slightly more expensive than Shell or Aegean but still cheaper than petrol on the island

Another reason to buy BP 

This happy smiling girl always cleans our windscreen and does an excellent job of it.  She didn't mind having her photo taken either

Then on to the supermarket.  The best part of the day, for me

LIDLS!

Look at all those refrigerated goodies .  That was only cheese and ham, yoghurt and butter

So much choice.  A true shopping therapy session, for me.  

After years shopping here, on and off, I know what I want and have a list which I follow.  There's a lot more I could buy but life is too expensive now.  I also have a list for the girls.  We all look up the specials online and go for the bargains

Our big supermarket on Poros would fit into one aisle here

Next stop, Ks favourite meat market.  This coming week we have 2 family name days and most importantly, it will be Ks name day.  He bought a few kilos of the finest pork

Last stop

'Trendy'

A souvlaki lunch

Half a grilled chicken, a huge pile of chips, tzatziki and drinks (alcohol free beer for the driver) for 25 euros.  There's enough leftover for lunch tomorrow.

A good thing about this shop is they're geared up for takeaways and provide a box and bag for leftovers at no extra cost

Back to Galatas, over on the car ferry, grocery delivery to the girls and home.  After unloading there was just enough time for a short siesta.  I needed it.  Outings are tiring these days.  Thank goodness it was cloudy.  Comfortable weather for getting things done.

Next day ...as I'm writing this it has just started to rain.  Another car wash on the horizon