Navplion (Palamidi) - Khäidhari

Pyxis
Karen & Richard
Fri 28 May 2010 22:58

Friday 28th – Navplion (Palamidi) - Khäidhari

37:32.078N 22:55.126E

 

Gluttons for punishment, we were up very early as we wanted to climb up to the Palamidi, the Venetian citadel that dominates Navplion.  There is a steep flight of steps that runs up the side of the hill (reputed to be anywhere between 827 and 1000 steps depending on which book you read).  We set off around 7.45am, wanting to get there before the sun became too hot.  I didn’t count the steps, it was hard enough trying to climb them.  It took us 30 minutes to get to the top and it was exhausting – I even saw Richard take a pause for breath when he thought I wasn’t looking.

 

Once there, we paid our entrance fee (although I thought they should have been awarding medals instead) and we effectively carried on climbing.  The place is enormous – it just goes on and on – we walked miles.  There are no restrictions and you can climb all over the bastions and exterior walls, with sheer drops, and it seems to cover acres; you can really imagine this as a citadel with people living there.  The views down over the town and across the Gulf are very impressive.

 

Those of you who know Richard will understand and be impressed by the size of this fortress by the fact that even ‘he who leaves no stone unturned’ got to a point where he said he’d seen enough.

 

Note, there is an easy way to get there as they have built a road to run in coaches and taxis for those not wanting to climb, however, it is about 4km and the taxis charge a fortune.

 

We were back at Pyxis by 11am, just in time to wave goodbye to Pam and Andy who were on their way.  We did a few more odd jobs around the boat and then set off ourselves, arriving here at Khäidhari mid afternoon. 

 

We had some lunch and then blew the dinghy up; fortunately the outboard started readily after its winter lay-up, and so we went off to explore.  We first went to have a look at the shallow lagoon just behind the anchorage and then went ashore and had a walk around the small village.  After a drink at a taverna overlooking the bay we have come back to Pyxis for dinner and rest – shattered after our full day of activity.