It's early morning rising to catch the 7am ferry from Vathy to Patra.  Was hoping for a week in April, when the weather is fine, to go up north to Florina and then Thessalonika, but work commitments made that impossible. It was  now or never, well not never, but at least November, so a quick trip to Athens via the long way around had to suffice. A few other Ithacans had the same idea, escape now before the Easter and then Summer rush.  Below left -  Nikos Karantzis (Mr. Chappries and Mylos Creperie owner) with his partner Vicki (Polyctor Tours) get immediately comfortable to continue their nights sleep. They're off to Athens on business. Below - Stavros Delaportas rugged up for his Russian experience. Stavros is off to Moscow for a week.  A little business and little fun. He missed out on his annual holiday due to playing with Hard Candy in Athens.

When the opportunity for a wide open road presents itself, it's hard to resist.  Kioni to Vathy can be a little limiting if you feel like a drive in the country. It's off to Athens via the road to Olympia on the west coast of the Peloponnese and then across to Nafplion, the port town on the east coast, through mountains and valleys and pretty villages.

The hotchpotch weather went well with this hotchpotch holiday.  One minute sun, the next threatening rain.  It's been about 5 years since I'd been through this region, one of my favourites in Greece. The dense pine forests around the Olympia area make you wonder which country you are driving through. Germany maybe?  As the road heads inland towards the mountains, Tropea and the aqua river lead into lush hills, from which the valleys below open up to more mountain ranges behind them. The surprising element of Greece is how the scenery changes so dramatically in such a short space of time. Beautiful and interesting views that are only made a little less spectacular under the grey sky. Sheer slopes and rugged rocks crown the peaks as we head towards Lagadia. In the distance, a blue sky begins to reveal itself.

Villages cling to the rugged slopes, high up in the mountains of the Peloponnese. Ferns and pine trees mark the terraces, stepping down the mountain sides and throwing dark shadows over the pastures carpeted in wild flowers. Stone houses and red tiled roofs define the villages.  There's something awe-inspiring when looking out across this land, rarely experienced by the holiday makers of Summer who know Greece as sun, beach and souvlaki.