Cars that think they're scooters

Leaving Athens yesterday was a bit of a relief, even tho J found the drive out on the motorway a bit harrowing. We have figured out what it is that make the traffic so crazy here, its cos they all think they are scooters, even if they are giant trucks!!!! We were glad to get onto the quieter road along to Delphi.

The road up was very spectuctacular, very steep and winding and the surrounding area is very beautiful, mountians with pines and olives. Delphi is sited pretty much on the edge of the steep hillside.

We camped in an amazing campsite right on the edge of the hill and with amazing views over the plains below. From out tent we looked out over the olive groves neat Itea, according to our guide book, some of the most ancient in greece. But realy the best thing about the camp ground is that it had a really nice pool. We therefore spent the rest of the boiling hot afternoon lounging and swimming which was wonderful. I'm tempted to say that a pool beats Air conditioning, it is really awesome!!!!



After dinner with a view, we sat in the really flash resturant and had some local wine whilst we watched all the lights come on in the villages accross the valley. it was wonderful!!!

An absoultly georgous spot to camp, unfortuantly the sinking air bed stuck again so we slept on the ground a bit. We have patched it up but next oppurtunity we will probably get a new one as intermittatly sleeping on the floor is not ideal.

right now i am fighting off the bugs in the car as they are attarcted to the light of the laptop as i blog from meteora. This morning we explored the runis of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi which was very cool, it is a dramitic site as it it very steep so the Sacred Way winds back and forth up to the temple.



We had intended to visit the Temple of Athena also where the iconic Tholos is. Unfortunatly it was closed due to we think a fire, there were fire engines and greek men waving there hands saying 'no!, problem!' and turning us back!!! but we saw it from a distance from further up.

Another long drive today up to meterora, we had intended to do it in two legs and chill out by the pool in a campground somewhere in between but it turns out that there are no campgrounds between delphi and meteora so we drove on and got all the way here. another very scenic drive through the mountains and another lesson in greek overtaking, apparently you only need about a cars length spare for it to be a successful overtake. it has definatly got us thinking about NZ's road saftey campaigns and how effective they are!!!

Another afternoon lounging by the pool here and an evening drive up towards the monitstarys. they are amazing, each one perched on the top of the cliff pillars (i'm sure thats the tecnhnical term). it was especially beautiful with the sun setting behingd the hills and the dusk light silloetting the rocks.