Day 2 - Kapsia Caves

Galaktobouriko: 1

Today began with coffee and a biscuit under a fig tree, with views out over the valley.  Mary and Jim watched the sun rise will doing this.  I was more civilised and joined them later.

First tourist outing was to the local cemetery.  There were a total of about 6 different surnames, which wasn't a surprise.  What was more surprising was the average age at death was typically well into the 80s or even 90s.  A physically demanding lifestyle builds tough locals.

Next stop was a church high up on the hill overlooking the nearby village of Levithi.  Greece, or at least this part, is a mite hilly.

After all this intense sightseeing we stopped in Levithi proper for second breakfast.  More coffee and pastries stuffed with cheese.  

Once we were properly fortified we did so more sightseeing.  This time we visited the Kapsia Caves which is a vast collection of caves under the valley floor full of stalagmites and stalactites (remember mites climb up and tights fall down).  There is evidence that people have been using the caves since neolithic times.  Our guide pointed out so many formations that looked vaguely animal-like see, for example, an elephant.

There were also formations that looked liked scales or giant jawbones.  You can understand why people believed such caves were lairs of dragons or openings to the underworld.   They've found the bones of about 50 people who were ritually buried in the caves, along with what looks like an altar.

At times the caves have been flooded, filling them with mud.  Until another flood comes through and washes the mud away this prevents the formation of new stalactites/stalagmites and leaves a clear water line.  At first glance it looks artificial because it is so straight.  But of course the water line is going to be level - doh!

Next stop was lunch, so we drove (well, Jim drove us) to the nearby town of Tripolis.  We sat in a shady square in the centre of town (I have mentioned often enough how pleasant the weather is?).  Lunch was mildly disappointing as all the interesting dishes on the menu (rabbit, wild boar and such like) weren't available.  Instead, we settled for moussaka and lamb roasted with lemon & garlic, while Jim had a burger that made a big mac look piddly.  The food was, overall,  just Average.

We've given up on being tourists now and are back at the village, once again sitting out under the fig tree.  Dinner will be bread and cheese and a salad made from home grown cucumbers and tomatoes.  Dessert will be galaktobouriko from the local bakery.  It is a hard life here.

Addendum: We've had the galaktobouriko and it was, again, just Average.  The search continues.