My Eurotrip 2009: Day 3

Day Trip to Peloponnisos
Sunday, May 3
(Simon and Eleni's birthday!)

This day we woke up around 6am to get ready. Despina's boyfriend, Kostas, picked Siena, Eleni, Despina, and I up at the house and we headed to the suburban train line in Pallini to start our journey. We took a total of 4 trains:

Pallini -> Ano Liosia -> Kiato -> Diakofto -> Kalavrita

Along the way, we saw amazing scenery including the beautiful hills and mountains of Attica, the narrow canal that separates Peloponnisos from Attica, and miles of beautiful coastline. In Diakofto, we stopped in a small shop for snacks and water. From here, the train we took up the hill used othodotos (teeth in the middle of the railroad tracks for the train to use to climb up the hills in the Vouraiko Gorge). This railway used to be the only way in and out of the villages that lie in the mountains.


The train ride takes 1.5 hours to get to Kalavrita (from Diakofto), which is 22,000 meters above sea level, and about 22 km from the town of Diakofto. It is common for people to hike along the tracks all the way to the top. (It would be awesome to come back and do that one day!)

The train was very small: Only 2 cars and the engine in the middle. There were 2 first class sections on either end of the train, for which Eleni bought ticket for us! That meant that there were fewer people in that section and more room to run from window to window trying to get good pictures of the scenery. We all got some amazing shots. :)
Upon arrival in Kalavrita, we walked up the hill to a small museum about the German occupation of Greece and the massacre of the villagers from Kalavrita and surrounding villages.
Then we went to eat at a tavern and we had Greek salad (of course!), lamb chops, plain salad, and tiropita (like spanakopita [spinach & feta pie], but only with feta cheese).
Towards the end of our meal, Kostas and Despina worked it out with the waiter so we could surprise Eleni with a birthday cake. She was so surprised that she cried a little. We sang "Happy Birthday" in English and Greek. Well, Despina and Kostas sang in Greek...
After lunch, we continued to follow the mosaic design of railroad tracks on the sidewalk up the hill to see more shops and touristy things. We reached the end of the line and walked back down towards the train station, but we still had some time so we decided to stop at a cafe. We sat at a table in the sun and sipped our frothy caffeinated/decaf beverages.
On the way back to Pallini, it didn't take us long to realize that the ride home was going to be a crowded one. Friday, May 1 was May Day (kind of like Labor Day) and many people traveled to the villages from Athens for the 3-day weekend.
After the 2nd train back, I had to go to the bathroom. Only, the only bathroom available was on the opposite platform and the train was coming any minute. I made a mad dash downstairs, through the tunnel under the tracks, up to the bathroom and back just as the train was pulling in. I had to push my way through the crowd on the platform to get to Despina and everybody, but I made it!
We were very tired from the long day of traveling by train when we arrived home. We had another birthday cake for Eleni and Simon with Kostos and Despina's grandmother and then went to bed.