Last Days in Nafplio
On Tuesday, we took a long walk on the Arvinitia Promenade, going eastward. I wanted to enjoy the wide pathway one more time, with its stunning views of turquoise water and distant mountains. Karathona Beach was surprisingly large, and though there were plenty of boats and small camper vans, there were very few people around, and it was quite peaceful.. I didn’t feel like walking up and over Palamidi to make it a loop hike, so we simply went back the way we came.
Later that same day, we returned to the Arvinitia Promenade and walked in the other direction, to Nafplio Harbor. We had cocktails and meze at one of the touristy restaurants. It was too cloudy to be a great sunset, but it was still nice to see everything bathed in the golden glow.
Wednesday was October 1, and there was a national labor strike. Greek transportation workers were protesting a proposed law allowing work shifts of up to 13 hours. Ferries, taxis, and trains across Greece did not operate that day. We stayed home in Nafplio and were not affected, but our son Danny and his girlfriend were departing San Francisco for Greece that day. I was relieved when a court ruled that it would be illegal for air traffic controllers to join the strike. October 1 was also the first day of the U.S. government shutdown, and many federal employees (including airport TSA personnel) were on the job without pay. I think the universe was reminding us to appreciate the many workers that make it possible for us to get from point A to point B quickly and safely.
Thursday was a moving day, and we traveled via bus from Nafplio to Athens. It was raining steadily, which felt a little strange after a month of sunshine. I did manage to snap a photo as we drove across the Corinth canal, something I had blinked and missed on last month’s bus ride to Nafplio.
It rained harder as we reached Athens, and the flooded streets reminded us of summer rainstorms in South Tampa. We were excited to be in Athens, because we were going to meet our kids there for a family vacation!
We had enjoyed our month in Nafplio, though we agreed we generally prefer to live in much larger cities. It was certainly one of the prettier places we have lived in, and worth a visit for anyone who loves picturesque, Italianate towns and ancient Greek sites. And that pathway along the turquoise waters was truly remarkable!
Postscript
Labor strikes aside, I was curious why there were so many online discussions about taxis in Greece. Many travelers posted stories about taxi drivers who refused to take credit cards and/or overcharged their passengers. Why did taking a taxi in Greece sound more problematic than in other European countries?
In mid-2024 (just over a year ago), the Greek government began requiring taxi drivers to accept card payments and display the bilingual sticker below. This was another step in Greece's remarkable recovery from the economic crisis of 2010. Reducing the cash economy (and potential unreported transactions) also reduced the rate of tax evasion, improving the nation's economic health and making it more attractive to creditors and investors. There may be some dishonest taxi drivers, but I believe there are many more honest drivers, and some who just haven't adjusted well to accepting card payments.
