Saturday, April 26, 2002 09:32
Weather: Sunny & clear.
Location: Cafe Athanasiou in Kalamata (again).

A beautiful morning. I packed up and left Lela's dhomatia, passing the old lady herself on the way to the bus stop. She wished me bon voyage. The bus came on time at 8am and hauled me back to Kalamata. This time I had my camera ready for the spectacular view of Kardamyli as the bus clibed over the hill to the north. For the rest of the trip I was content to gaze at the wonderful scenery: the high brooding mountains, with half-ruined castles, tall cypresses, huddled villages with squat churches, and below, the glittering Mediterranean.

After my hour on the Internet yesterday, I asked the owner of the cafe for a recommendation for dinner. She told me her favorite place, the Taverna Kastro, at the north end of the village, beyond the bridge, a place that I'd barely glanced at from the bus on the way in and hadn't been out to visit since. I set off accordingly, and found a lovely restaurant that served me the best meal I've had since arriving in Greece: a fabulously fresh Greek salad, topped with a hefty slab of feta, a cheese pie, a couple of minced veal patties, grilled and served with french fries, and a pleasant quarter litre of wine.

During the meal I chatted with the retired German couple sitting next to me, Brigitta and Klaus, from Bavaria. Kardamyli has become their favorite vacation destination: they're here for five weeks!
posted by Tom at 9:43 AM | link |