Stage 33: From Lampiri to Corinth

Today, the three of us went from Lampiri to Corinth. For Michael and Alex, it was the longest stage of their journey so far, covering a total of about 110 km (with a few detours). Alex set a brisk pace, and we only made our first stop at the bakery after about 45 km. Along the way, we encountered a Greek cyclist who accompanied us for a while before we became too slow for him. Unfortunately, the Eurovelo route was often closed or led us along bumpy muddy paths. Michael and I prefer asphalt, so we mostly followed the main road. After about 70 kilometers, we met two more French cyclists who have been on the road for about 8 months, with 5 months of that in France alone.

When we arrived at the hostel in the evening, I took care of my laundry first. Later, the three of us went to a small snack bar for some snacks (and beer!). The new city of Corinth is very lively, but apart from the harbor and a few churches, there isn't much to see in terms of sights. Of course, as tourists, we mainly came here for the ancient site with its enclosed museum, which was on our agenda for the following day. So, with the weather being perfect, and for once without our luggage, we rode our bikes to the excavation site about 10 km away. The reduced admission fee, including the museum, was 4€. At this time of year, you're grateful if any visitors come by!

The only visible remnants from Greek times today belong to the Temple of Apollo; the rest are Roman remains from the 1st century. From the excavation site, you could see the mountain with the Akrokorinth fortress. Alex and I were determined to climb up there, while Michael preferred to visit INTERSPORT.

The climb to Akrokorinth was a challenge even without our luggage, so we were very happy when we reached the top. Admission was free, and with a few more meters of climbing on foot, we had a fantastic 360° view. We were also able to climb around on the fortification wall. All in all, it's a must-see if you're in the area! The road to the site is paved and easily accessible by car.

In the evening, the four of us (together with a German work-and-travel traveler) prepared a huge amount of salad and spaghetti with vegetables (1.5 kg!). And of course, we couldn't do without Davor's Slivovitz, which was finally finished in Corinth.

The next morning, our paths diverged. Michael stayed another night in Corinth, Alex sprinted off early to Athens to pick up his girlfriend from the airport, and I chose the middle ground and headed east after a relaxed breakfast.