It is a long drive from the Greek Hovel in the Northern Mani down to the caves of Diros south of the regional capital of Areopoli. At the start we were delayed on the road into Kambos by a flock of sheep. Thereafter we drove at leisure along the looping roads up past the next village to Kambos and then all the way down to the sea at Karadamili. Then we tracked the sea all the way to Areopoli but the roads were still looping and little Jaya was sick four times.
Like her Aunt, my sister T, who was always sick on Greek buses as we, as kids, accompanied Dad up into the Pindus Mountains, Jaya does not travel well. But, like T, she bore it bravely and all was well when we finally arrived at the modern complex that allows entrance to the caves.
You can see the Mrs, Jaya and Joshua wearing his rugger top in case Wales needs his services as we headed into the caves.
In the olden times it was thought that they were one of the many entrances to the underworld scattered throughout Greece. It made me think of the one between Ioannina and Arta which I have driven close to so many times but, to my regret, not yet visited.
Heading down stairs you soon arrive at the lake where you are pushed along on punt like boats by local men while marveling at the stalactites and stalagmites. My mind headed back to Chris Aldred a geography teacher at the accursed Warwick School who served up to myself and the other teenage boys a useful way of remembering the difference “you want to take a girl’s tights down, she might want to pull them up again.” I suspect that you cannot say that these days. I did not mention it to the Mrs who would have frowned upon it or to Joshua who might not yet understand. I kept the illicit thought and a naughty chuckle to myself.
After a 300 yard boat ride in a delightful cool we walked along paths for another 1000 yards before emerging into blazing sunshine and overpowering heat once again. On the way back to the car there was a statue of a woman wielding a sickle. I could not read the Greek inscription but knew what it referenced. In 1826 the rebel Maniot army was besieged by the Turks at Verga near Kalamata but the Turks could not break through so sent a fleet down the coast to land near a now undefended Areopoli to capture the capital.
I had thought that the soldiers, mainly Egyptians , has landed at Limoni but it was in fact at Diros where the Maniot women and old men were working in the fields and promptly fell upon the hapless Turks and Egyptians with their agricultural tools, slaughtering them and pushing them back into the sea.
They are tough sorts these Maniots.
Fully recovered we drove back, stopping off at a roadside but not seaside, taverna for a late lunch. Not being by the sea with its tourists it was far better food and also cheaper.
Tonight’s culture, an evening of Greek music in the village up in the mountains where mad lefties L&G reside.
