Wednesday 12th June 2019
Having seen it many times on TV over the years we were both keen to visit the Corinth Canal.
Consisting of a single channel 8 metres deep, 21 metres wide, and 6.3km long, the Corinth Canal joins the Gulf Of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. The near vertical walls rise 90 metres above sea level each side.
The canal was first proposed in ancient times. Boats were emptied of their cargo and dragged on trailers overland on much the same route as todays canal.
Construction of the current canal was started in 1881 and completed in 1893. It never attracted the level of traffic expected so has not been commercially successful. Most modern tankers would not fit in the channel.
The canal is currently used mainly by tourist ships; around 11,000 ships per year travel through the waterway.
In the 1980s two submersible road bridges, one at each end, were installed. We spent a few minutes watching the western bridge in operation before driving off to find the footbridge approximately half way down the canal.
After a spot of lunch and a cooling iced coffee we headed off to find the Ancient Corinth archaeological site.
After a spot of being temporarily unsure of our position we made it safely to a shady spot in the car park. The weather was by now very hot and humid.
As we approached the site we could see the walled city of Acrocorinth looming high above us.
We paid our entrance fee €8 each, cash or card accepted, and made our way into the site. First port of call was the interesting museum. This appeared to be a popular area not least because it was air-conditioned 🙂
There are many exhibits on show including a number of graves which brought me a reprimand when I raised my camera to photograph one of them.
Two remarkably well preserved statues of Phrygian Captives that were used as piers in the Captives Façade loomed large above us.
Back outside one of the most impressive structure was the Temple Of Apollo. Built of limestone around 560BC it once had 42 columns over 7 metres high.
Also, The Peirene Fountain.
By now we were both struggling with the heat and a unanimous decision was taken to retreat back to the air-conditioned car and return to camp for a swim in the aforementioned Saronic Gulf.
After changing we wandered up the road and, shamelessly squandering the childrens’ inheritance, we ate out again at the marvellous Tavern The Garden where we were served very good food with cheerful, attentive service, and in nice surroundings complete with sea view.
I can recommend the Yemista.
As darkness fell we supped G&T’s whilst seated outside watching a series of massive thunderstorms that almost constantly filled the sky with electricity. Fantastic.
Thursday 13th June 2019
Moving day again today. Kim had emailed, and phoned, Camping Athens to reserve us a spot and although its not a Camping Card site it will be the perfect base for us to visit a few of the attractions Athens has to offer.
Towing Kilometres – Today: 77 Cumulative: 32,050
Shortly after leaving the campground we were crossing the Corinth Canal again and that meant we were no longer in the Pelopennes, a shame as we had both enjoyed the area so much.
The tow was relatively straightforward and only just over an hour. The traffic got quite busy as we entered the outskirts of the city and the driving noticeably more manic.
We encountered a couple of narrow roads as we approached the site but no real problems.
We appear to have been given the pick of the bunch in regards to our pitch. It’s very shaded and reasonably near the facilities which are good.
We’ll stay a couple of nights and venture into Athens on public transport tomorrow.