Athens to Nafplio

 Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Packed, fed, and on the bus by 8:00!  (This may have been our last chance at the tart cherries for our yogurt, so we don't miss that!). It's a lovely bus that seats sixteen, I think, so there is lots of room for everyone, And there are tray tables, so I'm able to type yesterday's blog, even if I won't be able to publish it until toight.  I even have a bit of time to edit some photos before we get to a comfort stop at a large convenience store. It is next to the Corinthian Canal which is really narrow!

                                                   Interesting frame for sale in the gift shop

                                                                Good thing I'm not shopping!

                                                                           Tight squeeze!

Next stop is the archeological site and museum of Mycenae.  This civilization flourished during the Bronze Age.  You might have heard of Agamemnon, one of their great leaders, and the Lions Gate which we climbed to.  Much of the site consists of burial tombs and there are many, many artifacts in the museum.

                         Large, well-preserved tomb.  It was undetected because it just looked like a hill. The          bodies were just laid on the ground and surrounded by the things they would need in the after life.

                  This one was unusual in that it had a second chamber;  they don't know its purpose.

                                                                     Model of the site

                                                                      Famous Lions Gate

                                               See how the wall incorporates the native rock.

From there its a short drive to the Nemea winery for a tour, tasting, and outstanding lunch.  They produce eighteen different labels of reds and four of whites.  We sample a white, a rosé, and two reds and then feast on a salad with pomegranates, a hummus that's not made with chickpeas, eggplant, phyllo with cheese, and heavenly meatballs! remarkable!

Now we're heading for our hotel in Nafplio, a seaside town that was the first capital of modern Greece.  We settle into our rooms and Jan and mine is pretty tiny!  Ginger and Art even have a patio with their large suite and offer to swap with us but Jan won't hear of it and, actually, we'll be fine for two nights with one double bed.

                                                               View out our window

                                            Ginger and Jan negotiating the room arrangements

Have I mentioned that Kathy brought treats with her because she read that there were many street cats!

                                                                     Such cool doors!

                                                   This church will become a group landmark.

                                                     Gotta ride the choo-choo tomorrow!

                We will actually see this adorable little thing being driven around town tomorrow!

                                                              Look at the wind-up key!

                                                         There goes Art!  Up Up and Away!!

                                                            I guess they're out of town!

                              Every street seems to have a reminder of Greece's ancient civilizations.

                                                     We'll be exploring the castle/fort tomorrow!

                                                              Almost time for the concert!

                                                                 Must be a local bigwig

                                                                        And another!  

                                                           Our pianist and also the emcee!

                                                                 And our featured performer!

                                 The girls got some sort of award and they appeared surprised!

Time to explore and although we all leave together, we break up into smaller groups almost immediately. We find a concert being set up and Dave learns that it will be a violin and piano concert beginning at 8:30 and the word gets spread.  Ginger and I wind up together, surprise, surprise, and eventually find the main square, where Art had been.  We order cold, freshly squeezed orange juice and he rejoins us.  Then we head for the concert and all of us wind up sitting in the seats that Dave has saved for us in the third row. The concert is about an hour and a half long and when it's over Kathy, Jan, and I head immediately for our little boutique hotel.  I need to plug in my electronics and at least do a bit on the blog and then turn out the lights!  Another long but fun day and only 6,600 steps!