Syntagmatos Square from our roomNo amount of research can turn up a hotel as perfect as one that you simply happen upon. Such is the case with our 'room with a view' in Nafplion.
After finally getting a rental car (thanks to our new friend, Dimitri on Poros, who managed to rouse Pops Rental Car across the channel when no one else could) we set out in our small Renault on the coastal route, then heading inland for a bit and arriving about 6 pm in the port town of Nafplion (also called Nafplio and Nafplia).
We had had mixed reviews of Nafplion prior to our arrival: a German couple told us to skip it, they were so disappointed; yet, the tourist brochure said it was a 'fairy land'. We are voting for the latter now that we've been here a day - in fact ,we plan to stay here a few days longer.
This city, once the capital of Greece, was under Venetian rule many centuries ago. The old city, where we are staying, has such a heavy Italian influence that its easy to forget you are in Greece - as evidenced by the town square we overlook. Bouganvillas drape the small cobbled side roads that lead to the main square we overlook..
We happened upon the Hotel Athina on the corner of Syntagmatos Square and inquired about availability - although with its location we expected the rate to be astronomical. . .wrong. They offered a room with breakfast for 50E a night and as we climbed the stairs (no elevator here) Joel asked if any rooms might look out on the square.
Not only do we have a room with a view - but two views, one balcony looks directly over the square and the other looks back on the Venetian fortress (more on that soon). Yes, the price is 50E a night.
And I am heading out to the balcony soon to sip some Greek white wine that we bought today at the farmers market for 2E a liter from the little lady who makes it. Yes, sometimes, it is simply luck.
I stayed in Nafplion several times when I was driving around the Peloponnese and thought it was a charming place and a handy base for touring the Argolid. I stayed at a clean little "C" class hotel on the square for less than $5/night. This was in 1981. I went on line recently and found the hotel was still there, vastly upgraded and now priced far out of my range.
ReplyDelete