Cycling in Greece

I have been cycling in Greece for about 5 weeks or so. It all started at Corfu, where I arrived when I came from Italy by boat.

At the time I had some severe problems with my bicycle which I had to solve first. The main problems were a broken pedal, a broken rack on the back and the stem. All was send from my bicycle shop in Holland so I had a few days to explore Corfu.

Not really my kind of destination but for a day or 3 it was ok. I took the boat to the Greek mainland. The idea was simple, I had to cycle to Turkey and I didn't want to cycle along the coastline. So I went east into the mountains to Meteora, a few days through the mountains.

Meteora is a great place. Basically there are a series of monasteries build on rock formations. It's quite a climb to the top of the monasteries but it's worthwhile.

From here I went through the rough mountains south. A few days crossing the Pindos Mountains and some camping on the way. There was little traffic. Definitely this area was little visited though it was beautiful. Cycling in Greece for me was mostly this area.

After a few days I was back at the coastline. The reason I had taken this road was simple, I wanted to visit some of the main archeological sites in Greece. To do so, I had to cross over to Corinth.

So I took a ferry to Patra and from there I decided to take a shortcut,

The shortcut to Olympia

Over the years I have learned the hard way shortcuts do not exist. Even if the distance in kilometers is shorter, there's always something tricky going on. I cycled south out of Alhaia, south of Patra. The map showed me a yellow road which seems to be ok to cycle.

So I went out and cycled through forgotten road with little villages south. It was one of those absolute beautiful roads a cyclist wants to find! However, after about 50 went smooth. Now the road became bad, and a bit further, I had to walk. I wasn't clear if I had lost the road or that the road simply seized to exist here. I went around a mountain and ended up in a river bed!

Al together it was about 40 km very bad with sometimes walking, sometimes cycling on gravel road. Some people on the way looked surprised to see me and directed me further south were, as they said, the road would be good.

With another 20 km to go to Olympia indeed I found a good road back and in another hour I arrived at a camping site.

After a day rest in Olympia where I visited the ruins I left. There isn't much standing left here. I felt disappointed. Was I cycling in Greece for seeing some stones I couldn't really figure out what it was?

Cyclists on the road

In some countries you meet more fellow cyclist then in other countries. I know for fact that in China there are many cyclist active but I hardly met them. Cycling in Greece meant I met in some areas quite a few.

Geert Jan and Annemarieke were two Dutch cyclist I met in Corinth. As it usually goes when cyclists meet, we stopped, chatted for awhile and then moved on. Of course we first had to make a picture of us together:

With Geert and Annemarieke somewhere in Greece

Myceanae

I hoped that Mycenae would be more impressive. And it was impressive. Walking through such a piece of history is always special. However, cycling in Greece, particularly in Corinth, was not so much fun as the roads were big and the traffic sometimes substantial.

However, the best place to visit is the magic amphitheatre of Epidauros.

The amphitheatre of Epidauros

Athens

City of Angels, center of the world, Athens have had many names in the past. I cycled into Athens but it wasn't much fun. In fact, I stayed just outside the city center at a small campsite. The city was polluted, and I was happy I didn't have to stay longer then visiting the Acropolis:

Acropolis Athens

The Acropolis was decently worth the visit. Even though much is nowadays destroyed by wind and weather, what's left is more then worth the visit. But I was happy i didn't cycle up to the Acropolis, it's quite a steep climb up!

On the way to Rhodes

I decided to cycle through the city to the legendary harbor town of Piraeus. Maybe I was expecting another ruin city, or at least some ruins in the town. In fact I found a busy harbor town. Plenty of people hard at work and the ferries to and from other Greek Island were coming in and went. It was a very busy place. I wrote in my dairy: Piraeus is absolutely shit, there's nothing why you want to wander here then absolutely necessary".

I had no trouble finding my ticket, or even checking in with my bike. So I left Athens and Piraeus quickly to visit Rhodes and from there to Turkey.

Rhodes from the ferry from Piraeus

Rhodes

When you are cycling in Greece, Rhodes is one of those places you would love to see. Sure, it is touristy. Sure, it is expensive. But Rhodes town is worth a visit. There's beautiful old buildings, many now in use as shops. It is clear Rhodes was once an important trade center.

I stayed in a youth hostel which is nice for a change. Most of the time I had been cycling in Greece and staying in my tent. Although I love camping, a good bed is sometimes a good thing. Besides, outside the town I would have a good change to see more of the island with using the campsite as a base.

I did cycle around the island with it's very steep and high hills. For such a small island, the hills were indeed surprisingly steep. And as I expected, once away from the tourist areas, the busy beaches and western styled restaurants, Rhodes showed me its beauty.

But Rhodes was my final destination in Greece. It was time to move to Turkey. I took a ferry to the Turkish mainland and there complete new adventure would start. My journey in Greece was over.

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