Kalimera! Tripoli Peloponesse

 (Usual waiver applies to grammar, typos, spelling as I'm posting via a small phone screen on the hoof 🤭, click on the pics to zoom in)

22 April 2026 Flight 02:00am Hanoi - Dohar, 3.5 hrs transit, Dohar - Athens.

We feel lucky to have flown through Dohar during the ceasefire. Doha airport was busy and flights were heading in all directions. Only one area, the outdoor garden area, was closed due to drone target risk. Stayed two nights in an apartment near Athens airport to shower and sleep and get through initial jet lag. 

24 April 2026

We left Athens by bus to Tripoli. We  will stay three nights in order to catch the local village bus, that only runs on a Monday, Thursday or Friday, to Stemnista to walk the Menalon Trail....more on that later.  Bus stations the world over are a keen study of mankind. All walks of life, many trying their luck begging/ trying to sell you crappy stuff, there are grotty toilets and in general everything is in need of a good pressure wash, especially around the waiting area seats. Only nice bus station I can recall was Vigo, Spain. One elderly gent waiting in the same area as us for his bus, had what looked like a post surgery  leg brace on and he was being pestered by a professional beggar for money. They wouldn't leave him be so we went and asked him if he was OK as he was very vulnerable - he couldn't run away from her that's for sure. We  saw the pest off. In the time we were waiting for our bus she must have done at least 50 circuits of the station but she steered clear of us after that. There was definitely a gang working the station and I felt sorry for her in a way. It  gets me that the gang masters send the woman out to do the work and sit back and count the takings. Rant over 😏 and I wasn't the least bit  tempted by the Sophia Loren big sunglasses circa 1970 😎

The bus took about  three hours and we passed over the Corinth Canel which was pretty cool.

Always wanted to see this so it was great it was enroute. The road kept gradually climbing up these steep passes, we could even see snow 😬on some of the ranges. Such a change in landscape from lush jungle foliage of Vietnam to dry, rocky mountains and olive trees and it's always lovely seeing the red poppy flowers in the fields.

Tripoli was established in the beginning of 14th century and until the end of 19th century it was called Tripolitsa.  Many different invaders such as Venetians and Turks left their marks on the city. 

One piece of history I read was during the Greek Independence uprising over 3000 Greek men were slaughtered outside the town gates by the Albanian mercenaries protecting the Ottoman occupation. 

The beautiful central park has a collenade of busts so those who helped secure Greek independence will never be forgotten.

The city now serves as the municipal function for the wider area with agriculture, industrial and horticulture service centers. Population about 44,000.

It is wonderful to see blue sky again and spring is in the air.

 After Vietnam,  the air was crisp and clear as we sat outside St Basil's cathedral, no more humidity and smog. 

The temps are a lot cooler at this altitude but perfect for our hike starting in a few days.

We love being back in Europe.  We wandered about last night in the squares and plaza where all the locals tend to hang out, chat, play soccer with their kids.... intergenerational and no stress or agro.  There are so many beautiful public spaces and  gardens and a lot of fabulous public sculpture.

The only downside for us is the locals tend to eat between 8.30 and 10pm ....which is hopeless for us. Not to be daunted were old dogs at this lark and we'll swing into having a main meal at lunch. Wandering off a side street from the main square we came across a gorgeous wee cafe, Senor....lunch was divine!

It's bread and water for dinner 😁. We tend to start walking early each day which means early to bed 😁.

Many of the really  old historic buildings are falling into ruin which is a shame. Too expensive to keep up and many young people leave here for the big smoke of Athens where work attracts better pay.  The churches seem to be well kept up 👍👌

Apartment :

Tripoli Apartment - Διαμέρισμα 65 τμ στην καρδιά της πόλης

Athens Demi's Apartment near the airport, Atremedia