Crete Pilgrimage 2016 - Day 25

Greece - Thermopile, Delphi and on to Athens

Introduction

The mountains of Olympus stretch east almost to the coast, blocking travel north and south. There is a very narrow coastal strip that has long been recognised as a natural defensive line, with Platamon Castle looking over the land to the north and south. Here the New Zealand Division was able to mount a rear-guard action in 1941, but the German forces were able to get some of their tanks over the rough hills, forcing the New Zealanders out.

From Platamon we travelled south and then west into the heart of Greece to visit the isolated hilltop monasteries at Meteora. We stayed the niught at a nearby hotel before travelling on to Athens.

Petrol is €1.379 per litre	Could be a rural area anywhere in the world	I wonder if the Greek trains run to time? I wonder if they run at all?
Well the track is shiny so something runs on them!
		Coal-fired power station
		Goats!

Bralos War Cemetery

Just above the town of Vevi looking west
	Small shrine at the road junction	Even the road signs are slow to change - Yugoslavia disinegrated years ago.

Parnassus and Delphi

		Open cast coal mine for the power stations
Lots of poppies in the fields
The turnoff to Neraida and lunch.	The local church	View of the lake looking towards the dam and power station
	The Balconi Cafe, one of many looking out over the lake
	Lunch with a view	Where we dined
		Or just a flop!
	Back on the coach and across the bridge!
	Heading towards Mt Olympus
	The road climbs up through the saddle
	/td>
Ktima Bellou Farm Hotel	The village of Agios Dimitrios
Entering the village of Foteina on the northern flank of Mt Olympus
We stopped in the middle of Foteina to discuss events	where we were joined by a local man who remembered the New Zealand soldiers from 1941
Then it was on to our hotel, the Dion Palace.
Then it was on to our hotel, the Dion Palace.
Then it was on to our hotel, the Dion Palace.
Then it was on to our hotel, the Dion Palace.
Then it was on to our hotel, the Dion Palace.

Into Athens and our hotel looking out to the Acropolis

We stopped in the middle of Foteina to discuss events	where we were joined by a local man who remembered the New Zealand soldiers from 1941
Then it was on to our hotel, the Dion Palace.
Then it was on to our hotel, the Dion Palace.
Then it was on to our hotel, the Dion Palace.
Then it was on to our hotel, the Dion Palace.

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Last updated: 31/05/2017