You don't want to sneeze when you are driving the road from Kalamata, home of the famous olives, south to Kardymili in the extremely mountainous area of Mani on the Pelopanese peninsula. Oh no, to lose even that moment of concentration could prove fatal. You could go off the downside, that would be rather unpleasant, to say the least, or you could easily slam head first into the cement truck coming up the hill around these impossible turns. Then there are the herds of goats being driven along the road by moped buckaroos. One wants to stop every thirty seconds or so to gaze or take a picture but I've got to think that only on a motorcycle could a person stop at every incredible scene. Otherwise you'd be flat out-killed, there's just no room for all these beautiful sights and motor vehicle traffic. This is not the scenic road. This is the only road.
So here's what I missed: A herd of sheep passing through an olive grove, the ancient trees, in their regular spacing creating arches, each one framing a sheep. An old lady, a perfect old lady, replete with gnarled walking stick, black dress and kerchief and, oh yes, an apron, walking with her goats down a small ravine. The scene on a taverna patio, people gathered and an infant held high above the crowd all Lion King like. That's just a few of the things I missed, There were many more. So tell me I'm not a great photojournalist...I can entertain you with the shots I didn't get!
So then, after winding your way through these gorgeous mountain passes, we finally see Kardymili shining by the sea. It's less than a mile away now, as the crow flies, but that wouldn't be so successful in a car. Another half an hour of tightly wound road and we're no closer. The town does seem to be getting slightly higher but not closer. Winding roads, winding roads, another half hour, now Kardymili is eye level but we're not there yet as we have to stop to talk to Yanis who invites us to a music and dinner night.
We got to Kardymili as the sun was setting, all warm and glowing. I still haven't put on my jacket as I sit here on the patio writing this. I did see, in my email from home, that there'd been an ice storm.
So here's what I missed: A herd of sheep passing through an olive grove, the ancient trees, in their regular spacing creating arches, each one framing a sheep. An old lady, a perfect old lady, replete with gnarled walking stick, black dress and kerchief and, oh yes, an apron, walking with her goats down a small ravine. The scene on a taverna patio, people gathered and an infant held high above the crowd all Lion King like. That's just a few of the things I missed, There were many more. So tell me I'm not a great photojournalist...I can entertain you with the shots I didn't get!
So then, after winding your way through these gorgeous mountain passes, we finally see Kardymili shining by the sea. It's less than a mile away now, as the crow flies, but that wouldn't be so successful in a car. Another half an hour of tightly wound road and we're no closer. The town does seem to be getting slightly higher but not closer. Winding roads, winding roads, another half hour, now Kardymili is eye level but we're not there yet as we have to stop to talk to Yanis who invites us to a music and dinner night.
We got to Kardymili as the sun was setting, all warm and glowing. I still haven't put on my jacket as I sit here on the patio writing this. I did see, in my email from home, that there'd been an ice storm.
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