Kalvrita, Mt Chelmos and Cave of the Lakes

Our second recommendation was up another valley and gorge to Kalvrita .
Our first stop was a small café with some wonderful views of the gorge which we will see close up tomorrow on our rack and pinion railway trip.
 



 
If you look closely you can see the railway line at the bottom of the gorge.
 
 
Rounding another corner we spot the Monastery of  Mega Spelio believed to be the oldest in Greece.
Once again standing precariously on a cliff face.
 
 
 
On reaching Kalavryta we pick up our tickets for the train and also the cave of the lakes.
 
 
As we climb the hill out of town we pass by the Second world war Memorial to the Martyred male population of the village in 1943
 

 
The high plain opens out in front of us as we head towards the caves.
 

 
The cave of the Lakes is near Kastria. This cave system has fifteen lakes of which you can only visit two. No photographs were allowed here, so I took them quietly.
 


 
Ever onward and not to be daunted by the gatering thunder clouds we head to the ski slopes of Mt Chelmos.
No skiing at this time of year but a few patches of snow remain.
 




 
Crossing the mountain range our road starts its hairpin journey down into the Krathis river valley. Apart from the pot holes and washouts which constitute most of the road , it is a dream on two wheels.
 

 
On reaching the valley bottom we head upstream to the pretty village of Zarouchia, another recommend.
 

 
We backtrack down the road and our last visit of the day is to Lake Tsivols.
This was created by a landslide that blocked the natural course of the river.
 

 
Luckily we managed to stay ahead of the rain and descended into lovely sunshine again.
 



No comments: