20 Oct   The Palmidi Fortress  20 Oct
  Greece  
Back in time   22 Oct  22 Oct 
 
 
 
 
 
 
A rainy day in Nafplio
21 Oct 2016
A rainy day in Nafplio    21 Oct 2016
  Nafplio, Greece   
 
 
 
 
 

I'm glad we climbed to the top of the Palmidi fortress yesterday because the 999 steps would be pretty slippery today. Instead we hung around town, window shopping and eating and checking out the harbour and the smaller fortress, the Akronafplia, which is just up the hill next to the hotel.

Our hotel, the Amfitriti Palazzo, is nice-enough: centrally located, good breakfasts, stylish, but it is not for the staircase averse or for those who hate cats. Though if you hate cats I'd say maybe you should just avoid Greece altogether as there are cats everywhere.

After breakfast we walked to the harbour to check out the breakwater and get a close look at the Windstar, a small cruise ship that is a combo sail/motor boat. This ship was anchored off Santorini a couple days ago. We are tempted to try a cruise someday though I'm not sure I'll like the brevity of the shore leaves.

We spent some time talking to a woman fishing off the breakwater (picture of her below), about the economy and fishing and Greece in general. I've yet to meet friendlier people than the Greeks.

From the harbour you can see Nafplio's three Venetian fortresses. There's actually a fourth fortress across the bay but the sky was too grey to get a good view of it.

The Palmidi fortress is the one we climbed yesterday. The Bourtzi fortress is on a small island just offshore. And the Akronafplia fortress is just behind our hotel. We'll climb it, it's just a short hike up, later today.

Back in the old town I wolfed down a dark chocolate gelato at the Antica Gelateria. The old town is full of places to eat: pastry shops—so many pastry shops!—cafes, gyros, ice cream, and on and on, and none of them chain restaurants, no macdonalds, no olive gardens. Greek restauranteours may try to engage you as you walk by, but they aren't obnoxious like those in nearby Turkey. I just smile, say hello, say no thanks.

 
 
 
 
View from hotel  
 
 
 
 
View from hotel  
 
 
 
 
View from hotel  
 
 
 
The Amfitriti Palazzo hotel, seen from the Akronafplia fortress  
 
 
 
 
The Amfitriti Palazzo hotel, seen from the Akronafplia fortress  
 
 
 
 
The Amfitriti Palazzo hotel, seen from the Akronafplia fortress  
 
 
 
Nafplio harbour  
 
 
 
 
Nafplio harbour  
 
 
 
 
Nafplio harbour  
 
 
 
Nafplio harbour  
 
 
 
 
Nafplio harbour  
 
 
 
 
Nafplio harbour  
 
 
 
Nafplio  
 
 
 
 
Nafplio  
 
 
 
 
Nafplio  
 
 
 
Our fishing friend  
 
 
 
 
Our fishing friend  
 
 
 
 
Our fishing friend  
 
 
 
Nafplio  
 
 
 
 
Nafplio  
 
 
 
 
Nafplio  
 
 
 
The coast of Nafplio  
 
 
 
 
The coast of Nafplio  
 
 
 
 
The coast of Nafplio  
 
 
 
Paul in Nafplio  
 
 
 
 
Paul in Nafplio  
 
 
 
 
Paul in Nafplio  
 
 
 
Worry beads  
 
 
 
 
Worry beads  
 
 
 
 
Worry beads  
 
 
 
Nafplio harbour  
 
 
 
 
Nafplio harbour  
 
 
 
 
Nafplio harbour  
 
 
 
 20 Oct   The Palmidi Fortress  20 Oct
  Greece  
Back in time   22 Oct  22 Oct