Blighted by Binmen Strike & a Motorway.

DIAKOFTO.

On the road by 9am, having breakfasted on a local cereal which tastes just like the cereal back home. We program the satnav to avoid motorways and toll roads. We arrive at a quayside and are instructed to "Take the ferry"! Fortunately, they are every 20 minutes and take 15 minutes to cross. The cost is 11 euro. Unfortunately, there is a new bridge alongsde which takes 5 minutes and only costs 2 euro 80 cents more. Still, it's all part of the adventure and we're not in a rush.

We disembark and I find myself driving us the wrong way into the path of a truck. A quick manoeuvre and we're back on track.

We're heading for the north east of Peloponnesia. We're following the old road but right alongside is a relatively new motorway. It's arrival has certainly spoilt the outlook for the property owners in its shadow.

The streets are lined with rubbish. At first we suspect that it is as a result of the recent bank holidays but later learn that the bin men are on strike. These two factors colour our judgement of the area and we decide that we will only stay 1 night rather than the 2 we originally planned.

We look at Diokofto then try Paralia Planatou. The latter is disappointing so we return to Diokofto. There we're greeted as soon as we stop by a man from Derby. He's been in this half of Greece for a month. He's staying in the village for another week. We think he wants to involve us in the group which has sprung up around the motor home park but we make our excuses and leave.

A walk around the village ends in a bar overlooking the harbour. Very pleasant so we stay for a second beer.

Rosemary as she realises we'll have to pay 18 euro for 4 drinks.