Athens & Costa Navarino
Long-awaited, filled with photos and tips - the last post about Greece is here! :D Just kidding, there will be no tips :D. No seriously, here's the last post about our trip to Greece. Today we'll be talking about things to do and see in the area. So let's get to it :)
To do
Actually a lot! Just rent a car and explore. Our favourite combination is late breakfast, beach till late afternoon and then a little trip in the evening. Two of our trips were food based - Poseidonia & Katerina's Tavern. The other two were bit "trippier". First the Old Navarino Castle, then the Methoni Castle. We did Old Navarino in the morning, brave yourselves - before we had breakfast!!! Our main goal was to get back before the forecasted rain started and before we started to burn from the inside out. Both goals accomplished btw.
Useful tip: start at the Divari beach where you can also leave the car. The road there is somewhat of a challenge but our car made it (4x4 not required). Then just walk up (please ignore any sign discouraging you from going up). Even from the lowest parts of the walk, the view is amazing!
Useful tip: start at the Divari beach where you can also leave the car. The road there is somewhat of a challenge but our car made it (4x4 not required). Then just walk up (please ignore any sign discouraging you from going up). Even from the lowest parts of the walk, the view is amazing!
It gets a bit steep at the end but as it wasn't so hot in the morning and we had water, we were fine (take water!). The Navarino Castle - more of a ruin of a fortress - is amazing, large and unkept - look where you step! We went to the other side to see the Voidikilia beach and it was just perfect!
We were warned about the spiders there, but we only met this one fella, just chillin' on his web.
You have two options once on the top - either go down the other side to the Voidokilia and have a swim or go back the same way you came. We decided to go back because we did not know that there was another way to get back and we did not want (or I did not want, but who cares :D) to go back the way we came (I was hungry, nothing else to say). It all took us an hour, without the drive there and back. If you decide to check out Voidokilia just note that (they say) the path down is quite steep - choose your shoes wisely.
If you go to Methoni I will again warn you to choose your shoewear wisely. You walk on slippery, polished rocks with the water on your left and right and pretty strong winds. The castle area is really large, if you want to make a day of it, maybe you can but there are no shelters or bars inside so BYOF. We arrived some twenty minutes before the closing time so we were happy we made it to the Venetian Fortress which is in the end (if you google it, this is most likely what Google will come up with). We took a few photos, then off we went to eat something.
Useful tip: I saw people with buggies, women in heels, people in their swimsuits - people, please, just google where you're going before you go. Not everything is a good idea.
Last but not least, if you do not want to rent a car for any possible reason, you need to know that the beach is 2 km long so if you're a fan of walking you can do so freely here.
Moreover, the waves were pretty ruthless when we were there, so you can also spend some time fighting those ;) and then regain your strength at the lounger. But who needs holiday tips right? You all know what to do when you don't have to do anything! We'll be back in two weeks, CU then!