My trip through the continental Greece and across the Peloponnese Sea

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It's seven o'clock in the morning and the green shores of the island of Corfu blink of the portholes of the Olympic Palace, the ship that is leading us in Greece. Parties yesterday, late afternoon from Ancona, soon landed in Igoumenitsa
Leaving the port behind us we cover the Greek region of Epirus mountain with its beautiful landscapes and wild. The colors, but above all the smells in the wind are typical of the Mediterranean countries, myrtle, wild fennel, rosemary, a fragrance of perfume already known in our previous trips to Croatia and Montenegro.
Pamvotida overlooking the lake, Ioannina is the first major city we encounter along the route. We visit the fortified citadel that towers above the houses of the village dominated since 1400 by the Turks. One of the two ancient mosques are located right here in this hill to remind the influence of the Ottoman Empire throughout the Mediterranean.
After the pass of Kataro to 1700 meters in the Pindus mountains descend to the plains of Thessaly in the early afternoon arriving at Meteora, huge cliffs that rise majestically dark, creating a wonderful and wild. On top of these huge towers soar great monasteries of the Greek Orthodox religion faithful guardians of a model of monastic life now lost and which reached its peak 500 years ago. The first hermits Rock climbing through a series of scaffolds, which were supported by beams set into the rock. This system was later replaced by very long and dizzying rope ladders. Those who did not dare use them were brought up by a network. The climb lasted about half an hour: half an hour of anguish and terror.

After spending the night at Kalampaka just below the Meteors, we head southeast to reach the eastern coast of Greece is also in the mountainous peninsula of Pelion beautiful region of Thessaly home of the Centaurs, mythological half man and half horse. Through a wide and scenic road, skirting the coast between ups and downs, this strip of land into the sea and where the high mountains that give it the name occupying the central part.
Volos, a major tourist town of Pelion greets us for the night and morning, immediately after a high-calorie breakfast of eggs, bacon and cheese, ham, croissant, butter and jam, fruit juice and whatever else, we take the broad road Which brings us to the archaeological site of Delphi.
After a few switchbacks uphill, we are below the slopes of Parnassus, the sacred mountain which is home to more than four years, the complex called the Oracle of Delphi. The important religious center sacred to Apollo, was one of the great Panhellenic sanctuaries of ancient Greece, and the seat of the most authoritative oracle of the world greek-Latin. No decision, both on personal interest, was taken without consulting his priestess, who, with a bay leaf in your mouth, give advice and forecasts. The site, located in different planes on the side of the mountain is crossed by the Via Sacra. Above the temple of Apollo is the theater that could hold more than five seats and higher still, the stadio.Molto lower than the Temple of Apollo is the shrine of the goddess Athena Pronaia that embodies the true gem of the whole this set of remains: the Temple of Tholos, a round marble that is the wonder of Delphi and now his own symbol.

Today, the fourth day among the Greeks, we head south along the tongue of water that separates mainland Greece to the Peloponnese. Indispensable step to reach this region is the Isthmus of Corinth impressive works of human genius, six kilometers long in places where the walls reach nearly 80 meters high. The work completed in 1892 cut that little strip of land that joins the Peloponnesus to the mainland, thus creating a channel for vessels ranging from the Adriatic to the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea From the view is that it seems almost incredible boats touch on the walls even though they are far apart in some places, even a hundred meters.
Later, arrive in Nafplion, in a characteristic taberna, let's knowledge of traditional Greek dishes like moussaka, souvlaki to the greek salad, cherry tomatoes stuffed with rice and rolls with vine leaves.

Saddle the bike in the early hours of the morning, we visit the ancient ruins of Epidaurus, whose main attraction is the theater, an amazing structure dating from the fourth century BC where thanks to its perfect acoustics, all'insuperata architectural harmony and the enormous amount of viewers who still can hold, you will perform classical representations constitute a brilliant example of how to use with respect and intelligence, an ancient monument.
Continuing until we reach the far south of the Peloponnese peninsula of Mani, a long strip of land not more than sixty miles and characterized by contradictory views: caves and villages austere one side and the sparkling sea on the other, which with its turquoise color and the pretty beaches protected by cliffs, creating a charming and unique scenery.
The hostility of this land and the pride of its people, represented in perfectly shaped tower houses, decreed isolation are immune from the passage of time and by the changes that it brings.
Towards evening, tired, with sore muscles after a full day spent on the road, constantly "turn" to address the many curves that adorn these shores, we stop to Areopolis, a small but important town of medieval origin clear and typical example architecture of this region.

The morning, after a quick stop in Kalamata for the usual souvenir purchases, a practice long-established and long-awaited by his family to return, go back quickly Peloponnese. Immersed in the plain of the river Alpheus, we Olympia, the land where the gods watched the triumphs of men and where they became the winners of the gods. Ancient sacred place, the Olympic Games were celebrated here, which with the passage of time became the most important celebrations throughout Greece. The archaeological excavations, carried out in the late nineteenth century, found themselves under a layer of thick mud at least five meters, the remains of important buildings like the gymnasium and the gym where the athletes were training, the sacred enclosure, the temple of Hera and to Zeus and the stadium, the track where the athletes competed naked, long about 200 meters wide and 30, where from the ramparts of beaten earth, devoid of bleachers, they could attend the races at least 30,000 spectators.

Our journey ends here in this place, full of ancient beauty, in the afternoon in Patras ferry, which we will climb back in Italy.
But the charm of the place
still lots for us their effect. What better then, to conclude properly these days lived together, and an impromptu ride in fantozziana mythical stadium of Olympia. The challenge is unusual for a group of motorcyclists to emulate the history, rushing walk on the runway, like the athletes of several millennia ago .... do not say naked ... course !!!!...... but at least without a helmet!