A Day Around the Gulf of Corinth

Korinthos

Early morning swim in the Gulf of Corinth with Daniel! Beautiful aqua clear water with Mediterranean mountains on the horizon. Cold and invigorating!

Just visited with a lady I met on the street. She is originally from Japan. Married a man here in Greece 50 years ago. Three children and three grandchildren. Two grandchildren are going to Athens University. Whole family home for Easter and just left last night. It’s interesting how much we can communicate with her broken English and my only Greek at this point being Pascha (Easter)!

Yesterday, when we were coming out from seeing the Corinth Canal, Carolyn was bumping over the dirt road with potholes, Daniel had to come and guide us through. We thwarted a metal pipe sticking up that Carolyn claims would have punctured our tire. As this was happening, Mom reminisced from the back seat the time when her and Dad were in Africa. They were doing ministry in Kenya and Dad really wanted to go Zimbabwe to see David Livingston’s museum and Victoria Falls. They rented a car. On the very bumpy dirt road full of potholes, Mom expressed concern about how it could hurt the rent-a-car. Dad told her he’ll be careful. Mom said, “So I zipped my mouth.” They punctured a tire. It was a big ordeal to get it fixed. Dad told Mom at the time, “I should have listened to you.” 

Yesterday, Carolyn and I sang while we were driving, “I am loved, you are loved, I can risk loving you, for the One who knows me best, loves me most.” A song we haven't sung for many years.

Today, we left to go find some ruins that Daniel wanted to take us to. As Carolyn was driving through little villages and over the mountains around the Gulf of Corinth, Dad said, “This little car has a lot of get up and go!” Then he said, “I think it’s the driver.” Mom said, “Ya, Carolyn is used to Toronto driving!”

As we were driving beside the beautiful Mediterranean waters, Dad said, “I forgot my swimming trunks.” Mom said, “No, we decided not to bring them.” Dad said, “Most of all, I remembered you.”

As we were driving over a bridge, Carolyn said, “I can’t read any of the signs. So this bridge might go up!” Soon Amber sent us a text, “We just went over a submersible bridge.” Later she said she thinks it might be the only submersible bridge in the world. 

Driving through the mountains and going around some switchbacks, Mom said, “This reminds me of that taxi ride in North East India. We taught in the morning and counseled in the afternoon.”

Walked many steps and paths to see the Hera ruins in a beautiful cove. Dad and Mom talked with a man and woman from Athens. When they found out we’re only here a week they said to Dad and Mom, “This is just a taste. You’ll have to come longer next time.”

They talked about how Tom Hanks and his wife became citizens of Greece. They said people come to these ruins for concerts of classical music in the full moon. They talked about a boat that you can rent from Loutraki for 50 EU at the marina and boat along the Golf of Corinth coast for an afternoon. They talked about how 1 million out of 7 million Greeks were killed in WW2. (There are 11 million citizens now.) They said the Brits helped them and the US came in the final stages of the war. When Mom told them she climbed up the Acropolis, the man said she's very brave.

Stopped for ice cream and coffee. Went out for lunch in Loutraki. Amber taught me how to say "Thank you" in Greek. "efcharisto". The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word for "Thank you". They wanted to order us moussaka, an egg plant dish that takes all day to cook so they had none available for us at lunch. Carolyn and Amber were so disappointed. They got us Horta, wild greens gathered in the mountains, Tzatziki, Meatballs with boiled potatoes and carrots, baked Feta, etc.

Stopped at Apostle Paul’s church. Came home. Dad and I jumped in the water. Carolyn came and took pictures. Minutes later she was back ready to swim and joined Dad and I! It was a party in the Mediterranean waters on the Gulf of Corinth.

On the way back in, soaking wet, we met Daniel heading down to start his grill on the shore for him to smoke the fish at sunset. Bundling up, we all went down to watch. Carolyn and Daniel and Amber made a delicious meal.

We played Phase 10 and went to bed.