For one final time, writing my blog while sitting on the balcony of my hotel room. I have had the best last day of my holiday in the Peloponnese. I start travelling home tomorrow.
For breakfast this morning – my daily bougatsa, and also a chocolate croissant. Soon after I got in the car and headed for Methoni (Μεθώνη). One of my favourie beaches in the area which is why I left it to my last day.
I started with a walk up to the castle, with good views in all directions across the village, the bay, and out to sea.
I spent the rest of the afternoon (almost 6 hours actually) on the beach. Methoni’s beach is shallow and sandy which is perfect for me…while a strong swimmer I don’t like being out of my depth in the sea. The water in Methoni is so clear – and refreshing to swim in on a hot Summer’s day (or, as we’re now in to October, a hot Autumn day).
Lunch came from Methoni’s campsite which has a small taverna on the roadside. I went for the Σουτζουκάκια (meatballs) which were very good.
This evening I went out for dinner a little earlier – Unfortunately the restaurant I wanted to eat at (where I ate on the first night) was closed tonight so I went next door instead and had beef in tomato sauce served with chips and some bread. I then followed that by getting an ice cream on the way back which I ate by on the beach by the small harbour.
Tomorrow I am starting to travel home. I have a 313km drive (just under 200 miles) to get to Πόρτο Ράφτη – Porto Rafti, a lovely coastal town just a short drive from the city centre. After I left university in 2014 and spent a lot of time in Athens that Summer, Porto Rafti became my favourite coastal getaway: Far enough out to feel like I have escapes the hustle and bustle of the city – close enough in to still be within reach of the ΟΑΣΑ (Transport for Athens) bus lines.
It is because places like Porto Rafti, or Glyfada on the West coast, are relatively easy to drive in compared to the more central districts of Athens – (I think the most central Athenian district I’ve driven in was Περιστέρι – Peristeri – when I drove to Greece in my own GB registered car back in 2019) – that when travelling on the mainland I tend to use Athens as my preferred airport, and then rent a car from Athens.
On Saturday I fly back home – my flight is at 13:30 so quite a leisurely time to fly. Mum might even still be playing hockey by the time I get home.
Καληνύχτα,
Φρεντ.
